Hear directly from the innovators shaping Hearst’s diverse portfolio of television stations, magazine titles, and daily newspapers as they reveal how their iconic brands are thriving across today’s ever-evolving media landscape. Leading digital experts will share how they craft standout content, grow loyal audiences in a fiercely competitive marketplace, and what it takes to break into this cutting-edge industry.
Francisco Bernard, Audience Development Director, Hearst Television
Francisco Bernard is an award-winning journalist with work featured across national publications and local news outlets with an empathetic and enthusiastic mindset. He has a passion for content strategy and innovation in order to deliver factual and useful information. Francisco prides himself on having a “Swiss army knife” skill set based on experience within major newsrooms that converted to advising the strategy playbook of a major news organization and their portfolio of news stations. When Francisco is not offering consultation to news publishers, he is advising diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Katelyn Lunders, Digital Director, Delish, Hearst Magazines
Katelyn Lunders is the Digital Director of Delish, where she leads editorial strategy for one of the largest food media brands in the world. A career Hearst editor and digital strategist, she brings deep expertise in audience growth, social media, and engagement-driven content strategy. Katelyn has spent her entire career in magazine media, beginning with internships at D Magazine and 5280, followed by a competitive editorial fellowship with Woman’s Day and Country Living. She has held a range of roles across Hearst Magazines over the past eight years, including assisting Hearst executives, leading the social strategy for 25+ Hearst brands and the U.S. and globally, and overseeing digital content at House Beautiful before moving into food media. With a background spanning editorial leadership and platform strategy, Katelyn specializes in translating audience insights into high-performing, culturally relevant content. She has led social growth initiatives, developed cross-brand digital strategies, and managed editorial teams through evolving platform shifts. At Delish, she is focused on strengthening the brand’s digital footprint and expanding its lifestyle authority.
Tainaya Nash, Associate Director, Internal Communications, FitchRatings
Tainaya Nash is an Associate Director at Fitch Group. In her role, she partners cross-functionally to deliver scalable, user-centered solutions that support how employees access information and engage at work.
With experience navigating large media organizations, Tainaya brings a practical perspective on career development, adaptability, and building impact across teams. She is especially interested in how emerging tools and platforms can support clearer communication and more inclusive access to opportunity. Based in New York, she is passionate about mentorship and sharing transparent insights with early-career professionals exploring paths in media and communications.
Jayden Nguyen, Trending Reporter, CT Insider, Hearst Newspapers
Jayden Nguyen is a Trending Reporter for CT Insider. She has been with Hearst Connecticut Media Group since 2024. Originally from Louisiana, Jayden graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2023 with a degree in mass communication and a minor in French. Prior to moving to Connecticut, she worked as a Breaking/Trending News Reporter for The Shreveport Bossier City Advocate and interned at The Times-Picayune and The Advocate, where she wrote breaking news stories and created social media content.
Moderator: Rachel Kay, Chief People Officer, Hearst
Rachel Kay serves as senior vice president and chief people officer at Hearst. In this capacity, she leads enterprise-wide talent strategy across Hearst’s multifaceted businesses, which include media, healthcare, transportation and financial services. With a focus on building and nurturing exceptional teams, Rachel partners with business leaders and HR executives to recruit, develop and promote top talent across the organization. She heads the team that provides centralized support in human resources information systems (HRIS), people analytics, learning and development, recruiting strategy and operational support. Her work also encompasses advising. Her work also encompasses advising senior leadership on employee engagement, the future of work, talent development and the integration of emerging technologies like generative AI.
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Before joining Hearst, Rachel spent 15 years at McKinsey & Company, where she held a variety of leadership roles spanning talent strategy, professional development, operations and diversity. As Global Leader for Partner Talent, she oversaw the performance, development and succession planning of McKinsey’s partner group. She advised the firm’s top leadership on partner evaluations and future leadership pipelines and led a team delivering data-driven insights and development programs for the partnership. Earlier roles included operational leadership of the Mid- Atlantic region, national leadership of McKinsey’s entry-level consulting program and spearheading diversity recruitment efforts across North America. Her career at McKinsey began in client service, where she led strategy and operations projects as an engagement manager.
Rachel holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School and an undergraduate degree in history from Harvard University.
Presented with Hearst and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Center's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
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