Vanessa Mbonu serves as the NAACP’s Vice President of Marketing. She has been instrumental in communicating the organization’s federal advocacy and policy initiatives through digital campaigns, media relations, and integrated marketing. As a key member of the executive leadership team, Vanessa has modernized NAACP’s digital organizing efforts and cultural recognition.
Under her leadership, the NAACP’s digital strategy has secured over $15 million in individual donor contributions. She contributed to a 70 percent increase in NAACP Image Awards viewership, doubled YouTube subscribers, and achieved over 30 percent growth in email subscribers. These efforts have amplified NAACP’s calls for justice and equity to audiences typically reached by Fortune 500 brands.
Vanessa co-produced "UNPCKD," a series with The Webby Awards addressing critical issues for communities of color and promoting a more inclusive internet. Drawing inspiration from her identity as a young Black woman, she is dedicated to creating meaningful social impact and empowering young people.
An immigrant from Lagos, Nigeria, Vanessa graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. John's University and earned her master’s from the London School of Economics. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 Lister (2024), Cannes Lions BMA scholarship recipient (2023), and a MIPAD 40 Under 40 honoree.