Leonora Epstein is a Los Angeles-based content executive and innovator with over 15 years of experience working for some of the web’s most prestigious properties.

Party in the front: I am a vision person who loves building worlds — both digital and offline. I am a writer, published author, editor, and enthusiast of the written word. One of my main passions is design (interior and decor), but I’ll tackle just about anything in the lifestyle category. [Substack]

Business in the back: I am a creative thinker with the ability to leverage data insights and platform expertise to build and retain loyal audiences across diverse channels, including search, social, newsletter, print, and experiential. As a manager of people and an experienced leader, my passion is bringing a brand or publication’s visions to life — from large-scale branded campaigns to impactful editorial moments. [LinkedIn]

What I Do:

  • Experiential packaging and execution

  • SEO optimization, affiliate strategy

  • Newsletter strategy

  • Social media growth

  • On-air & panel hosting/moderation

  • Editorial strategy and team leadership

  • Campaign conception and execution

  • Writing/editing/copywriting/UX copywriting

  • Brand consulting

  • Audience development

  • Creative direction

  • Styling

  • Video production

  • Operations and marketing/business planning

Skills:

Semrush | GSC | Google Analytics | Tableau | Asana | Figma | Photoshop | Dash Hudson | Substack | Clearscope

Resume:

Isla Porter

VP, Content & Creative, Oct. 2024-Present

Substack / Schmatta

2024-Present

Hunker / World of Good Brands

VP & Editor in Chief, 2017-2024

(Started as Senior Director)

  • Background: I co-founded Hunker in 2017 and we found plenty of early success, gaining a top seat in the Home category on ComScore. In December of 2023, our parent company laid off the entire Hunker staff. Hunker has since been sold to Static Media and is no longer representative of the vision I created, which included an emphasis on diversity, thought leadership, and premium photography of gorgeous spaces.

  • Direct all of Hunker's strategies and objectives, including digital and experiential, with a large focus on House of Good (FKA Hunker House), our Los Angeles location which serves as a brand studio and community space. Hunker's mission is to make design accessible to all, and we do so through maintaining our commitment to DEI through focused journalism, collaborations, and events.

  • Manage editorial and marketing budgets; manage fiscal planning and P&Ls.

  • Own distribution strategies across all platforms; forge strategic partnerships; advise on changes to business strategy.

  • Lead and oversee all editorial strategies and production, with a large focus on newsletter and growing/monetizing direct audience. Advise on commerce/affiliate and SEO strategies.

  • Scale programs across social media channels including IG & TikTok; create social-only programs; influencer strategy.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, design, and product to align content initiatives with business objectives.

  • Pitch and oversee programs for direct/branded sales with major advertisers (Target, Walmart, Home Depot, etc.).

  • Utilize data-driven insights and analytics to understand audience behavior, preferences, and content performance.

  • Achievements: Founding editor, responsible for crafting Hunker’s voice and programming. 2021 Webby nominee: Best Lifestyle Website and Best Social Video. 2023 Webby nominee: Best Design Website.

HelloGiggles

Executive Editor, 2015-2016

  • Most senior member of editorial team in charge of developing and executing content, social, video strategy.

  • Oversaw all daily editorial operations; managed an editorial team of 12, divided between NYC and L.A.

  • Established new formats and packages.

  • Exclusive content package with First Lady Michelle Obama to promote her Let Girls Learn initiative.

  • Achievements: 2016 Webby Win for Best Mobile Lifestyle Site. Produced Time Inc.'s most viewed video of all time during tenure. Produced HelloGiggles's highest traffic month in the site’s history.

BuzzFeed

Deputy Editorial Director, 2013-2015

(Started as Associate Editor, then Senior Editor)

  • Co-managed a team of 24 writers and editors, advised on staffing and management, set team goals, evolved and maintained BuzzFeed’s tone, edited posts by senior editors.

  • Analyzed traffic reports to improve content strategy.

  • Led brainstorms and weekly meetings with management to discuss strategy.

  • Concepted specialty content packages celebrating anniversaries of Clueless and Empire Records, including large-scale events with cast and crew at BuzzFeed L.A. campus.

Misc.

  • Books: X vs. Y: A Culture War a Love Story (author). Jewish Daughter Diaries (contributor).

  • Brand Consulting: Brooks Brothers, Amex, Stella & Dot, Kule

  • Clips: Dwell, People, The Cut, Elle.com, TeenVogue.com, Salon, CNN, MSNBC, New York Press, Huffington Post, Motherly, BuzzFeed, Hunker, HelloGiggles

Education

  • Develop, evolve, and own the Isla Porter voice.

  • Drive cohesive storytelling across all channels including blog, print materials, promotional materials, social, newsletter, and all internal and external communications.

  • Maintain editorial, content, and social calendars.

  • Develop tentpoles and partnerships.

  • Creator of Schmatta, a weekly newsletter that delves into design in a way that is both curious and chaotic. Current audience: 6.6k/Top 35 in Design

  • Partnerships: Brooklinen, Great Jones, Loftie, LES Collection, Nestig, and others.

  • Press: Business of Home, AD, Financial Times

  • Smith College, BA in American Studies and French

  • Université Sorbonne Paris IV, Literature