Lee Clifford
Lee Clifford is a senior leader in business journalism and currently serves as Executive Editor at Fortune, where she plays a central role shaping coverage of technology, leadership, and finance. In this capacity, she oversees Fortune’s Enterprise reporting team, driving both its daily analysis and long-form feature journalism. Clifford is also deeply involved in editing marquee Fortune products such as CEO Daily, MPW Daily, and high-profile annual rankings — including the Fortune 100 Most Powerful People in Business.
Clifford’s editorial path at Fortune is built on a strong foundation. She originally joined the magazine after beginning her business-journalism career at SmartMoney, the Wall Street Journal’s personal finance outlet. Over the years, she rose through the ranks: before becoming Executive Editor, she directed Fortune’s beat reporting desks and was previously the magazine’s Finance Editor. Her return to Fortune in 2019 was a notable milestone in her career.
In addition to her editorial role, Clifford has entrepreneurial experience: she co-founded Altruette, a socially minded business who sold ‘charms for charity’ at Nordstrom, specialty retailers, and online, and empowered women and girls to “change the world with a charm.” Altruette partnered with 40 non-profits, and was featured in O Magazine, People StyleWatch, Coastal Living, The Today Show, and many other outlets.
Clifford’s leadership extends beyond writing and editing. She has contributed to defining Fortune’s voice on its most influential platforms, particularly its signature ranking lists and feature journalism. Her role in shaping the “100 Most Powerful People” list underscores her influence in profiling and framing the most consequential business leaders globally. She has also taken part in Fortune’s live media initiatives, speaking and moderating at major industry events — for example, at the Fortune Future of Finance conference in New York City. She has also written and edited for Chicago Magazine, Inc. Magazine, and other publications
On a personal note, Clifford grew up in Seattle and holds a B.A. in History from Columbia University. Her academic grounding in history has helped her approach business stories with both a long-term, contextual mindset and a storyteller’s rigor. Today, she is based outside Chicago, positioning her at an important crossroads of journalism and midwestern business leadership.