Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) hosted its annual Achiever Awards luncheon last week, celebrating the accomplishments of six women and one man, whose achievements serve as inspiration to beauty industry members worldwide. Jill Scalamandre, president, Bare Minerals, and CEW Chairwoman, noted that the organization, now in its 43^rd year, continues to remain committed to the advancement of women throughout their careers in the beauty industry.


Scalamandre said, “The first CEW Awards were held 40 years ago, and one award was presented to Ann Watson Walsh, of Germaine Monteil. Today we have six innovators and thought leaders in the industry receiving the Achiever Award, and they all have in common a passion for their work.”


Scalamandre noted the importance of celebrating the growth of women at different points in their careers, and highlighted some of the characteristics that defined today’s leaders in the industry, including their ideas, patience, balance, and tenacity.


CEW reached a milestone, according to its President Carlotta Jacobson, who announced that the global organization now includes 10,000 members. The number left Jacobson in shock, as she remembered when the organization had 1,000 members.


“Since we began, we have recognized 145 women leaders. We need their voices, thoughts, and leadership; and we are recognizing their individual accomplishments as well as their company leadership,” she told attendees.


Since its founding, CEW has established new initiatives, including this year’s inaugural MEN-tor Award, for support of women in leadership positions, and it has increased its emphasis on Indie brands, including this year’s recognition of winners, Drunk Elephant and Amkiri. Jacobson thanked the sponsors of the event, including IFF, Arcade, 24/Seven, QVC, Nordstrom, Wells Fargo Securities, Sephora, tarte, it Cosmetics, Anisa, Fusion PKG, Beauty Inc, Coty, Array Marketing, Walgreens, Stila, WWD, Badger-Winters, Moblty, Urban Warrior, Suite K, Kaplow Communications, Consultancy Media, and lead sponsor, Meredith.
 

Award Winners
 

The Scent Innovator Award was presented to Shoval Shavit Shapiro, founder & chief creative, Amkiri Ltd., by Dionisio Ferenc, VP-global fine fragrance, IFF. Shapiro created a scented ink technique, which is applied via a wand and stencil, and brushed onto the skin as a temporary tattoo. She said the scent is actually her signature, and explained how she had wanted to make her scent visible.


“I think of this perfume as the world’s first visual fragrance,” said Shapiro.


As the daughter of a chemist, who grew up in the beauty industry, Shapiro said she sees visual fragrance as part of the future of technology.
      

Danyelle Boilard-Paul, EVP/GM, Groupe Clarins, accepted the award from Jonathan Zrihen, CEO, Groupe Clarins. Boilard-Paul, who grew up in a small town in Canada, credited her parents for her path to achievement.


“My father taught me how optimism is the path to achievement," she told attendees. "To be strong, humble, and grateful have been the most important to me. These are the principles that guide me today."


Lynn Emmolo, Chief Global Officer, Rodan + Fields, received her honor from Drs. Rodan and Fields. Dr. Rodan characterized Emmolo as “an outstanding marketer and game changer, who helped turn Rodan + Fields into a world class beauty brand.”


While Dr. Fields said, “Good ideas are a dime a dozen, but execution is everything. Lynn is our ace and our heart, who cares about every member of her team.”


Emmolo said she loved the beauty industry, the competition, and the collaboration. She discussed her early move from New Jersey to a first job at Cosmair, and the career path she took in the beauty industry, which she jokingly described as “one, big, dysfunctional family.”


She questioned why there are so few women CEOs in beauty companies, and concluded, saying, “We have the power to see the world differently, and the power to make change. Embrace diversity, challenge the status quo, and love what you do.”


Tiffany Masterson, founder and chief creative officer, Drunk Elephant, received her award from Artemis Patrick, chief merchandising officer, Sephora, USA. Patrick described Masterson, a mother of four, as a woman with a distinct point of view, who took a company with one bar of soap into one of the fastest growing brands in the beauty industry. Masterson acknowledged her partnership with Sephora, noting her emphasis on the ingredient profile of Drunk Elephant, and thanked her family and team for their support.


Vasiliki Petrou, global EVP-Prestige, Unilever, received her award from Jane Wurwand, founder of Dermalogica. Wurwand described how she handed over her nurtured brand to Unilever and was assured by Petrou that she would protect it.


“She did, by keeping the Dermalogica bubble and the original team,” said Wurwand.


She described Petrou as “an intra-preneur” and a disruptor who speaks her mind, and protects the prestige division. Petrou, who received a Fulbright scholarship and traveled from her home in Greece to work in the US, said she was inspired by the sustainable plans of Unilever and their leadership roles for women.


She said, “Be bold, be uncomfortable, and push yourself forward. The world needs you.”


Tara Simon, SVP-merchandising, Ulta Beauty, received her award from Mary Dillon, CEO, Ulta. Dillon cited her enthusiasm and her ability to bring meaningful relationships to the Ulta organization. Simon explained that her beauty career was actually born at home, when as a child, she witnessed her mother’s rigorous skin care regime.


“As a girl from Texas with stars in my eyes, I am thankful to all the women who mentored me along the way. I measure my success by those around me and I couldn’t be more proud of my team.”


The final award of the afternoon, was the inaugural MEN-tor award, presented to Marc Rey, president and CEO, Shiseido by Carlotta Jacobson.


“Women are still underrepresented and underestimated,” said Jacobson, explaining the importance of an award that recognizes the role of mentoring in the beauty industry. “Marc Rey has built a culture of mentoring, and at Shiseido, 68% of the senior leadership is women,” said Jacobson.


In accepting the honor, Rey said, “As I am the first recipient of the MEN-tor Award, I guess I can talk about mentoring and empowerment. Empowering women is key to the success of the workplace. It’s not only the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. I believe in the US the beauty industry is pretty progressive and I believe that Shiseido and others need to lead the industry. We think it’s extremely important to mentor and to nurture talent. At Shiseido, value is placed on worth and talent. We support the CEW MEN-tor match program, and beyond Shiseido, we want to empower women throughout the industry."


He noted the creation of the SHE-seido Network and urged participation, concluding, “I would like to thank all the women on my team who make my life much easier. On behalf of our women, and men, we are extremely honored to receive this award. Merci beaucoup.”