Why is CEW membership important to you?
The beauty industry is full of passionate people who live and breathe beauty every day, and CEW is really the only organization that brings us all together. When I first joined (almost 15 years ago!), my membership allowed me to learn from panel discussions and inspirational keynote speakers. Then as I continued in my career, it became a place for networking, and catching up with old friends. Now as a CEO and founder of my own company, it is a place where I’m back to learning, specifically about the Indie Beauty landscape and networking with retailers and suppliers. This organization has been a source of professional development throughout all stages of my career, and I know it will continue to be!
Do you have any tips for getting the most out of CEW membership?
For now, I would recommend attending the virtual speaker series, reading the industry updates, and generally keeping abreast of the developments in the industry. And then as soon as in person events are happening again, I’d recommend to go whenever possible and meet people! The beauty industry is a small world, and it is fun to meet with people who are like-minded and share the same professional passions. You’ll be surprised how someone you meet through CEW will show up again in your career down the road.
What do you feel is the most important quality for someone to possess in order you have a successful career?
I don’t believe there is one “most important” quality– we all have unique gifts and talents that we should use to build our careers. In fact, the more your career is based on your unique abilities and passions, the more successful you will be. One tip I would give everyone, though, would be to think about what your purpose is in your career. What is your why? This will give you the internal motivation needed to get through all the seasons you’ll experience en route to success.
In which ways has the events surrounding Covid-19 affected your company and your day-to-day role?
The most drastic change in my day-to-day role is that I’ve been the sole teacher to my 2nd and 4th graders for 3 days a week– all while running my company, sourcing materials in a pandemic, launching at QVC and Verishop, etc. I know this will be one of those times in life that I look back on and wonder how it all got done. But I believe that all moms are part-superhero. Sometimes you just have to toss your cape over your shoulder, pour some coffee, and do what needs to be done.
