Do you have any tips for getting the most out of CEW membership?

Participation is key to getting the most out of a membership. When I was starting out, my participation solely meant attending panel discussions, and occasionally events. Later, as a board member for a nonprofit, I often would reference CEW as a best in class example of community engagement and site experience. Now, it’s more about myself and our team sharing our knowledge and insights by participating in discussions, reading CEW’s Beauty News, or giving back to Cancer and Careers. The Events and Beauty News pages are some of my most frequently visited. Some of my favorite events include the yearly NPD review, panel discussions in NY and CA (or now virtually), and the annual Job Market Report.

What advice would you give someone who is inspired by your career and one day wants to be in a similar position?

First, learn, learn, and keep learning. The more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know, which for me, fuels the desire to learn more at every stage of my life and career; learn from people, leaders, books, companies, teachers, friends, kids, everything. Some of my best learnings came from watching leaders that I respected, and some that didn’t quite get it right. As I’ve grown in my career, I would use those references as a lens to make decisions. How would they have handled this challenge? Is that something I want to emulate? How do I harness that and also make it my own?

Second, be self-aware and know what you are inherently good at, and be willing to figure the rest out. It might mean failing at something you loved but just weren’t good at. Give yourself grace to fail and pivot into something you will thrive in, and then learn from that as well. Realize that everyone does not inherently know what they will be great at when starting their first or second job. From there, you will find and then start to know your value, and that value will give you confidence to go for bigger things where you know you can make an impact and will enable you to then take risks. Whether it’s taking your first leadership position, launching a new product line, starting a brand, building a team, or developing a new concept. Your foundational work will prepare you for a step change that will feel like a risk but could be a point of liftoff.

How important has mentorship been in your career journey? 

Mentorship has been integral, and we work in an industry that is keen to promote mentorship, so it’s a shame for those that do not prioritize it. I have some amazing mentors that have been with me throughout my career experience. Most are women who I have worked for, some who have worked for me in the past, and some that taught me as a youth.

What do you feel is the most important quality for someone to possess in order you have a successful career?

I think that having a growth mindset, passion (and compassion), and the ability to collaborate constructively is crucial to success in any role or industry.