Kimberly Meilun – Editor

I'm an Editor at Simon Acumen, the new business imprint of Simon & Schuster. A fierce believer in the power of business to transform lives, I specialize in books about entrepreneurship (books for people who want to build things), personal success, self-help, personal finance, business strategy, and women in business. Some of my authors include keynote speaker and author of Rejection Proof Jia Jiang, overspending coach and host of The Money Love Podcast Paige Pritchard, and financial literacy coach, profit strategist, and founder of Balance CFO Jamie Trull.

Prior to joining Simon & Schuster, I worked at PublicAffairs (an imprint of Hachette Book Group), acquiring advice-driven business books by experts in their category. Some of my authors included Emma Hayes, the head coach of the US Women’s Soccer Team; Harvard Business School professor and startup operations expert Julia Austin; and journalist and creator of the "Too Ambitious" newsletter Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez. Before PublicAffairs, I worked at Portfolio (the business imprint of Penguin Random House) where I published bestselling books by innovative thinkers and leaders, such as award-winning DEI coach Deanna Singh and founder of the Bail Project Robin Steinberg.

The best part of my job is helping authors create the best, most authentic expression of their ideas. While I can correct grammar issues, I don't see my job as a "red pen" editor, but rather, someone who can help you understand your book's position in the marketplace, the best shape and structure for your book, how your ideas can best shine and have maximum impact, etc. You'll find my edits and notes helpful and packed with context, so you're never left wondering, "What the heck does that mean!?" I love to collaborate with my authors and hash out ideas for stories, headings/subheadings, takeaways, activities in the book, packaging, titles, and other parts of the creative process.

Before beginning my career in publishing, I worked as a financial crimes consultant for global banks and criminal defense paralegal in a widely-publicized NYC trial. I also worked as an editor/research assistant for Fordham Law Professor Tanya Hernández, fact-checking and editing her 2018 book, Multiracials and Civil Rights: Mixed-Race Stories of Discrimination. All this to say, I have lots of corporate business experience, particularly legal experience!

I look forward to working together!