HER STORY
Vanessa McNeal MSW is an award winning documentary filmmaker, national speaker, and 2x TEDx speaker. She is the founder of Story Maven Media. A nonprofit media company elevating social issues through documentary filmmaking.
At an early age, Vanessa experienced sexual abuse and neglect, ultimately resulting in educational challenges and a short time in foster care. At age 15, Vanessa was sexually assaulted at a college prep program and overcame the many faces of rape culture. Her life experiences have fueled her passion to educate, inspire, and empower others.
She is the Director of the internationally recognized documentary, “The Voiceless”, which features the stories of male survivors of sexual violence. She won "Best Director" for the documentary at the Newark International Film Festival. At Indiefest she received Women Filmmaker Award of Recognition. Vanessa won the 2017 YWCA "Woman of Tomorrow" award and won the 2018 STATEment maker award. In 2019 she received an Outstanding Anti- Trafficking Service Award presented by the Governor. She also received the Inspiring Woman of Iowa award in the courage category.
Vanessa was the first in her family to graduate high school and went on to pursue her Bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University. She received her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Northern Iowa.She most recently Directed "Gridshock", a documentary about the demand for sex trafficking. The film was made possible after Vanessa raised $55,000 in a 60 day fundraising campaign.
