How MTC Helped Delano Massey Recalibrate His Leadership
“It’s not just professional development. It’s a recalibration of purpose.”
July 15, 2025
As Managing Editor of Axios Local and a former CNN producer, Delano Massey’s been at the helm of some of the most dynamic shifts in journalism. But it was a personal and professional crossroads that led him to the Media Transformation Challenge (MTC).
“I came to MTC during a pivotal transition in my life and career,” Massey says. “I had just left the relentless pace of CNN, helped launch more than two dozen local markets at Axios, and was stepping into a broader leadership role.”
Though the stakes were high and the work impactful, the internal pressure was mounting. “I needed space to process how the pressure cooker of national news had shaped me, and how to lead differently in a new culture,” he recalls. “MTC gave me that space and the clarity to lead with more alignment and intention.”
Massey’s performance challenge was no small feat: unify decentralized newsroom teams across dozens of cities into one cohesive editorial operation—all amid industry upheaval.
“Through my leadership, we clarified roles, improved local and national communication pipelines, and grew a more resilient and mission-driven team,” he says. “The result was stronger local journalism, less aggregation, sharper accountability, and a model for scalable impact.”
Key to that transformation was what MTC calls the “balcony view,” a practice of stepping back to see the whole system. For Massey, this perspective was both strategic and personal.
“The balcony view helped me identify patterns in my leadership style, recognizing where I was over functioning and what I needed to let go of to lead with greater clarity, courage, and calm,” he says. “It reminded me that systems don’t change unless the people in them do.”
This kind of introspection was especially meaningful for Massey as a Black man in media leadership.
“I’ve spent a lot of time wearing the mask, fixing systems I didn’t break, and pushing through without pause,” he reflects. “MTC helped me take the mask off. It reminded me that Bruce Wayne is the one doing the real work, and Batman can’t stay on all the time.”
That shift – from doing it all to empowering others – became a defining lesson.
“I had to evolve from being the one who gets it done, to being the one who prepares others to lead.”
Since completing the fellowship, Massey has remained a vital part of the MTC community.
“The MTC network is more than a cohort; it’s a council of people committed to leading differently,” he says. “I’ve stayed deeply connected through check-ins, referrals, and supporting others navigating the same path.”
His advice to prospective fellows is deep and simple:
“If you’re carrying a big vision and the weight that comes with it, MTC is the place to lay some of it down. You’ll gain clarity, language, and a leadership lens that will serve you far beyond your current role. It’s not just professional development. It’s a recalibration of purpose.”
Recalibrate your purpose by applying to join the MTC Fellowship Class of 2026 now.