Welcome to my blog, where I share the most intriguing conversations and insights from my podcast, the Dilly Dally. In a recent episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Emily, a seasoned professional in the beauty industry, to discuss her career journey, marketing trends, and much more. Let’s unpack this enlightening discussion and explore the valuable lessons Emily shared with us.
The Beginnings of a Beauty Career
I’ve known Emily since 2010, and it was fascinating to revisit her early days in the beauty industry. Emily’s passion for beauty and fashion was evident from a young age, as she would recreate looks from magazines and drag her mom to the mall for the latest trends. Her initial pursuit of accounting and finance in college took a turn when she realized her heart wasn’t in it. A pivotal internship at L’Oréal in London was the catalyst that solidified her passion for beauty marketing.
Emily’s journey is a testament to the power of internships and networking. Her stints at Bergdorf Goodman and Estée Lauder were stepping stones that helped her build a strong foundation in the industry. She emphasized the importance of forming relationships and learning from senior executives, which played a crucial role in her career development.
Climbing the Ladder: From Estée Lauder to Fresh
Emily’s career progression is nothing short of impressive. After five years at Estée Lauder, she moved to Joe Malone London, where she felt a significant impact on the brand’s presence in Sephora stores. Her eight-year tenure there prepared her for a new challenge at Fresh, where she continued to hone her skills in global marketing.
The Evolution of Marketing in Beauty
One of the most striking changes Emily has observed in the industry is the shift from traditional marketing to more creative and flexible strategies. Brands are now tailoring campaign content for different channels and audiences, moving away from the one-size-fits-all approach. This evolution underscores the need for marketers to be adaptable and innovative in their tactics.
Work-Life Balance and Future Predictions
Emily shared her favorite piece of advice: a blend of patience and persistence. She highlighted the significance of studying one’s craft, staying informed about industry trends, and networking organically. Balancing a successful career and personal life is a challenge, but Emily manages it with grace. She sets boundaries for work hours, prioritizes family, and embraces the support of remote work.
Looking ahead, Emily sees the beauty industry continuing to embrace founder-led smaller brands and unique products. She’s excited about the potential of generative AI, although she believes it won’t replace the creative and passionate human element.
Emily’s Top Three Beauty Picks
To wrap up our conversation, Emily shared her top three beauty products: the Fresh oil serum for skincare, Supergoop glow screen for makeup, and the Hair Alchemy serum for hair care. These products reflect her expertise and personal preference, offering a glimpse into her beauty regimen.
The TikTok Trend and Authenticity in Marketing
We also touched on the latest TikTok trends, where consumers test heat protectants with receipts to see their effectiveness. This tangible demonstration of product efficacy is what consumers crave, and it’s a perfect example of the authenticity that’s shaping the beauty industry today.
Connecting with Emily
For those looking to connect with Emily, she’s available on LinkedIn for career-related discussions and shares her personal life and baby updates on Instagram at mediumyydear. Her LinkedIn profile is under Emily Dear, where she welcomes engaging conversations.
Final Thoughts
My conversation with Emily was not only informative but also a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Her journey underscores the importance of patience, persistence, and the willingness to learn and adapt. Whether you’re an aspiring beauty industry professional or simply a beauty enthusiast, Emily’s insights are invaluable.
Thank you for joining me on this exploration of the beauty industry with Emily. Her story is a powerful reminder that with the right mindset and dedication, anyone can carve out a successful and fulfilling career in this dynamic field.
Podcast Transcript
Interview Featuring: Emily Quadrino Dear
Interview By: Anne Laughlin
Speaker 1 (00:00:05) – Emily. Emily. Dear, welcome to the Dilly Dally Podcast. We are so excited to have you here and to hear all about your beauty journey. Uh, the two of us met, I believe, back in 2010, just as we were launching our careers. So I’m so excited to have you on and to hear about how you got started in the industry, what you’re up to now. Advice you received, advice you’d love to share with people looking to dive into the same shoes as you, and more. So thanks for coming on today.
Speaker 2 (00:00:34) – Yes, thank you so much. I’m happy to be here. Big podcast listener on my daily strolls. So you are.
Speaker 1 (00:00:40) – I feel like you were one of the first to dive into like listening to podcasts and like taking all the information I remember, like back in the day. So yes, you’re the OG. So I thought we could start maybe with like a quick, um, how do you say it? It’s like we’re going to go through like flash questions and it kind of reminds me of I’m totally blanking on the publication and maybe you’ll remember it, but remember about like once a quarter, there was a digital publication that would come out, they would interview everyone, and it was like questions like, um, like digital thank you notes versus handwritten coffee, tea, um, like Bahamas or mountains or things like that.
Speaker 1 (00:01:15) – Remember that came out like once a quarter.
Speaker 2 (00:01:18) – I’m thinking of Vogue’s like 21 questions that they do. I love those, but I love good little rapid fire question games.
Speaker 1 (00:01:26) – Well, I know I was like wondering. I was like, it’s not the, uh, daily candy, but it was something similar to it. I wish I could go through my email and find it. I mean, this is like totally 2010, 2011, but I was inspired by it because it’s totally the error that we met. So I thought we could start with a few questions. Rapid fire. You can pick one both or, you know, alt option. Okay. First question is coffee or tea?
Speaker 2 (00:01:49) – Tea all the way? I’ve actually never had a cup of coffee in my life.
Speaker 1 (00:01:52) – That’s right. I know you don’t need it. You have good energy. Uh, Beacher. Mountains.
Speaker 2 (00:01:57) – Beach.
Speaker 1 (00:01:59) – City or farm.
Speaker 2 (00:02:01) – Both.
Speaker 1 (00:02:03) – Oh. Uh, dog or cat?
Speaker 2 (00:02:06) – Dog.
Speaker 1 (00:02:08) – Book or podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:02:11) – A lot depends on the situation.
Speaker 1 (00:02:15) – Sailboat or motorcycle?
Speaker 2 (00:02:18) – Sailboat. I would never get on a motorcycle.
Speaker 1 (00:02:21) – And if you could splurge on one thing, what would it be?
Speaker 2 (00:02:25) – A handbag.
Speaker 1 (00:02:26) – Bye bye. Well, thanks for a little warm up, and we can dive right on in. So let’s go back to the start of your career journey. So how did you get started diving into the beauty industry? Where did or what sparked your interest in marketing, be it beauty marketing, like go back to ever. That moment was where, you know, you had a path to get to where you are now. Yes.
Speaker 2 (00:02:50) – So I was always one of those, I guess I’d say kids, children who was like, I was obsessed with magazines, obsessed with like the Style Network and like those shows like the Look for Less and all that kind of stuff. And I’d be like, mom, look at this. Let’s go to the mall and, like, recreate this look I found in a magazine. So I always had this interest in like, fashion, beauty.
Speaker 2 (00:03:11) – If like allure did a magazine on your top ten beauty must-haves. I’d like, make her take me to CVS and I’d want to buy all ten of them. Um, so I was one of those, like, oddly passionate kids about beauty, fashion. Um, so I definitely had the personal interest. And then when I went to college, I thought you just do a standard route of accounting, finance, that kind of thing. I didn’t really know there was such thing as cool, fun jobs. Um, so I started going that route and realized I wasn’t it really wasn’t for me. Um, so I’d say my first, like, big break in beauty was I was a junior in college and studying abroad in London, and through the program I did, you were able to be you were able to do an internship while studying abroad. So I was very picky and kind of pushed back on the first internship that was selected for me and asked if I could do something at L’Oreal, because I knew previous people had worked at L’Oreal in London that did the program.
Speaker 2 (00:04:04) – So my pushy, persistent self was able to, um, land an internship there. And that was my first foray into having, like, an exciting job. Um, and I’ll never forget when they first said to me, like, in their British accent, I was on the brand bio. I’m like, oh, have you never tried all products? Like, let me take you to the cupboard? And I was like, oh my gosh, they’re taking me as a cupboard. And this girl took gave me like one of everything and sent me home with like an epic skincare routine that I remember that night. Like I couldn’t wait to wash my face because in like, do all the steps and all that. And I remember thinking like, wow, I think like my destiny is to make people excited to wash their face and like, use products and all that stuff. Um, so yeah, that was my first kind of internship in beauty. And from there, like having a great name on my resume, I was able to build on from there.
Speaker 2 (00:04:52) – So I interned at Bergdorf Goodman. Um, that summer I landed an internship at Estee Lauder. And then I think that’s how it all began. Um, and the way I landed internship at Estee Lauder was through this thing called Fashion Marketing Day, where I went to college at Villanova. We did a day at the Esther Lauder offices, and a woman spoke their name, Alana Pulsipher, who’s now the CEO of revive. And I ended up sending her a note after. And we got in touch and I kept in touch with her. Um, and it led to a breakfast at Cipriani on Fifth Avenue. Yeah. Cipriani on fifth Avenue. Um, and she said something at the end of the breakfast. It was it was before 9 a.m., and she said she took out her BlackBerry and iPhone and said, I’m always impressed with anybody that gets to me before 9 a.m. and now that I’m in these kind of roles and in meetings all day, kind of understand, because once you get your day going, it’s like you don’t have time to respond to emails.
Speaker 2 (00:05:45) – So any email I ever sent her, I made a mental note. I did it like early in the morning. So as a college student, we’re not up early in the morning. So I drafted at night, set my alarm for like 7 a.m., send it off and get responses right away. And that’s kind of how we kept in touch. Um, and so from there, that’s how I met you at Estee Lauder. I started really my career as an assistant, which I always say is like the absolute best foundational start you can have. You get to know every executive. You get to kind of like study your boss’s calendar and see the kind of cool meetings they’re going to. You really just get to know everything from the tech people to, you know, how to get stuff done. And to me, that’s still a quality I look for. Anybody I work with is like those figure it out, get stuff done kind of people. And so, so many people that have worked with me have been former assistants as well.
Speaker 2 (00:06:32) – So that’s my start in a nutshell. And then, well, what a good place to start.
Speaker 1 (00:06:37) – And like that’s so true. Like you have amazing persistence and you have the confidence to go up to these executives and say like, hey, I’m interested in learning more about your department or company or role or how you got into this industry. I’ve always admired that about you, even from like a really young age. And like, I look at, you know, other gen, like Gen Z’s right now, that might have been the same age. Like, I don’t think they have that same amount of go get them like, you know, reach out to people. I think it’s like a different but you, you did that well and this is like pre height of social media too. So you were going after emails or with LinkedIn even around then maybe.
Speaker 2 (00:07:13) – Probably I think it was just I also think again that being an assistant, it’s like you get comfortable with these senior level executives because you’re the one that has to be like, can you move this meeting for my boss and that kind of thing? Um, my best.
Speaker 2 (00:07:24) – Calls it my no shame ness. Um, I’ve just kind of just not being shy sometimes, but it definitely. Which is a great, great.
Speaker 1 (00:07:31) – Trait that it’s so amazing. And it’s true. It’s like when you’re assistant, we see what meetings are accepting, what meetings they cut short going into meetings. Like sometimes we would like not only take notes, but you would almost like comment on behalf of your boss. Right. And you could see who are the like the key stakeholders, um, like what people are taking most seriously and what other things people would say, like, hey, I need to move on to the next task. And how to make decisions is also something that’s powerful, that people can really take within them into any role. So it is like the gatekeeper of like assistant to beyond. That is it’s like the springboard, maybe not the gatekeeper, but yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:08:09) – And even just observing like the way they work, like, you know, both of us coming from that, that life of like, you know, my boss, when he would have me send flowers to somebody, he would have me messenger, a handwritten note to the florist with a gold paper clip, like every detail mattered.
Speaker 2 (00:08:24) – And it’s something. Now, working at Orb, my founder is very much of that same mentality of, like, every detail matters from like the paper clipper using um, I know we both coming from Estee Lauder and the president of Estee Lauder, Jane Harris, was infamous for making sure like your staple was always straight, like those kind of details like you immediately see, like I was just reviewing a deck and, you know, like you want all the fonts consistent and those kind of things. You know, if you don’t say it to your direct report, the next level manager is going to see it. So it’s kind of just like constantly thinking through those details.
Speaker 1 (00:08:54) – It’s true. All the details do make a difference even to like the smallest, smallest of things. Yes. So then okay, so you landed us say, Lauder. Now walk us through Estee Lauder to where you’re at now. Like, what did that look like? So you get the job, you get in the door. You know, you walk into a beauty company probably before the age.
Speaker 1 (00:09:12) – You’re probably like 20 probably at the time. That is way ahead of so many other people who might have had to work at agencies. Or a lot of times people come from finance and they pivot into global marketing. But so you’re there early in your career. So walk us through the next ten years.
Speaker 2 (00:09:28) – Yeah. I think it all came from, um, you know, starting I did an internship there after college. So at the time I said, oh my gosh, I, you know, so many friends are going into full time jobs. I can’t believe it. I’m going to be an intern. But it ended up being the best start. So I’d say my so that’s it starts with my advice to like not being too good for anything. Um, same way then when when you were assistants, like, what do you mean? I want to be a coordinator, not an admin assistant. But it’s just like understanding that, like, every step of your career will have a purpose that will lead to the next thing.
Speaker 2 (00:09:58) – Um, so yeah, it started out as an intern, then a temp, then an assistant, but then eventually built my way into more like marketing centric roles. Um, and also it has to do with people taking a chance on you. So one of my very first bosses, when I was finally a marketing associate, um, I just got friendly with in the kitchen. And so she was willing to take a chance on me. So if you remember, Eileen, I’m still in touch with, um. We got to know each other on the kitchen on the 39th floor. So then when she moved levels and there was an opening on her team, like, she knew my personality and saw me running around the floor all the time, like getting stuff done. Um, but she. You know, whether or not I knew how to do marketing, she kind of like, quizzed me a little bit. And I remember studying for weeks like NPD reports and rankings and just kind of like making sure I knew what I was getting into with that role.
Speaker 2 (00:10:46) – Um, so I started on the Estee Lauder brand for five years, from an admin assistant to global marketing, doing various kind of roles and categories within there, and always just kind of working my way up and getting to know, um, as best as I can, the different categories and all that. And it was such a great start working on one of the biggest brands and like the all eyes on brands kind of within the company. And then from there I was ready for something a little smaller, but still, you know, loved my time at Estee Lauder. So I was able to shift to work for Joe Malone London, which is also owned by Estee Lauder Companies. And I did a role there for North America marketing. So, um, loved my time there. It was a smaller brand. I really felt like I was making an impact there because it was just my executive director boss, me, and then, um, a marketing assistant manager. And so it was just the three of us making all decisions, like working with every retailer.
Speaker 2 (00:11:39) – So I really felt like anything I did you could see come to fruition, like a day or two a week later. Um, and at that role, we launched Joe Malone at Sephora. And so that’s what I like to call my MBA and beauty, just like launching at Sephora, working with Sephora, I know you have Sephora experience as well. They just know the industry, the brands, their customer inside and out. So like any opportunity, I had to sit down in meetings with them, um, and just kind of learn the retailer of Sephora was just kind of my favorite part about that job. Um, yeah. Yeah. And so after eight years when I was kind of like, okay, I’m ready for to leave other companies, I had gotten a really great start there. I knew I wanted to be at a brand that was very Sephora focused. Because I felt like some of the more traditional retailers didn’t have much, like I wasn’t learning as much from them. So I wanted to work for a brand that was very Sephora driven, and that’s when I found a role at fresh.
Speaker 2 (00:12:36) – Also through again, somebody I was friendly with in the kitchen on the 40th Florida State Water and now actually my current boss. Um, so we got to know each other. She was working for fresh at the time, had a role on her team that was on the fragrance and lifestyle category, which was lended itself well because of my job at John Malone, and she hired me to work at fresh. So from there I did similar global marketing roles, loved my time there. Office was in Flatiron before the days of remote work. That was always one of the most important to me of like cool office and culture. Even culture is always one of my like, utmost priorities in a job because it’s like, you know, most beauty marketing jobs are very similar, but you want a place where you kind of feel feel the love, you know, reciprocated. Um, so yeah, I love my time there. And then I was there, you know, through a lot of Covid and working with various leaders at the time.
Speaker 2 (00:13:29) – And, you know, when somebody would leave, then you’d have an opportunity to report to their boss. So that was always a growth, um, opportunity. When I was reporting to our CMO and our VP and all that, and then this current boss who was at fresh decided to leave and take a role at orb and about a year later said to me, um, you know, we have an opening at orb if you’re interested in. At the time, it felt like a big chance because I was very happy at fresh. I said, you know, I don’t think I’m ready to leave, but it was the opportunity to learn something new. So I went from very traditional beauty marketing of, um, product marketing of packaging and costs and pricing and all of that to the other side of the business, which is more like campaign development and casting models and creative direction and all of that. So that’s what I’m doing now. But again, it goes back to my common theme of just working with people, and that you love and that love you back and and you, you’re able to form just such a great partnership with them that you end up not as much like having to seek out job opportunities.
Speaker 2 (00:14:28) – They end up seeking you out when you find the ropes.
Speaker 1 (00:14:31) – And you’ve always been good at that too. Like making it, making a network. And you’re originally from New York and you went to school at East, so you probably already organically know so many people. But what I admire about you is that you’re always open to looking to meet people. And I still remember the first time I met you. I mean, I just moved to New York, didn’t go to school out east, was not from New York, hadn’t spent that much time in the city. And I remember I moved there alone. Literally knew maybe two people I could maybe call for lunch, but it was really intimidating. But I still remember Emily walked up to me in the hall and you say, you must be new here. I’m Emily. Do you want to go out and grab dinner tonight?
Speaker 2 (00:15:05) – I’m like, that’s so nice.
Speaker 1 (00:15:06) – I didn’t know if that was possible, but that is such, like a rare thing that I find that people are open to, like, meeting new people.
Speaker 1 (00:15:12) – But, um, the more it becomes more special. It becomes. And that’s how you’ve built your network through business and friends. So I really admire that about you and your willingness to talk to a new soul.
Speaker 2 (00:15:23) – I love it, and I also always say to like my team now of like and that’s what I do feel for remote life culture now because you you don’t get those in-between conversations. You’re just in meetings with people. You don’t get the chance to connect outside of work. So I love a lot of people on my team end up going to the office every Wednesday, and and they’re able to kind of connect in a different way, because I feel like once you have that, like more personal friendship, it’s so much easier to get things done. Like me and you were able to call each other and like, if our bosses had a meeting conflict, we could work, work our magic because we.
Speaker 1 (00:15:52) – Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (00:15:54) – Yeah. So it always helps.
Speaker 1 (00:15:55) – It’s like when you. Yeah, it’s like when you have that friendship, it just makes some conversations, like more organic.
Speaker 1 (00:16:00) – They’re easier. They’re like less stressful. That’s so true. Yeah. So after working across all the different companies within beauty, like you’ve seen makeup, skincare now hair care in terms of like a macro trend with marketing, what do you think has changed the most? Like do you think marketing has been actually the same and it’s just on the outside it’s changed? Or do you think it’s had such a dramatic facelift since like 2010 to 2023?
Speaker 2 (00:16:26) – Oh, that’s such a good question. Um, I would say what’s changed is just like the moving out of, like, traditional ness of it all, like it used to be very much like this is a campaign and it’s going to look the same way everywhere and all of that. And now what we’re doing at our bay and, you know, even Estee Lauder was doing this very early on of like they’d have specific social shoots where I remember they’d go to like LA and like, shoot on a pool and all this. Um, so I think it’s just like the shaking it up in terms of, like, campaign content for different channels.
Speaker 2 (00:16:58) – Um, you know, I just using like, cooler, more unique, interesting people versus the same, like, cookie cutter type models all the time. Um, I definitely like TikTok. I’m not as well versed in, but I love learning about it for my team. And just like the different like, ways you can be playful on there. Um, so yeah, I think it’s no secret how much like digital has shifted things. So, um, I think it’s just us all shifting our mindsets to, to lean into that continually. And also, you know, in terms of like, diversity and not just being so cookie cutter. I remember when we were both at SC later, they launched even Skin Tone Illuminator and how groundbreaking it was to have a Caucasian, Asian and African American model. And now we want to shake it up even more, like, why does it need to be so cookie cutter? These three ethnicities, like let’s use mixed ethnicities and different body types and all of that.
Speaker 2 (00:17:47) – So it’s definitely something, um, we’re continuing to move in the direction of at orb.
Speaker 3 (00:17:54) – Yeah, it.
Speaker 1 (00:17:54) – Really has been a lot of ships across, not only digital, but who’s featured how they’re featured, but we’re talking about and even down to like the trends of like, what are the different skincare trends, different hair care trends. There’s been so much there. So if someone comes up to you and they say, Emily the same way when you were like 20 and you were reaching out to executives, grabbing, you know, breakfast with them, lunch with them, getting internships there, someone’s reaching out to you and they’re like, hey, Emily, I’m about to graduate from school. I’m really interested in the beauty industry, specifically marketing, whether it’s more like digital advertising or it’s product marketing. What advice would you give to them to help them succeed and follow your path and really grow their career like you have?
Speaker 2 (00:18:38) – Yeah, I would say my favorite advice is always that it’s a combination of patience and persistence is one thing.
Speaker 2 (00:18:44) – Um, knowing that, especially if you’re in college and it’s like February, say, and you want your job like for when you graduate, it’s so different in our industry than it might be in more traditional roles where it’s like, you know what your job is by February, you know what you’re doing. Like that fall, where in our industry, it’s really just like as a job becomes open, they fill it. So I think it’s just having that patience. Um, but in the meantime, while you’re having that patience, it is really studying your passion and your craft. Like I remember being in college and our career center, they got women’s wear daily, daily. I would like go sit in there and read them. And, and even when I was an assistant, you know, going back to saying the access you have as an assistant, my boss would obviously get it every Friday or every day. But on Friday was the beauty, um, the beauty issue. And I would read his copy before I hand it off to him.
Speaker 2 (00:19:32) – Um, so I always knew what was going on, and I can speak to it. Um, you know, I’ve been a big podcast fan for a long time. I love listening to different brand founders and their stories and their advice. Um, Eva Chen, you know, obsessed with and you probably are equally as obsessed with like following. I’ve always been following her and kind of the advice she gives. Also, I remember her saying one time that the amount of she does like a couple calls a week with like, you know, networking with younger people. She’s like, I can count on one hand the amount of people that have actually stayed in touch with me. So it’s like, yes, you can have that first conversation, but finding a way to then keep in touch with that person in a relevant way, um, so that when something becomes available in whatever industry or, um, company they’re at, you come first to mind because it’s like you’re relevant for them and you’re top of mind.
Speaker 2 (00:20:19) – Um, so, yeah, just I mean, networking is like obviously so cliche. I think my way of networking is almost like on Instagram, like DMing people when I see they have big news and kind of like keeping in touch that way, or like people that I’m friendly with. You don’t have to like, reach out to me every month. But if you need job advice one day, if we know each other well enough, I’m always happy to chat and I feel like I’ve done that with so many, like younger ish, um, people that I know in the industry. So it’s just keeping in touch in a, um, organic way that it doesn’t have to feel so like just all the time.
Speaker 1 (00:20:52) – Yeah. It’s like like you said, like it is persistence. But you don’t have to be chatting with someone all the time. But it’s just a way of staying in touch, keeping together, keeping up on the latest news. That’s amazing. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Oh, whether it could be like personal beauty related or beauty career related, marketing related, just maybe balancing everything.
Speaker 1 (00:21:13) – Like what would you say?
Speaker 2 (00:21:15) – Oh, okay. The balancing. That’s a good question to to two things. Then I would say one, I remember sitting on a panel at a not not I was sitting as an audience member. Um, and it was between Bobby Brown, Peter Little, who is Bobby Brown present at the time. And I think she said something along the lines of like her mantra was work hard, play nice. And like, if I could, like, frame something above my desk, like that would be it of just like I never want to make my team members feel like crap over something like just and with, you know, above, below, just like working hard, hustling, but also just like, always leading with kindness. Um, so I think that’s like the biggest, like, mantra that I live by, whether it’s Bobby Brown that said it or like just in general. Um, and then I think when it comes to balance, one of the most interesting things I’ve ever heard was, if you remember, you were probably on this too escalator had that like Millennial Committee and I got to sit in on a panel like, maybe it was like a lunch and learn with Fabrizio, our CEO.
Speaker 2 (00:22:13) – And one of the people asked him how he balances it all, and he said something along the lines of, frankly, when I was your age, I would never ask my CEO, how about their work life balance? Because it’s like, shouldn’t you want to grind as hard as you can? I mean, he didn’t say all this, but he was like, he was just trying to say, like, at your age, I’m the CEO. Like, you should be wanting to grind as hard as you can to make it to my level. But he answered very honestly, and he said, if I told you that every day was the same. And I got up and I went to the gym and then I worked and then I had dinner, like my life would be very boring. He’s like, I believe it’s all about pulsing. There are times you’re going to have to stick your pedal to the metal and like, really dive in. And maybe other parts of your life may be a little imbalanced.
Speaker 2 (00:22:53) – And then there’s other times where you’re going to have to say, you know what, this can wait till tomorrow. Um, and, you know, I’ve had a crazy few nights or crazy few weeks and this can, this can wait. And I need to go to my kid’s game, or I need to have that dinner with that friend I’m meeting, or I need to go to yoga class. So in terms of like, balance advice, I love this idea of seeing it as like pulsing where I feel like I’m just coming off from a super busy time of preparing our holiday campaign, and I’m excited now to like, pace things a little better. Whereas like, I may have had like a couple, um, weeks of like working at night to feel like I needed to catch up. And now when it’s not that way, like soaking up this time for a little bit before the next pulse comes. Um, so I think treating balance like in that way as well.
Speaker 1 (00:23:38) – I love that pulsing.
Speaker 1 (00:23:39) – I’m gonna keep that in mind, too. That’s that’s something that can apply to everything. Because, yeah, there are times where you have to, like, shut up. All the electronics say, hey, I can’t meet for dinner. I’m gonna have to decide, I don’t know, or put this off to the side for a moment. Just focus on your career and other times, you’re right. Yeah. It’s like you have pulled the all nighters and you’ve worked long days. So it is time to go to the baseball game, meet up with that friend, go to that Pilates class. So true. That’s great advice. So how do you balance it? You are a mom of Jack and how do you balance being a mom, having amazing career, living in the city? That’s a lot. Yes, I have tips.
Speaker 2 (00:24:16) – Still figuring it out and constantly asking people what they do. Um, but I think I’ve become very routine. Um, I’ve now. Well, one thing I’ll say is lead by example.
Speaker 2 (00:24:28) – I come from a very supportive boss who, when she first had a baby, was very, you know, making sure she was home by a certain time to not miss, you know, miss out on certain things. I’d also say the privilege of now remote work. We’ve gained so much more time. Um, so I’m pretty strict about, like, I end my day at five so I can be with him for two hours before bedtime, and then if there’s something I didn’t finish, I go back on. I try not to do that because honestly, I just feel like my days, I’m just so much more efficient about, like, my non-negotiables that would need to get done that day. I’m not scrolling on Instagram as much as I may have like, because when I just had unlimited time. Um, so I’d say really that just like really honing in on efficiency. Um, another thing is really like owning and protecting your time. Not every day you’re going to be able to do this, but like putting aside the blocks, working during meetings where you may not have to like again, all thanks to remote.
Speaker 2 (00:25:23) – Um, you could be working during meetings a lot of times when they’re not something I mean, it’s more something you’re just listening and on and maybe don’t have to provide a point of view. Um, so I think that’s the best thing. Um, you know, he goes to daycare. So every morning and every evening I get out to pick him up and that, like, gets me out first thing in the morning and at the end of the day. So, you know, speaking back to, like, the love of podcasts, I’ve always been a big fan of like, long walks and like listening to podcasts. So just making sure to get that kind of time. But also when I am in the hard times of like, you know, crazy deadlines or, you know, lot going on in one week, just remembering that that’s just like a phase. And like in a couple weeks it’ll like ease back in. So yeah, I don’t exactly have the answer, but just admiring other people and trying to follow how they do it too.
Speaker 1 (00:26:11) – Well, it sounds like you have a good routine.
Speaker 2 (00:26:13) – Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:26:14) – You’re you’re way ahead of most people. So one of our favorite questions on this podcast is where are you sitting in the stands in your life? So it comes from so imagine you’re at a football game and your like yelling at the quarterback. You’re like, you should have thrown it to him or you should have.
Speaker 4 (00:26:30) – Like you should have ran like more towards the left. Like why did you hit on the center?
Speaker 1 (00:26:34) – And you know whether the quarterback can hear you, not you just you feel like you’re the person sitting in the stands watching yourself as a quarterback, where would you wish you could have yourself changed? Change the position? Change? We were going. Maybe it’s something you’re going to stop doing. Maybe it’s something you wish you want to do. Maybe it’s that one thing that’s on your to do list of every Saturday afternoon. You say, I’m going to start doing XYZ and you haven’t for years or months. Not everyone is sitting in the stands in their life.
Speaker 1 (00:27:02) – It’s not a good thing or a bad thing, but is there any place where you feel that you are sitting in the stands in your life?
Speaker 2 (00:27:09) – I love that I would say I’m still in like year one and a couple months of being a mom, so I, I think I’m proud of myself the way I was able to get back into work. And like I was saying, like with efficiency level, I’m proud still of like my friendships and relationship and all that. But my, my word for what year 2023 was like me finding like the me again. Um, not even I feel like I still know myself, but meaning like I was always like I love my yoga classes and like that kind of stuff. So just trying to find ways to carve that out for myself again, um, how to fit in, like whether it’s an in-person yoga class for like 20 minutes, I feel like I always think of, like, I could do that, or I could like scroll for 20 minutes or so.
Speaker 2 (00:27:54) – I’d say, just like, again, finding that not out of not because it’s like physical fitness, but more just like that’s always my like, mental escape. Um, so I’d say that, um, yeah, I used to read a lot more. So finding that time again, um, I’m pretty good now. For the past couple months, I’ve been good about keeping my phone in the living room and not bring it to bed so that that always obviously distracts. But yeah, I think I’m, I’m proud of, like, the transition back into work. I think it’s more just finding like my own personal passions and and finding time. I think my husband and I tend to be like, we do everything together, but it’s like, how do we give each other the time to go do your own thing too?
Speaker 1 (00:28:35) – Um, I love that. Amazing. Getting back to yourself. So what do you think.
Speaker 4 (00:28:40) – Is next.
Speaker 1 (00:28:40) – In the beauty industry? As we wind down this podcast, what do you think is like coming up? What are trends? What do you think people should look out for? What are you betting on? And I do think generative AI is going to make a big difference.
Speaker 1 (00:28:52) – Do you think it’s going to help people? Do you think it’s going to take away jobs? Is it a positive? Is it a negative visit a neutral?
Speaker 2 (00:28:58) – Yes. Um, okay. So what do I think is next is the just continuation of these cool founder led smaller brands. I think we’ve just every time I go into Sephora, I see less and less space for the big brands and more like, you know, end caps and things for these cooler, smaller, female founded brands with a story. So I think just like the continuation of that. And so, you know, it only going to get more competitive when it comes to, you know, what brands you’re using. So makeup it’s it’s no longer everybody using um some of the bigger brands. But everybody loves merit beauty now and say and all that. So I think it’s just like I love following those kind of brands and just like what they’re up to in their events and their gifting strategies and what they stand for. So, um, I definitely say that in terms of I, I don’t think, you know, yes.
Speaker 2 (00:29:52) – When maybe when it comes to like, write and copy or that kind of stuff. But I don’t think it will ever get to the level of like the creative power and passion that humans have. Um, so I can’t see it taking the place of like, creating an amazing campaign for us or casting the right model. Um, so but I definitely think some more like, technical things it can automate. So. But I’m not I don’t follow it too much, but I just, I remember just hearing about GPT a couple months ago and, but I haven’t quite tried it yet. Um, so yeah, I think just I love just following like the emergence of, of cool, unique brands and seeing like how they scale like I Sephora. To me, the power of it is not going anywhere. Like, I would never have thought that, you know, a Glossier would have gone there and like, but that’s still seems to be the beacon of like, making it as a brand. Um, and they’re just such a powerhouse.
Speaker 2 (00:30:42) – And it’s funny when you’re do.
Speaker 1 (00:30:44) – You think it’s really like the is it, do you think it’s a Sephora stamp of approval? Do you think it’s their operations to help get products like, you know, across the country, plus the, the grow, the, the globe? I cannot speak today. Or do you think it’s their marketing power or is it something else educational?
Speaker 2 (00:31:01) – I think it’s their marketing power, their loyalty, their proximity to, you know, metropolitan things, metropolitan places. Um, I don’t think me and you like as much live close to Ulta. So while yes, that may be like more like in Middle America, more not rural, but more like suburban areas, I just think it’s like Sephora is just like in every right location of being near the metropolitan things. So it’s just out of like, convenience, um, their marketing power of just, you know, events they have, um, and really just like their scale and their gifting and loyalty, their discount ability.
Speaker 2 (00:31:38) – Um, so that’s still, you know, where I shop for, for brands now. And what I was going to say is when you’re talking about like, all the different categories I’ve worked in, I was trying to think if I have a favorite, but I always say, like when I worked in skincare for so long that when I stopped, I said I was so excited to have fun with skincare again. Same with makeup. Like, I love being a consumer of those categories. Now, um, and Sephora is a place that I shop for them. I obviously I hear about them through Instagram always. I’m such a big, uh, drink the Kool-Aid of influencers. Um, I definitely have my favorites. I’ve been following for a long time, so when they tell me it’s great, I trust it. And then it’s me walking to a brick and mortar Sephora. Um, I also it works. Yeah. Um, I’m one of those people I still like the instant gratification of, like, if I need a new mascara, I need it now.
Speaker 2 (00:32:26) – So I’m not as much of a beauty shopper online unless I’m like, replenishing. But my point is, Sephora has that proximity for you to pick it up three blocks away versus ordering it online.
Speaker 1 (00:32:36) – Yeah, that’s a great point. Especially if like city, a major metropolitan areas or if you’re somebody from a smaller town is traveling to a big town. And like for my night out, I want that brand new mascara. I want a new cool highlighter. It really they create that experience. So last question, we’ll make it a fun question. What are your top three beauty products to end on a light note okay.
Speaker 2 (00:32:57) – Yes, this is a pretty easy one because for the past few years I’ve. These have been my tried and true. So I would say skincare would be, um, coming from fresh fresh oil serum. I’ve like, even after I used to get it for free, I now buy at full price. Um, it is just I use it every morning. It is this dewy goodness that it provides.
Speaker 2 (00:33:17) – I put it on and while it’s soaking in, I make my bed because you can’t, like, put product on it. It’s a little wet right after. So that’s my favorite skincare combo of skincare and makeup I’m probably going to go for products is Glow Screen Supergoop glow screen. Huge fan of that over my rose oil serum. Um, makeup. I love the Merit brow um, gel if you will. I feel like all of us probably have gotten much simpler routines in Covid life of, you know, just being on video anymore. We’re not like going to office. So I love just like a simple look. And then I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my favorite or buy haircare since I work for them. Um, we launched a line about a year ago called Hair Alchemy, and I’m obsessed with our Hair Alchemy serum. It strengthens, um, protects, you know, from heat styling. But I even just love it. Like, I air dry my hair a lot and it’s still, like, gives it the perfect silky frizz.
Speaker 2 (00:34:14) – Lack of frizz, um, natural look. So hair.
Speaker 4 (00:34:18) – Saving.
Speaker 1 (00:34:19) – Have you seen all the TikTok trends happening right now where they’re testing all the different heat protectant with the, um, the receipts and taking the hair straighteners?
Speaker 2 (00:34:28) – No way.
Speaker 1 (00:34:29) – Oh my God, you have to go. I will find what I have to go. I just got into this whole, um, deep dive because, like, speaking of products, I went into this whole I love going into, like, rabbit holes at night of like, what product should I research? Like how like what is the difference between marketing and like, are these products like actually serving of what they’re saying online. And so one of them, I went down a TikTok hole of the receipts, straightening them after applying different heat protectant and seeing which ones, because I believe when receipts heat up, they turn black. So they’re taking a straightener to these receipts. And then if something is more gray or white, the heat protector is working. But if it’s like becoming super dark through, um, the heat and the heat protector is not working.
Speaker 1 (00:35:09) – So, um, oh, speaking of haircare and trends and the new world of marketing, I’ll have to send it to you.
Speaker 4 (00:35:15) – I feel like.
Speaker 2 (00:35:16) – Consumers love a real, tangible example. So it’s also like what we hear a lot, and we do like how to’s and before and after. It’s like you need to show it very tangibly for people to understand how it works. And they want diagrams and claims. Um, so that’s like a perfect example of just like you want to see this like it really working, you know?
Speaker 1 (00:35:35) – So it’s like all about that authenticity. It’s like we want to feel like ourselves and like use products that bring out our best features. And wow, beauty has changed. Well, Emily, it’s been so much fun talking with you about your career, sharing your advice, and I feel like it’s been a nostalgic moment for me just going back to, you know, ten, 12 years ago and hearing about the stories and how you got started and, um, everyone should follow your advice of patience and persistence, especially when you want to get into the beauty industry and build an amazing, super creative career that is ongoing.
Speaker 1 (00:36:09) – So props to you.
Speaker 4 (00:36:11) – Yes.
Speaker 2 (00:36:11) – Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (00:36:12) – So where can everyone find you? Like website, social media links, LinkedIn, etc. if you want to reach out or connect.
Speaker 2 (00:36:19) – I’d say LinkedIn is the best place for like, career type chats. Um, Instagram is more just my my personal fun and baby things. Um, but my Instagram is medium y y dear. And on LinkedIn, obviously. Emily dear.
Speaker 4 (00:36:35) – Awesome.
Speaker 1 (00:36:35) – Well thank you Emily. We’re so excited that you took time out of your super busy schedule to share your story and your advice. And thanks so much for coming on the Dilly Dally Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:36:45) – Happy to. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (00:36:47) – All right. Finally.