Versha Sharma

Versha Sharma is a journalist and editor whose career spans political reporting and leadership at prominent youth media brands. Sharma studied political science in college, where she worked on her student newspaper, advancing from staff writer to editor-in-chief. After graduation, she worked on political campaigns before transitioning to journalism, beginning her professional career with an internship at Talking Points Memo, where she was later hired full time. She also covered the presidential election for MSNBC.

Sharma served as managing editor and senior correspondent at NowThis, contributing to the outlet’s growth from a startup to a leading social video news company. She led audience development across platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Snapchat. Sharma directed NowThis election coverage across multiple cycles and interviewed elected leaders including President Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Kamala Harris, as well as cultural figures such as Oprah and Alicia Keys. She produced short documentaries, reported on immigration from the U.S.-Mexico border, covered mass protests in St. Louis and New York, and traveled to Moscow for the show she hosted and produced, "The Russia Desk." Her work at NowThis earned her a shared Edward R. Murrow Award for a documentary on Hurricane Maria’s impact on Puerto Rico.

Sharma served as editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, leading a team in covering fashion, politics, culture, and identity for young audiences. Her appointment marked a milestone as the first South Asian American to hold the role. Adweek recognized her among a group of women named editors in chief at influential publishers. During her tenure, she received several leadership awards and a National Magazine Readers' Choice Award for Best News & Politics Cover. Under her leadership, Teen Vogue addressed topics including identity, personal style, mental health, immigration, and democracy in America.

In addition to her editorial work, Sharma serves on the boards of the Online News Association and the International Women's Media Foundation. She has reported and spoken on journalism and media internationally, including in the UK and Kazakhstan. Sharma has discussed her experiences with depression and anxiety, contributing to her advocacy for mental health in the workplace. Her work and profile have appeared in The New York Times and Columbia Journalism Review, and she has made appearances on CNN and MSNBC. Sharma is known for her commitment to diverse voices and digital storytelling in journalism and media.