Despite Black consumers spending a whopping $1.2 trillion on beauty products annually, most bigwigs in the industry are still white men.
But change is brewing slowly but surely.
Black women executives are making waves as leaders in the beauty industry, fighting to make it more representative of its consumers.
These fierce Black women executives are not just claiming their seats at the table–they’re shaking it up and demanding change.
These are the Black women executives who, according to Essence, are changing the industry.
Alexis Avent
L.A.-based Avent worked in fashion with internships at Diane von Furstenburg and Fendi.
She also worked at Ralph Lauren and Clinique and became a Revlon Brand Manager.
In 2022, Avent joined the clean hair care firm Briogeo as Brand Director.
Alicia Williams
Williams has devoted her career to making brands diverse.
Since 2015, she has worked with companies like Noodles & Company, Converse, and AdventHealth.
In 2021, Williams joined the beauty industry to continue her mission–she became the Senior Director of Anti-Racism & Racial Equity at DevaCurl.
Amy Elisa Jackson
Jackson is a content guru, with jobs at People Magazine, Ebony, and Glassdoor.
Jackson’s considerable experience let her join Tracee Ellis Ross’s PATTERN Beauty in 2020 as the Global Marketing Vice President.
Since then, Jackson has shaped the haircare line’s narrative and content direction.
Cara Robinson Sabin
Sabin became the CEO of Sundial Brands in 2020.
And in 2022, she became Unilever North America’s President of Beauty & Wellbeing.
Sabin oversees iconic beauty brands like:
- Dove
- Vaseline
- Nexxus
- SheaMoisture
- Nubian Heritage
- Madam by Madam C.J. Walker
Sabin is among the most powerful Black women executives in the beauty industry.
Desiree Rogers
Since 2019, Rogers has been Black Opal’s CEO.
Her efforts have revived the brand and brought it to a new age of beauty and diversity.
The Chicago native has also worked as Chief Executive Officer of Johnson Publishing Company and Social Secretary to President Barack Obama.
As Black women executives go, Desiree Rogers is among the most powerful.
Erica Dickerson
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Dickerson is among the most versatile Black women executives in beauty.
She is the Global Beauty Director of Beauty Blender, but that’s not all.
The executive is also an actress, founder of Good Vibe Retreat, and cohost of the Good Moms, Bad Choices podcast.
Esi Eggleston Bracey
Bracey worked for a quarter of a century at Procter & Gamble.
In her next job, Bracey joined Coty as the President of Consumer Beauty.
And since 2018, the executive has pushed for diversity as the President of Unilever USA and CEO of Unilever Personal Care North America.
Helen Nwosu
Beauty is among the least sustainable industries.
However, Helen Nwosu is on a mission to change this narrative.
As Vice President of Social Impact at customizable beauty company Prose, Nwosu keeps the brand accountable.
Before her current stint, Nwosu was an Executive Director at Science Couture and part of Louis Vuitton’s sustainability department.
Jamilah Spleen
Spleen has worked in the beauty industry for a decade.
She started at Mana Products as a chemist and formulator, then became the International Regulatory Affairs Group Manager.
Since 2021, Spleen has worked at Milk Makeup as the Director of Regulatory Affairs.
Mandy Fields
Mandy Fields’ background is in finance.
She was an analyst at J.P. Morgan and Gap, Inc. and joined Albertsons and BevMo as a finance executive.
However, she joined the beauty industry in 2019 as E.L.F. Beauty’s Chief Financial Officer.
Fields is also on the board of directors at Allbirds, making her among the most accomplished Black women executives in the beauty industry.
Rhonda Ruf
Ruf’s career started in 2003 at Benefit Cosmetics–she was the Regional Education Manager.
Ruf later joined the Aveda Institute as an educator and became Juice Beauty’s Account Executive.
The Black executive is currently the National Education and Events Manager at Rose, Inc.
Taydra Mitchell Jackson
Atlanta-based Jackson has worked in the beauty industry for over 20 years.
She worked at Revlon, Procter & Gamble, and L’Oréal; Jackson also founded TMJ OmniEnterprises, a boutique marketing agency.
Jackson currently works as Sundial Brands’ CMO.
These Black Women Executives Deserve Attention
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The beauty industry is evolving: it’s growing more diverse and sustainable.
And we have these Black women executives to thank.
You can certainly see your expertise within the paintings you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart.