CIBS Holds First Innovations Committee Event

The Cosmetics Industry Buyers and Suppliers (CIBS) recently held its first innovations committee event during which guest speaker Sumita Banerjee, vice president of talent recruitment at L’Oréal USA, spoke about current market trends and how to stay competitive.

Maggie Wedemeyer, who introduced Banerjee at the event, said “she is thoroughly impressed with Sumita for having been promoted every two years in her employment, especially for being promoted to her new role at a time when promotions are hard to come by; this shows just how talented and effective she is at her job.”

Banerjee’s career path within L’Oréal is truly inspiring. She spoke about her own experience in the industry starting in package development and then later being approached about an human resources position within L’Oréal. While not previously familiar HR, she openly accepted the new role.

Banerjee’s advice was to let yourself be open to new opportunities, even if you are not entirely comfortable. She also emphasized the benefits of social networking and said Facebook has enabled her to forge stronger relationships with her employees and to find new talent.

Banerjee also urged the audience to think ahead to when the economy gets better and to prepare themselves for the competition. She referred to her favorite New York Times op-ed columnist, Thomas L. Freidman, who in his pieced called “The New Untouchables” quoted Daniel Pink (author of a “A Whole New Mind). Pink wrote “In a world which more and more average work can be done by a computer, robot or talented foreigner faster, cheaper “and just as well,” vanilla doesn’t cut it anymore. It’s all about what chocolate sauce, whipped cream and cherry you can put on top.”

Formed earlier this year, the goal of innovations committee is to create educational events that cater to the next generation of the industry. Its next event is in the works, according to CIBS.

CIBS was established in 1948 as an organization whose purpose is to introducenew members to the cosmetic industry.