Alyson Shontell

Alyson Shontell: Fortune's First Female Editor in Chief

Alyson Shontell made history in 2021 when she became the first woman to be named editor in chief of Fortune magazine in its 92-year history.13 At just 35 years old, she took over editorial leadership of the iconic business publication, overseeing content across Fortune's magazine, website, conferences, newsletters, videos, podcasts, and the Fortune Connect platform.13

Prior to joining Fortune, Shontell had a distinguished career at Business Insider, where she served as editor in chief from 2016 to 2021.24 She joined the company as its sixth employee in 2008 and rose through the ranks, becoming a senior correspondent, executive editor, and ultimately the youngest and only woman to run a global business publication.24 Under her leadership, Business Insider's business division grew to reach hundreds of millions of monthly readers.2

Shontell is known for her innovative approach to digital media, her keen eye for identifying trends and stories before they break out, and her ability to build engaged audiences.5 At Fortune, she has been tasked with bringing the nearly century-old brand into the digital age, restructuring the newsroom, hiring extensively, and optimizing the website to better serve readers.5

A graduate of Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications, Shontell majored in psychology and advertising.2 She has been recognized as one of Min's Rising Stars in Media and Folio's Top Women in Media.2 Shontell is also a judge for the prestigious Gerald Loeb awards in business journalism.2