Vanessa Kanan Corrêa
Vanessa is a recognized transformational leader, skilled as an organizational and communications strategist, team-builder, and creative driver across cultural, institutional, and private sectors.
She currently serves as the Chief Communications Officer for the Mellon Foundation, the largest funder of the arts, culture, and humanities in the United States. Previously for the University of California system, widely recognized as the premier public higher education system in the world, she acted as Chief Brand Officer and Executive Director of Marketing. She has also provided strategic counsel, communications, and creative direction for clients as diverse as the Poetry Foundation, Northwestern University, Hard Rock Hotels, and University of Illinois at Chicago. Her work has been recognized by Fast Company, AIGA, Communication Arts, Creative Review, Print, Brand New, and How, among others.
In addition to large-scale communications strategy and brand development, Vanessa's previous projects include conceiving, building, and designing a cult fine jewelry brand featured in Vogue, Town & Country, W, Elle, WWD, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Gioiello and many more.
She frequently writes and gives talks about the value, methods and impacts of building organizations, strategic communications, and developing brands. With over half a million followers on social media, she has also collaborated with luxury, fashion, and lifestyle brands.
Vanessa is a dual citizen (United States/Brazil) and has lived, variously, in Europe, South America, and across the United States.