The Happi Podcast

Dr. Lucy Gildea of Mary Kay

Chief Brand and Scientific Officer Lucy Gildea discusses the R&D team at Mary Kay, women in STEM and fostering a collaborative environment for growth.

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By: Christine Esposito

Editor-in-Chief


Dr. Lucy Gildea, chief brand and scientific officer at Mary Kay, joined the Happi podcast to discuss the global beauty company’s R&D team, where 62% are women, and how the Mary Kay leadership values an environment that fosters growth and collaboration.

In the podcast, Gildea also shares insight on projects underway at company’s Richard R. Rogers Global Manufacturing/R&D facility, and how the company is empowering future generations of women in STEM locally and beyond.

Since 2020, Mary Kay has awarded:

  • $234,000  to young women globally through STEM grants
  • 51 grants to young women pursuing their STEM dreams
  • 13 grants  to NextGen innovators at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
  • 10 Madam C.J. Walker Scholarships awarded in partnership with Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC).

Since 2023, more than 300 young women have been exposed to STEM career pathways through immersive events featuring Mary Kay’s women in STEM leaders at the Richard R. Rogers Global Manufacturing/R&D facility. Built on 26 acres of land, this Silver LEED-certified facility in Lewisville, TX represents a $100+ million investment for the company.

The “Women in STEMK” initiative at Mary Kay has introduced hundreds of young women to STEM careers through hands-on lab experiments, tours of a global manufacturing facility and career mentoring.

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