Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) celebrated women and achievement at its 2021 Women's Leadership Awards held virtually on September 9th, 2021.

The virtual event brought together the 2021 Achiever Awards recipients, beauty's most accomplished female executives, and the 2021 Emerging Leaders honorees, the industry's next generational leadership.

Fifteen female leaders for their performance and mark on the beauty industry, as well as one man, honored for setting a best-in-class example in offering women professional advancement and opportunity. Meredith was the sponsor.

• Madonna Badger, founder, Badger & Winters, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.


• Stéphane Rinderknech, president and CEO, L'Oreal, received the Corporate Empowerment for Women Award.

See the other honorees and participants listed below. 

Carlotta Jacobson, president, CEW, comments:

"For over 70 years, CEW has helped to inspire women in the beauty industry to achieve – while also reinforcing the importance of recognition and opportunity for female leadership. Without women, this business would not exist, and it is now more important than ever to reinforce the valuable contributions of female leaders. We are thrilled to host this event, honoring the amazing women who embody a passion for the beauty industry and its broader mission of empowering and enhancing people's lives."

CEW 2021 Achiever Awards Honorees

• Monica Arnuado, CMO, Ulta Beauty
• Gail Boyé, SVP, Product Development, bareMinerals and Corporate Innovation and Commercialization, Shiseido
• Lela Coffey, VP, N.A. Hair Care Multi-Cultural Beauty, P&G Beauty
• Cara Sabin, CEO, Sundial Brands
• Lisa Sequino, Cosmetic Executive
• Holly Thaggard, Founder, Supergoop!
• JuE Wong, CEO, Olaplex

2021 Emerging Leaders Honorees

• Muffy Clince, Director of Emerging Brands, Ulta Beauty
Presented by Monica Arnaudo, Chief Merchandising Officer, Ulta Beauty

• Monique Davis, Vice President, Local & Cultural Innovation, Estée Lauder Companies
Presented by Susan Akkad, Senior Vice President, Local & Cultural Innovation, Estée Lauder Companies

• Erin Goldson, Brand Leader, Dove Masterbrand Engagement and Hair Innovation, Unilever
Presented by Esi Eggleston Bracey, Chief Operating Officer, EVP Beauty & Personal Care, Unilever North America

• Cara Kamenev, VP of Brand Engagement, L'Oréal Paris
Presented by Ali Goldstein, Brand President, L'Oréal Paris USA

• Linette Kim, VP Consumer Engagement, Bliss
Presented by Alicia Yoon, Founder, Peach & Lily

• Ashley Kuhn, PhD, Director, Responsible Sourcing, Global Beauty Purchases, P&G Beauty
  Presented by Kelly Vanasse, Senior Vice President, P&G Beauty Communications
• Jennifer Lucchese, VP, Merchandising Haircare, Sephora
Presented by JuE Wong, CEO, Olaplex

Additional participants included Laura Brown of InStyle, Nora Tobin of Marriott International Luxury Brands, Julia Haart of Elite World Group and other beauty industry thought leaders.

Past Achievers, honorees and executive leaders participated in a networking and knowledge session, sharing valuable insights from their unique journeys to success with members and attendees during one-on-one sessions and networking roundtables.

The Achievers' impactful and inspirational stories were also be told through a "mission" video, created in partnership with Linda Wells & Nathan Byrne of Moss Studios.

Sponsors of the event included Meredith, 24 Seven, P&G Beauty, Coty, Tula Skincare, Tarte, Unilever, Nordstrom, RéVive, Harris Williams, Drunk Elephant, QVC, SuperOrdinary, Sephora, Colourpop, Target, Too Faced, Badgers & Winters, Advent International, Bluemercury, Cosmetica, Premium Beauty at Amazon, Forma, Benefit, Deciem, Gotha Cosmetics, kdc/one, Peach & Lily, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, Marina Maher Communications, Beauty Inc, Fairfield Media Group, Consultancy Media, RPG, Elite World Group, Kaplow Communications, MOSS.