On Wednesday, April 9, 2014, Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) honored future beauty industry leaders at its first annual Beauty’s Top Talent Awards. Recognized for their impressive performance, leadership potential, and the impact they're making on their companies and the industry, the honorees included Bal Adat, account manager perfumery, Firmenich; Jen Daly, senior brand manager, TRESemmé, Unilever; Jennifer Harbin, senior regional sales director Northeast/Mid-Atlantic, Christian Dior Perfumes LLC; and Colleen Scanlon, executive director of North America advertising, Estée Lauder, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
At a breakfast event taking place Hearst Corporation in New York, the event kicked off with a keynote speech from Birchbox co-founder and co-CEO Katia Beauchamp. Beauchamp discussed her beginnings in the beauty industry and her ongoing journey in it. “I fell hard into this industry, and it took a little while for the beauty industry to warm up to me. We are far from being a fixture…,” she said. “But I love the journey, and just like you, there’s nothing I like doing more than driving my career and earning my place here.”
In receiving her award, Adat commented, “Never be afraid of going after what you want,” and Daly accepted her award thanking her manager and mentor and the TRESemmé team. Harbin acknowledged the importance of relationships “and staying true your beliefs…push beyond your comfort zone,” in accepting her award, and Scanlon discussed the importance of accessibility to company leadership when she accepted her award. She also offered three pieces of advice: care about what you do, stay grounded and have accountability.
