Cut through the hype and gain practical applications and strategies to supercharge your tracking, forecasting, and operations. We’ll unveil the latest tech for greater efficiency, smarter decision making, and tangible ROI.
Seeking a financially sound path to sustainability that wins with today’s value-driven customers and retailers? Hear from the brands who’ve been there, as they discuss resourceful solutions in packaging, formulation, ingredients, and beyond, benefitting both the planet and their bottom line.
Alicia Yoon is a world-renowned esthetician, Harvard Business School graduate, and the founder and CEO of Peach & Lily. She has studied skincare ingredients, formulas, and techniques in both Korea and the USA alongside trained chemists, researchers, and cell biologists for over 20 years. Having experienced severe eczema throughout her life, she struggled to find clinically effective skincare that wouldn’t irritate her extremely sensitive skin. In 2012, Alicia launched Peach & Lily with the now iconic Glass Skin Refining Serum, proving that you can deliver transformative results for even the most sensitive skin. Today, Peach & Lily offers groundbreaking formulas that integrate potent actives like retinoids and AHAs with soothing Korean botanicals. Alicia is credited with bringing the Glass Skin Movement to the USA and is sought after for her signature Glass Skin facials. She has been named one of WWD’s 25 Most Innovative Beauty Executives and sits on the Ulta Beauty Advisory Board for Conscious Beauty.
During Randi’s 15-year career at Estee Lauder Companies, she was instrumental in building and scaling brands across the portfolio (La Mer, Estee Lauder, ELC Ventures.) A native of Denmark, Randi holds a MSc in Economics and Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School. In 2023, she was recognized by Goldman Sachs as one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of the year. She lives with her husband and three daughters in Rolling Hills, CA.
At Necessaire, we design the personal care we need - The Necessary™ - that supports our health and wellness. We use our business to make a positive environmental impact everywhere we can.
Nécessaire is recognized as a steward of responsible luxury with the planet as key stakeholder. Nécessaire is a Certified B Corp, 1% For The Planet Member, Climate Neutral Certified, Plastic Neutral Certified, FSC Certified and partners with How2Recycle to deliver verified recycling claims in the US/CAN. By the end of this year Nécessaire will have planted 300,000 Trees+ and will have supported several non profits fighting to defend our air, land, water and wild-life world-wide. #careforyourbody #careforyourplanet #necesaire
Strategically scale your beauty brand and pave the way for acquisition. Exiting experts cover the common mistakes to avoid and the crucial steps to attract the right buyers: hitting EBITDA goals, smart financial planning, and leveraging key partnerships for a seamless and successful sale.
Michael advises private equity and corporate clients on buy- and sell-side transactions. His experience covers a broad range of industries with a current focus on manufacturing and distribution and consumer products (beauty, personal care, food and beverage, and apparel) sold through channels including e-commerce, multiunit retail, wholesale, and specialty. He also advises on transactions for restaurants, franchises, and hospitality.
Prior to his work in TAS, for over 10 years, Michael held positions in business finance, global product management and corporate development at large multinational companies. He began his career at a Big Four firm in Toronto, Canada in the assurance and consulting practices.
Nicolas GEIGER is CEO for L’Occitane au Bresil brand, Managing Director of the Brazilian Business Unit and Group Business Development Executive based in New York.
Prior to that Nicolas was the President for L’OCCITANE GROUP in Japan for 5 years where he operated a turnaround plan for of the largest operation of the group. He first joined the company as a Marketing Director in Brasil, and was then 3 years later promoted General Manager of the subsidiary for 3 more years before leaving for Japan.
Before joining the L’OCCITANE GROUP, Nicolas started his career in the Teach First program (a spin-off of the Teach for America program in the UK), teaching mathematics for two years in a challenging school in North East London. After the program, he joined joined Angel des Montagnes, a small decoration company based in Geneva that he contributed to develop internationally before joining the INSEAD MBA program.In addition to his MBA from INSEAD and a certification in Business Sustainability Management from Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Nicolas also holds a degree in Engineering Economics and Management from Oxford University and a Qualified Teacher Status for mathematics in the UK.
Tara Hyland is a Principal at Main Post Partners, a growth equity firm focused on investing in high-growth consumer businesses. Within the consumer industry, Tara focuses on investing in and advising differentiated beauty and personal care companies such as Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, Sugared + Bronzed and Not Your Mother’s, supporting management as they build enduring lifestyle brands. Prior to joining Main Post Partners, she was a Vice President at Swander Pace Capital, which she joined in 2015 after working in the Consumer & Retail Investment Banking group within KeyBanc Capital Markets. Tara earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Miami University of Ohio.
Astrid Menendez-Muharram is an attorney in Morrison Foerster’s M&A and Private Equity Practice, focusing her practice on advising clients on a broad range of corporate matters, with an emphasis on M&A and private equity transactions in the United States and Latin America.
Astrid has significant experience representing businesses and private equity funds and portfolio companies in a broad range of corporate matters, including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, joint ventures, divestitures and general corporate governance. Astrid advises clients in all aspects of their investment activity across a wide variety of industry sectors, including consumer, beauty, and personal care products, retail, food and agriculture, manufacturing, aerospace, defense and government contracting and technology.
Chaired by:
Kirbie Johnson is a multi-hyphenate host-writer-producer-reporter living in Los Angeles. A veteran journalist, Kirbie has become a sought-after (no BS) authority on makeup, skincare, and wellness at the intersection of entertainment. She has appeared in 500+ on-air segments, reported on the grounds of the GRAMMYs and the Golden Globe Awards, on set of shows like Euphoria, and as a trusted interviewer has secured celebrity sit-downs with Kim Kardashian West, Rihanna, and Hailey Bieber. For years as POPSUGAR’s on-camera beauty reporter, Kirbie worked to explore the connection between beauty and entertainment, and now she thrives at the intersection of both industries. She co-hosts the much-loved and listened-to Gloss Angeles podcast, covering the latest launches, social trends and a guest roster of who's-who industry A-listers. With her (manicured) finger on the pulse, she breaks news on her own platforms, including her best-selling Substack newsletter, and contributes to pubs like Allure, Harper’s BAZAAR, The Hollywood Reporter, and has appeared on the 'Today' show, Freeform, and the BBC.
Founders at all stages, this is your opportunity to engage directly with investors during a relaxed breakfast focused on funding. Come prepared with your questions and leave with actionable insights tailored to your brand's growth journey.
Quick Box // Leaders in Marketing Excellence // Leaders in Operational Excellence
QuickBox is the omnichannel 3PL partner for high-growth brands in health, wellness, beauty, nutrition, and supplements. Scale with confidence through fast, accurate, and scalable fulfillment across DTC, retail, and Amazon, shipping 7 days a week and reaching 95% of the U.S. in 2 days with cost-effective solutions. Speak with a fulfilment expert today!
Our awards elevate visionary brands, disruptors, and sustainability heroes, hosting a celebration that empowers the entire beauty community.
Awards Committee:
Carla Ruiz, SVP of Global M&A at Shiseido, brilliantly merges financial expertise with her passion for beauty. With an MBA from Columbia and a background in investment banking and global business development at Johnson & Johnson, she brings deep industry insight.
At Shiseido, Carla has spearheaded pivotal deals like the Drunk Elephant acquisition and the Tory Burch beauty license partnership. She leads her M&A team with a collaborative, founder-centric approach, seeing the industry's rapid change as an opportunity for respectful, accelerated growth. Beyond deals, Carla champions mentorship at Shiseido and supports first-generation college students through America Needs You.
Malena Higuera is a recognized leader in product innovation, culture and community-first marketing, and digitally-forward strategic vision, blending creative brand development, operational excellence with a passion for fostering diverse and inclusive cultures. With 25 years of experience on multiple brands at L’Oréal across all channels, key markets and categories, Higuera has built a reputation for fostering strong connections with consumers, retailers, and stakeholders, while always keeping a pulse on fast-paced business needs.
Aurelian Lis is the global CEO of Dermalogica, a subsidiary of Unilever Prestige. For over 30 years, Dermalogica has been committed to elevating the skin care industry through providing world-class education to professional skin therapists and salon owners, as well as cutting-edge, professional-grade products that deliver results. Dermalogica is a standalone company headquartered in Los Angeles and is sold worldwide. Since 2016 the company has embarked on a digital transformation that has redefined the brand to new consumers seeking healthy skin. Dermalogica’s FaceMapping® technology is just one of the many examples.
Nicolas GEIGER is CEO for L’Occitane au Bresil brand, Managing Director of the Brazilian Business Unit and Group Business Development Executive based in New York.
Prior to that Nicolas was the President for L’OCCITANE GROUP in Japan for 5 years where he operated a turnaround plan for of the largest operation of the group. He first joined the company as a Marketing Director in Brasil, and was then 3 years later promoted General Manager of the subsidiary for 3 more years before leaving for Japan.
Before joining the L’OCCITANE GROUP, Nicolas started his career in the Teach First program (a spin-off of the Teach for America program in the UK), teaching mathematics for two years in a challenging school in North East London. After the program, he joined joined Angel des Montagnes, a small decoration company based in Geneva that he contributed to develop internationally before joining the INSEAD MBA program.In addition to his MBA from INSEAD and a certification in Business Sustainability Management from Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Nicolas also holds a degree in Engineering Economics and Management from Oxford University and a Qualified Teacher Status for mathematics in the UK.
Cindy Deily serves as Vice President of Merchandising, Skincare for Sephora US. In her role, she oversees a team of merchants focused on the continual development and improvement of the retailer’s robust and diverse skincare product assortment.
Since joining the company in 2006, Cindy has driven the strategic development of multiple categories at Sephora and leading industry-wide trend curation, including skincare, hair, bath & body, sun, wellness, clean beauty, CBD, and intimate care. Managing 100+ brand partnerships, she effectively nurtures brands from infancy to industry dominance – such as, Drunk Elephant, Tatcha, and Summer Fridays to name a few – and has established products such as dry shampoos and face oils as key categories across prestige beauty. Cindly also spearheaded and continues to lead and evolve the ‘Clean at Sephora’ program, including updating the initial restricted ingredient list from 13 to more than 50 ingredient groups.
Explore key areas of focus for beauty brands preparing for a successful exit, with insights on valuation drivers, timing, market dynamics, and positioning for acquisition or IPO.
Scale your beauty brand with seamless logistics that lower costs, mitigate tariffs, and optimise supply chains. Learn how to future-proof order fulfilment and build resilient operations through real-time order data, inventory management, and reporting and analytics boosting omnichannel growth.
Casey Armstrong is the CMO of ShipBob, a leading global omnifulfillment provider specializing in premium beauty and personal care logistics supporting brands like CLEARSTEM, Arrae, Dossier, Barefaced and more. Prior to ShipBob, Casey was the VP of Marketing at BigCommerce and SVP at Watchmaster.
