Vanessa flourishes within culturally inclusive ecosystems and if it doesn’t exist, she creates it. With an inherent knack for establishing connections, she possesses an uncanny ability to enter any room and emerge with new, meaningful relationships. Her curious nature and passion for learning and teaching are intricately woven into her DNA and fuels her receptiveness to articulate the intersectionality of culture and business.

With over three decades of diversified strategic and purposeful experiences leading marketing and advertising, Vanessa has left an indelible mark working with global agencies and brands. Her journey has encompassed pivotal leadership roles across diverse verticals including Account Management, Strategy, Media, Investment, as well as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) and Supplier Diversity where she became known as a "Swiss Army Knife." As a trusted advisor and partner, her business acumen enables her to envision, create and execute sustainable omni-channel strategies in competitive markets that address increasing ROI for billion-dollar brands, like AT&T, P&G, PepsiCo, General Motors, McDonald’s among others.

Passionate about the growing convergence of strategy, people, and culture, Vanessa's fervor led her launch The Cultural Effect, Inc., an agency dedicated to developing inclusive marketing ecosystems for small and mid-size companies through the lens of culture, fiduciary duty and ESG to drive brand affinity and marketing innovation that connects businesses to audiences through authentic human engagement.

Simultaneously, Vanessa’s passion for helping people find their SUPERPOWER and how to activate it through coaching and mentoring grew. She founded Coaching Life’s Journey LLC to provide a safe space and the opportunity to have conversations that profoundly change lives and develop high performing cultures that fuel personal and business growth.

Vanessa stands as an outcome-driven business leader. She is revered as a transformational thought leader, captivating speaker, astute coach, and trusted advisor. She served on the board of The Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League and Circulation Verification Council, and currently sits on the board of Empow(H)er Cybersecurity and is a member of CHIEF. Vanessa earned a bachelor’s degree from Governors State University and holds a Diversity & Inclusion certification from Cornell University and is completing her Core Energy Coaching™ certification through iPEC, an International Coaching Federation (IFC) accredited training program.

In essence, Vanessa Vining's journey is one of multifaceted accomplishments, unwavering dedication, and a relentless pursuit of positive change. Her story is an embodiment of the belief that true leadership is rooted in empowerment, education, and the persistent endeavor to uplift others.