#United States #New York City #Dotdash Meredith #Cosmetic Executive Women #Achiever Awards

CEW's 50th Anniversary Achiever Awards: A Celebration of Women in Beauty

The cosmetic industry gathered in New York City this week to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) Achiever Awards. This prestigious event recognized the invaluable contributions of female leaders who are transforming the beauty landscape. The evening highlighted inspiring stories of empowerment, innovation, and the continuing fight for gender equality in a traditionally male-dominated sector.

As the presenting partner, Dotdash Meredith emphasized its commitment to supporting women's leadership in beauty. The event continues CEW's legacy of inspiring, elevating, and advancing women, particularly in the beauty space, and showcased remarkable achievements of eight trailblazing women along with the distinguished Game Changer and Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The keynote address was delivered by Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code and CEO of Moms First. She captivated the audience with her message about breaking barriers, embracing inclusivity, and enacting meaningful change for female leaders and working mothers. Saujani emphasized the necessity for women in power to foster environments where future generations could thrive.

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate 50 years of trailblazing women who have shaped the industry, driven innovation, and paved the way for future generations,” stated Carlotta Jacobson, President of CEW. These awards not only honor the game-changers of today but also lay down a marker for the path forward, providing a blueprint for future leaders in beauty and beyond.

2025 Achiever Award Honorees

This year’s Achiever Awards honored the following outstanding leaders:

• - Catherine Bomboy Dougherty, SVP, Global Brand Integrated Communications, The Estée Lauder Companies
• - Carrie Gross, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare
• - Stephanie Headley, SVP, North America Skin Care and Global, Olay PG Beauty
• - Amy Whang, President US, Maybelline NY-Garnier-Essie L'Oréal USA
• - Melis del Rey, General Manager, Health & Beauty, U.S. Stores, Amazon
• - Katie Welch, CMO, Rare Beauty
• - Heela Yang, CEO & Co-Founder, Sol de Janeiro
• - Tiffany Yizar, Head of RD - Beauty and Wellbeing North America, Unilever

Additionally, the Game Changer Award recipients were:

• - Alice Chang, Founder & CEO, Perfect Corp.
• - Vennette Ho, Global Head of Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness, Raymond James

The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Carol Hamilton of L'Oréal USA, acknowledging her decades-long commitment and influence in the industry.

Supporting Partners and Sponsors

The event was underpinned by the generous support of major brands in the beauty industry, including Platinum Sponsors Amazon, PG Beauty, L'Oréal Groupe, and Sephora. Other supporters included Gold Sponsors The Estée Lauder Companies, 24 Seven, and Unilever. The awards were complemented by the contributions of Silver Plus and Silver Sponsors like Ulta Beauty, e.l.f. Beauty, and Dior Performance Beauty Group.

Moreover, various event partners, including Oracle NetSuite and Kaplow Communications, contributed to the success of the evening.

About CEW

Founded as a global network, CEW boasts a membership of 8,300 professionals dedicated to empowering women within the beauty industry through support, education, and recognition. CEW promotes an inclusive community, aiming to break down barriers and unite beauty industry professionals across various sectors.

Conclusion

The 50th Anniversary Achiever Awards not only celebrate past achievements but also inspire the next generation of leaders. The event serves as a reminder of the tireless work done by women to carve out their place and influence within the beauty industry, ensuring that future generations have even greater opportunities to shine.