Nana Twumasi, a Ghanaian-American, Brooklyn, N.Y.-based writer and editor, has etched a niche in the wellness and self-help publishing space, an intriguing move to mesh her love of information with her creative acumen as a writer’s editor.
The Oberlin College and California College of the Arts graduate has written prose and nonfiction work that has been published in various literary journals, and she’s an early disruptor in the wellness and psychology publishing space, with roles at Callisto Media, which allowed her the opportunity to be instrumental in expanding knowledge bases.
Today, as vice president and publisher of the Balance imprint at Grand Central Publishing, she’s able to amplify diverse scholarly voices on vital topics like addressing grief and pain in Black men, down-to-earth financial freedom insights for Latinas, and the struggles of high-performing Black women executives to find life harmony while still seeking career excellence.
The keyword here is scholarly—books that back up insights with actual research and decades of experienced exploration from credible sources. In a time where the number of social media followers can offer carte blanche expert labels, this is important and it’s profound when a Black woman is at the helm of executing pitch approvals, campaign launches, and budgets.
We talked with Nana about what led her into wellness and self-help publishing, working with authoritative voices like Dr. Kameelah Phillips how women can break the mold and thrive as creatives with business acumen within it, and her own word as a
xoNecole: Talk a bit about your career journey. Were you always interested in being in publishing, particularly in the wellness and self-help space?
Nana Twumasi: I ended up getting a job at a children's book publisher in Minneapolis. And at that time, I was also really interested in photography, so that particular job was as a photo researcher. If you're familiar with children's books—especially nonfiction ones that incorporate historical photos and illustrations and things like that— it was my job, among a team of people, to either research and find that imagery or manage photo shoots and things like that. So I did that for a few years, and it was a really good learning experience, just about how books come together in general.
And then I decided I wanted to go to grad school and really try to pursue being a writer, you know. So I ended up in California getting my masters in writing. And then, you know, as happens, I graduated, and I was like, oh, boy, I need a job.
And at that time, one of my school colleagues, my grad school colleagues, had started working at Jossey Bass, which was an independent publisher based in San Francisco. They had just been purchased by John Wiley and Sons, which is a larger publisher that's now based in Hoboken, N.J.
I was hired as an editorial assistant, which is generally where people start in the industry. [One of my bosses] was a very storied editor in both New York and San Francisco. He had worked at Rolling Stone. He had worked with Tom Robbins, the novelist. He had a long career, and he was doing the more kind of like wellness, self-improvement, marriage relationships, some spirituality, that basically most of the categories that I work in now. I just kind of gravitated more towards those categories and the things that he was working on.
I love knowledge. I love learning. I think other people do too, and those are the resources that we're producing is educating people, helping people solve problems, and helping people discover new ways of thinking about something.
And so whether that's how to parent your teenager, or if you want to, you know, improve your protein intake, or if you want to, you know, manage your relationship better, the best information you're going to get is by someone who's an expert, who studied or practiced, or, you know, had some like, real-life experience doing a thing.
xoN: You’ve been five years in this role. What does a day in your life look like for you and how has it changed since your first day?
NT: There's a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into a book, and so most of my day is spent talking about talking about it. My role is kind of twofold, maybe, maybe three-fold even. So, I run an imprint which is essentially a small business. I manage a team of people. So, I have two editors that report to me, as well as an assistant who also is starting to manage her own editorial projects. And then I'm also an editor myself. I also work on my own projects—work with my own authors, etc.
So on any given day, depending on the day you would talk to me varies. I’ll meet with a potential author that I've been in communication with about acquiring a book of hers, and we're talking about what that might look like. What does she need to move forward? What do I need to move forward with the project—what the possibilities might be?
We also look at our cover designs for the books that are coming out in Fall 2026, so publishing is always working at least a year ahead.
I do some editorial work. ….It's a lot of meetings, a lot of talking, a lot of collaborating with people across the process. You know, we have regular, I meet regularly with our publicists, which are with our marketers, with the, you know, division leadership,
xoN: How does being an accomplished editor and writer yourself play into your role as an executive?
NT: There is a fair amount of creativity and creative thinking that goes into running this imprint, because it's not just looking at a set of numbers and trying to make it the most strategic decision. There are so many factors to consider and the way that we think about them.
We solve problems here, it always has to lend itself, because we're not just making widgets, you know, we're making a thing that is created by somebody, that will go on to be used by a person. So we can't just treat it like a thing that doesn't have feeling.
So I don't find that I'm having to, like, use one part of my brain or use another part of my brain to do one thing or the other. The whole business involves a fair amount of creativity.
xoN: With a great focus on diverse voices, what are some milestones, or maybe some projects that you have worked on recently?
NT: Sometimes, if you look at a niche, it's a few million people, you know. So that, to me, is like, ‘Well, that seems like an opportunity.’ We've done Permission To Come Home, which is a mental health resource for Asian Americans. The Invisible Ache, which is a mental health book that's focused on Black men and is co-written by actor, Courtney B Vance.
We've done a book called Playing a New Game, which is a research-based resource for Black women in the workplace. There are many titles from diverse voices on topics that are important.
I worked on The Empowered Hysterectomy by Kameelah Phillips, who is actually a real-world Boston alum and is now an OB-GYN based in New York. I was inspired to do that book because my best friend had a hysterectomy a few years ago. …I was motivated to find someone who could speak to that with some authority.
A lot of what we know about gynecology was gleaned from experimenting on Brown women’s bodies. I have a soft spot for that book. The author is Black, the publisher and editor and the agent are also Black women. That was very important to me.
xoN: As a publisher, what are the books that you read just for fun?
Courtesy
NT: I'm, you know, I'm a long-time book nerd, so that's challenging to choose one. I read all day, every day. Most of my personal time is spent reading literary fiction. That's what I love to read. I’ll occasionally read nonfiction if it's a topic that I'm interested in.
I'm currently reading Toni at Random, which is a biography of Toni Morrison specifically about her work as an editor at Random House. Yes, yes, yeah. So I'm, I'm calling that my, you know, beginning of the school year homework—as we're starting the fall and everyone's back to work after the summer. I'm finding that to be really wonderful and inspirational for myself as an editor in general, as it is, an editor of color, and as a publisher.
xoN: What’s the key to breaking into and sustaining a career in publishing on the business side, especially for Black women?
NT: Intrapreneurship and determination are definitely part of it. I think people come into this—and I certainly did—thinking, ‘I'm creative. I love to read. I love books. I love knowledge.’ All the things that I said at the beginning. ‘I love learning.’ And then you kind of get, kind of like, hit in the face by the fact that, like, ‘Oh, this is a business.’
There are profit margins and all kinds of things that we have to be confronted with. And so you do really have to be savvy about that stuff. You really have to think about like, if I buy this at this price and I sell it at this price, am I going to make a profit? And it feels uncomfortable to talk about creative work like that. It really does. But that's what's happening.
This interview was edited for brevity.
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So, we handpicked one hundred It Girls who embody that palpable It Factor moving through us as young Black women, the kind of motion lighting up the world both IRL and across the internet.
It Girl 100 became xoNecole’s most successful program, with the hashtag organically reaching more than forty million impressions on Instagram in just twenty-four hours. Yes, it caught on like wildfire because we celebrated some of the most brilliant and influential GenZennial women of color setting trends and shaping culture. But more than that, it resonated because the women we celebrated felt seen.
Many were already known in their industries for keeping this generation fly and lit, but rarely received recognition or flowers. It Girl 100 became a safe space to be uplifted, and for us as Black women to bask in what felt like an era of our brilliance, beauty, and boundless influence on full display.
And then, almost overnight, it was as if the rug was pulled from under us as Black women, as the It Girls of the world.
Our much-needed, much-deserved season of ease and soft living quickly metamorphosed into a time of self-preservation and survival. Our motion and economic progression seemed strategically slowed, our light under siege.
The air feels heavier now. The headlines colder. Our Black girl magic is being picked apart and politicized for simply existing.
With that climate shift, as we prepare to launch our second annual It Girl 100 honoree list, our team has had to dig deep on the purpose and intention behind this year’s list. Knowing the spirit of It Girl 100 is about motion, sauce, strides, and progression, how do we celebrate amid uncertainty and collective grief when the juice feels like it is being squeezed out of us?
As we wrestled with that question, we were reminded that this tension isn’t new. Black women have always had to find joy in the midst of struggle, to create light even in the darkest corners. We have carried the weight of scrutiny for generations, expected to be strong, to serve, to smile through the sting. But this moment feels different. It feels deeply personal.
We are living at the intersection of liberation and backlash. We are learning to take off our capes, to say no when we are tired, to embrace softness without apology.
And somehow, the world has found new ways to punish us for it.
In lifestyle, women like Kayla Nicole and Ayesha Curry have been ridiculed for daring to choose themselves. Tracee Ellis Ross was labeled bitter for speaking her truth about love. Meghan Markle, still, cannot breathe without critique.
In politics, Kamala Harris, Letitia James, and Jasmine Crockett are dragged through the mud for standing tall in rooms not built for them.
In sports, Angel Reese, Coco Gauff, and Taylor Townsend have been reminded that even excellence will not shield you from racism or judgment.
In business, visionaries like Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye and Melissa Butler are fighting to keep their dreams alive in an economy that too often forgets us first.
Even our icons, Beyoncé, Serena, and SZA, have faced criticism simply for evolving beyond the boxes society tried to keep them in.
From everyday women to cultural phenoms, the pattern is the same. Our light is being tested.
And yet, somehow, through it all, we are still showing up as that girl, and that deserves to be celebrated.
Because while the world debates our worth, we keep raising our value. And that proof is all around us.
This year alone, Naomi Osaka returned from motherhood and mental health challenges to reach the semifinals of the US Open. A’ja Wilson claimed another MVP, reminding us that beauty and dominance can coexist. Brandy and Monica are snatching our edges on tour. Kahlana Barfield Brown sold out her new line in the face of a retailer that had been canceled. And Melissa Butler’s company, The Lip Bar, is projecting a forty percent surge in sales.
We are no longer defining strength by how much pain we can endure. We are defining it by the unbreakable light we continue to radiate.
We are the women walking our daily steps and also continuing to run solid businesses. We are growing in love, taking solo trips, laughing until it hurts, raising babies and ideas, drinking our green juice, and praying our peace back into existence.
We are rediscovering the joy of rest and realizing that softness is not weakness, it is strategy.
And through it all, we continue to lift one another. Emma Grede is creating seats at the table. Valeisha Butterfield has started a fund for jobless Black women. Arian Simone is leading in media with fearless conviction. We are pouring into each other in ways the world rarely sees but always feels.
So yes, we are in the midst of societal warfare. Yes, we are being tested. Yes, we are facing economic strain, political targeting, and public scrutiny. But even war cannot dim a light that is divinely ours.
And we are still shining.
And we are still softening.
And we are still creating.
And we are still It.
That is the quiet magic of Black womanhood, our ability to hold both truth and triumph in the same breath, to say yes, and to life’s contradictions.
It is no coincidence that this year, as SheaMoisture embraces the message “Yes, And,” they stand beside us as partners in celebrating this class of It Girls. Because that phrase, those two simple words, capture the very essence of this moment.
Yes, we are tired. And we are still rising.
Yes, we are questioned. And we are the answer.
Yes, we are bruised. And we are still beautiful.
This year’s It Girl 100 is more than a list. It is a love letter to every Black woman who dares to live out loud in a world that would rather she whisper. This year’s class is living proof of “Yes, And,” women who are finding ways to thrive and to heal, to build and to rest, to lead and to love, all at once.
It is proof that our joy is not naive, our success not accidental. It is the reminder that our light has never needed permission.
So without further ado, we celebrate the It Girl 100 Class of 2025–2026.
We celebrate the millions of us who keep doing it with grace, grit, and glory.
Because despite it all, we still shine.
Because we are still her.
Because we are still IT, girl.
Meet all 100 women shaping culture in the It Girl 100 Class of 2025. View the complete list of honorees here.
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Since we all spend roughly one-third of our lives sleeping, and a good portion of that is while we are in a dream state, let’s take a moment to explore some fascinating (and proven) facts about the topic of dreaming.
It just might cause you to think more (or differently) about how you rest and when you rest — so that the quality of your dreams can become better than ever.
1. Men and Women Dream Pretty Differently
GiphyA quote that I like and use often is, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (Larry Dixon) And yes, men and women are created differently in order to balance one another — and I will forever die on that hill. Which is why it doesn’t surprise me in the least that, even when it comes to dreaming, males and females are not exactly the same.
Although research does indicate that dreaming, in part, is about how we process memories while we sleep regardless of our gender, men’s dreams tend to be more about action while women’s dreams are more about conversation. Not only that but women’s dreams are typically longer; men dream about other men more than women do (interesting), and women dream more from their own perspective while men daydream more with the topic usually being about sex.
2. Lucid Dreaming Is a Method to “Control” Your Dreams
GiphyIf it feels like you are aware of the fact that you are dreaming as you are doing so, pardon the pun, but it’s not all in your head. What this is called is lucid dreaming and, the fascinating thing about it is, to a certain extent, you can actually control these types of dreams whenever you have them. If the mere thought of this fascinates you and you want to try and “rig up” some of your dreams (LOL) — some sleep experts say that doing things like keeping a dream diary and a sleep schedule can help to make this happen. Anyway, you can read more about lucid dreaming here.
3. Dreams Typically Have a Short Shelf Life
GiphyAlthough it’s been reported that people tend to spend somewhere around two hours of their night dreaming, the thing to keep in mind is most individuals have multiple dreams during that period of time — and for this reason, oftentimes dreams last for no longer than 5-10 minutes tops (although some have the ability to last considerably longer. You can read more about that here and here).
4. Dreams Happen When You Are in REM Sleep (You’re “Paralyzed” Then Too)
GiphyWhen it comes to sleeping, it actually happens in four different stages. While you can read more about those here, as far as your dream state is concerned, most of that tends to happen during your rapid eye movement cycle which is better known as REM. It is when you are in your final stage of sleep which is why your dreams typically are the most intense during that time.
Know what else is wild about dreaming during REM? Although you don’t realize it, your body is actually paralyzed. And although, initially, that might sound low-key terrifying, it’s actually a blessing in disguise because your brain is telling your muscles to stop working (temporarily) and that is what ultimately keeps you from acting out whatever you are dreaming about. The more you know.
5. Certain Sex Dreams Have NOTHING to Do with Sex At All
GiphySex-themed dreams are very normal and quite common. Thing is, although the dreams may be about sex, oftentimes what they are interpreting is something entirely different. For instance, a BDSM dream is oftentimes about having a controlling parent, while a sex dream that involves a lot of dirty talk could represent someone who wants to free themselves from how others perceive them, and recurring sex dreams about your ex typically means that there are some unresolved issues that you may have with them.
Oh, and while we’re on this topic, dreams about cheating usually means that you are feeling some sort of jealousy in your relationship while sex with a boss usually means that you want to move up in your job or be appreciated more often — not that you want them in a sensual type of way.
6. You Can’t Read or Tell Time in Your Dreams
GiphyHere’s something that you’ve probably never thought about before — when you think back on the dreams that you can remember (more on that in a bit), how many of them do you recall reading or even telling time in? If you said “a few,” science would probably give you the side-eye because, according to their research, reading (and telling time) is virtually impossible to do whenever you are in your dream state.
The reason why is because, while you are dreaming, the logical and intellectual part of your brain pretty much shuts down. If that bothers you, the easiest way to try to read (or tell time) would be to train your mind to do some of the lucid dreaming that we already talked about.
7. Your Recurring Dreams Typically Mean You Need to Address Something
GiphyOut of all of the things that I’ve mentioned about dreams, this is probably the most obvious revelation — if you are having a recurring dream, it tends to mean that either you have some unresolved issues in your life or there is a need that needs to be met that hasn’t been yet. While doing a bit of research on this one specifically, I thought it was interesting that many mental health experts say that some of the most common recurring dreams involve flying, falling, encountering a dead individual, your teeth falling out or being nude.
And what are some ways to “end” recurring dreams? See a therapist. State what your needs actually are (to the person who is not meeting them). Lower your stress levels. Get more consistent rest. Speak with your doctor about altering your medications (if you happen to be on some). To that last point, a not-so-fun fact: melatonin usage is sometimes attached to nightmares. Goodness.
8. Foods You Consume Can Influence Your Dream State
GiphyThere are several reasons why you shouldn’t eat immediately before turning in at night; one reason is because it has the ability to mess with your body’s natural circadian rhythm which is your system’s 24-hour clock. This is relevant when it comes to sleep because your circadian rhythm helps to control things like your sleeping pattern.
Another thing to take note of is to not only push the plate back 2-3 hours before going to bed but to watch what you do choose to consume as well. That’s because, believe it or not, certain foods do have an impact on your dream life. Like did you know that dairy can cause digestive issues that can lead to microaggressions that can give you very strange dreams?
Or were you aware that sugary foods can trigger your nervous system and make your dreams more vivid and intense? Interestingly enough, dairy, sweets and also spicy foods can also increase your chances of having a nightmare. Hey, don’t shoot the messenger, chile.
9. Is It True That Some People Don’t Dream at All?
GiphyI don’t know about y’all, but when I was growing up, I used to hear that if you don’t dream, you’re crazy. The actual fact is that, although most people absolutely do dream, the reason why they don’t remember them (or they dream less than other people) is because they don’t fall into REM sleep as much or often as they should.
And what are some of the main reasons for why this would happen? Sleep disorders, depression and medications that treat anxiety are all things that top the list. So, if not dreaming is something that bothers you, speak with your doctor and consider seeing a sleep specialist. An underlying issue could be the cause.
10. Not Only Scary Movies Lead to Nightmares
GiphyWhile reading a Harvard-based article entitled, “Nightmares and the Brain,” I thought it was interesting that it separated nightmares from night terrors (nightmares can be remembered; night terrors cannot although people do wake up screaming or frightened), that night terrors mostly happen to children and “Night terrors are not technically dreams but are instead sudden fearful reactions that occur during transitions from one sleep phase to another.”
Okay, but clearly people have actual nightmares (1 in 20 people say that they do at least once a week); however, guess what the source of a lot of them are? While sometimes it’s a horror film, oftentimes it’s stress, anxiety or simply sleep deprivation. Honestly, I might have a nightmare a couple of times a year, tops (and I remember my dreams on a daily basis). So, if that’s a sign that I’m managing stress well — happy to hear it!
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Welp, there you have it: 10 facts about dreams. Now that you know them, does it make you want to approach sleeping — and dreaming — in a different way? If so, hop in the comments and tell us why. Because, clearly, dreaming is more than just a notion. Amazing.
Sweet dreams to all, y’all.
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