Lauren Williams

Lauren Williams is a prominent journalist and the Cofounder & CEO of Capital B, a nonprofit news organization that focuses on serving Black audiences. Capital B was launched in January 2022 with the mission of providing local-national news that reflects the experiences and needs of Black communities across the United States.124

Before founding Capital B, Williams held significant roles at Vox, where she served as Senior Vice President and Editor-in-Chief. In this capacity, she managed editorial and business operations, overseeing Vox.com, one of YouTube's largest news channels, and a variety of podcasts, including the daily show Today, Explained and the Netflix series Explained .123 Her career also includes positions as an editor at Mother Jones and as Deputy Editor at The Root, where she began her journalism journey.34

Williams is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. She is actively involved in media advocacy, serving on the board of directors for the International Women’s Media Foundation.24 Outside her professional life, she lives near Washington, D.C., with her husband and two young children.25

Her work at Capital B aims to create a sustainable news platform that not only informs but also empowers Black journalists and communities, addressing a critical gap in the media landscape.56