Leslie Blodgett

Creator of bareMinerals & Executive Chairman, Bare Escentuals

A visionary most recently recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the “Top Entrepreneurs of the Decade: 2000-2009,” Leslie Blodgett single-handedly turned the beauty industry on its head by catapulting mineral makeup into the public eye, forever changing the conversation around beauty.

Joining Bare Escentuals as CEO in 1994, Leslie’s aptitude and discerning leadership style helped transform what was a local bath and body retailer into one of the leading prestige cosmetic companies in the United States with the launch of bareMinerals, an award-winning line of mineral-based products, including bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation, the #1 foundation in the US.*

A true testament to Blodgett’s influence on the cosmetic industry at large, in 2010, Bare Escentuals was acquired by Shiseido, the Japan-based leading global cosmetics company, for $1.8 billion making it one of the largest cosmetics mergers in history. Now, more than ever, Blodgett in her role of Executive Chairman is in position to fulfill her mission of bringing the company’s mineral-based products to even more women worldwide.

Cristina Carlino

Founder, biomedic and philosophy, inc

Cristina Carlino is a mother, poet and the founder of biomedic, a medically dispensed topical skin care line and philosophy, one of the most beloved brands in the cosmetic industry.

Having embraced the worldwide sharing and caring capabilities of social networking, Cristina has taken new baby steps to conceive “Project Miracle” a social site for people to share their personal stories of planting seeds that make miracles happen. She has also begun a new era of authorship with The Changing Room, A Mother’s Journal of Gratitude to her Little Girl and Song of the Beautiful Beast: A Woman’s Midlife Journey of Change and Listening to her Heart. Her songwriting efforts and tribute to a dear friend inspired the She Colors My Day initiative. Grammy award winning artist Amy Grant recorded the song, ‘She Colors My Day’ for this breast cancer awareness campaign that passes a Facebook pink crayon around the globe to remind mothers and daughters that together they can create for a cure.

Agnes Chapski

Vice President & Publisher, Allure

Agnes Chapski is Vice President and Publisher of Allure magazine.

Prior to joining Allure, she was the Associate Publisher of Vanity Fair from 2006–May 2008. Previously, Chapski was the Associate Publisher of Lucky since the publication’s launch in 2000.

Before her distinguished career at Condé Nast, Ms. Chapski worked at Weider Publications, as Vice President, Group Advertising Director for all women’s titles and then as Vice President and Publisher of Jump.

Ms. Chapski is a graduate of Smith College and resides in New York City with her husband and their two children.

Gina Drosos

Gina Drosos was Group President of P&G Beauty, responsible for leading their Global Skin, Cosmetics and Personal Care portfolio -- uniquely positioned to deliver accelerated growth for P&G.

Gina is a native of Atlanta Georgia and graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors from The University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She earned her Masters of Business Administration from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Since joining P&G in 1987, Gina has spent much of her entire career in P&G’s Beauty business in both US and European locations; she has led global brands and profit centers for more than 15 years. Gina is known as an inspiring leader, an excellent business strategist, a tough competitor and an insightful brand builder. She has played a leading role in creating some of today’s most iconic beauty brands including Olay which she transformed into a $2 billion global leader as well as CoverGirl, Venus, Safeguard, Secret, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Clairol and Wella.

Gina is passionate about the power of our beauty brands to touch and improve women’s lives around the world. She personally spends time with top beauty experts to identify trends. She also interviews consumers around the world to better understand their lifestyles, aspirations and beauty rituals to develop ways to serve them better. She serves on the Boards of the U.S. Personal Care Products Council and Cosmetic Executive Women. She is Chair of the Cosmetic Executive Women Foundation. Gina was named as one of Fortune’s “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” in 2010 and 2011. She was honored as a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement in 2008.

Gina lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband Perry and their two children, Will and Claire. She is very active in her local community, is passionate about all forms of sport and is a Youth League Basketball coach.

Anastasia Economos

Partner, Ernst & Young

Anastasia is a senior partner in New York focusing on private equity and industrial and consumer products companies.

Anastasia has over 26 years of diversified experience with the firm.

As the Northeast Area Control and Methodology Leader Anastasia focused on assisting and advising E&Y teams and clients on meeting the requirements of Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 Section 404 from 2003 through 2007.

Anastasia is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Anastasia is also a Board member and former Treasurer of Cosmetic Executive Women.

Sabine Feldmann

Publisher, More Magazine

Currently Sabine is the Publisher for More Magazine.  Prior to this, Sabine Feldmann was named Vice President and Publisher of Teen Vogue in June 2010. Sabine joined the magazine in April 2010 as Associate Publisher, Advertising.

Prior to joining Conde Nast, Ms. Feldmann served as Chief Brand Officer/Vice President and Publisher of Shape Magazine. 

During her tenure at Shape, Sabine developed an expansive list of revenue-generating brand extensions, including the development and launch of Shape Bride, the industry’s first media platform to debut simultaneously as a magazine, a website and an iPhone application. Under Sabine’s leadership, Shape achieved #1 share of market in the active lifestyle category for five consecutive years.

In 2008, Ms. Feldmann was named to Folio magazine’s “Folio: 40” list of top innovators and influencers in the publishing industry. She is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).

Before joining Shape, Sabine was the Associate Publisher of Child magazine and Eastern Advertising Manager/Fashion Director for Cosmopolitan magazine. She is a graduate of The Stern School of Business (BS) and The Wharton School of Business (MBA).

Laura Geller

President, Laura Geller Beauty, LLC

Since 1993, renowned New York makeup artist Laura Geller has run a successful Upper East Side makeup studio and lent her expertise to top beauty, style, and fashion magazines. The studio's purpose is simple: to teach women the how-to of proper cosmetics application. As the driving force behind her successful makeup line, Laura brings a keen eye to beauty – combining innovation in formulation with outstanding color cosmetics that are created exclusively for her and made using only the finest ingredients found around the world. Uniquely Italian and hand mixed, her Baked Color Cosmetics Collection is designed to adjust to individual skin tones and deliver more than ordinary powder. Brand highlights also include the now iconic Spackle under makeup primers, as well as Real Deal and Air Whipped franchises. Laura Geller takes the guesswork out of cosmetics application with expert advice, time-saving tips, and high-performance, multi-tasking products for easily achievable looks.

Francine Gingras

Vice President, Global Public Relations, Elizabeth Arden New York

Francine Gingras, Vice President, Global Public Relations is responsible for the global public relations
strategy and corporate reputation of the Elizabeth Arden Brand as well as the company’s extensive
portfolio of fragrances, including Justin Bieber, Juicy Couture, John Varvatos, Curve, Elizabeth Taylor,
Britney Spears and Taylor Swift.

Prior to joining Elizabeth Arden, Francine spent 27 years working for Procter & Gamble and Bristol-
Myers Squibb Company. She began her career as a registered nurse in her native Canada and transitioned
to Pharmaceuticals Sales where she held several sales and marketing positions. She advanced to leading
Public Affairs for the Canadian division of Bristol-Myers Squibb, and eventually promoted to lead global
communications for non-pharmaceutical business, Clairol and Mead Johnson in the United States.

In 2001, Clairol was acquired by Proctor & Gamble and Francine lead the development of building the
company’s reputation as a beauty company, also leading the Global Skincare and Cosmetics Public
Relations function. She currently sits on the Board of Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) whose mission
it is to develop the leadership potential of women in the beauty business via access, connections,
networking and knowledge. She is also a member of the Public Affairs Committee and the Public Policy
& Advocacy Steering Committee for the Personal Care Product Council, the American trade association
representing the beauty and personal care industry.

Francine is married, has a 19 year-old daughter in college, loves adventure travel (lived in Japan as a
Rotary Exchange Student in High School) is an avid tennis player, golfer and runner. She is curious and
passionate about food, cooking and life.

Minda Gralnek

Chief Creative Officer, President, Minda Gralnek and Company

Minda Gralnek has created some of the most remarkable experiences in retail. As VP Creative Director of Target, Minda made the Target bullseye one of the most iconic brands in the world. Her leadership in brand, retail strategy and communications recast Target from discount retailer to a destination distinguished by its cultural cache.

Now, as founder of her own firm, Minda Gralnek and Company, her passion for the power of good design continues to influence products, brands and experiences that connect with audiences and ignite positive transformations of business and and consumers. Minda inspires and guides her clients to understand the amazingly effective potential of design on branding, retail fashion and beauty.

As a public speaker, she freely shares her insight and passion to create powerful connections with consumer audiences. Past engagements include: WWD Beauty Summit and FIT Beauty Conference.

In AdWeek's 30th anniversary issue, Minda was voted #3 in their list of the Top 30 Most Influential People in advertising, marketing and media. In 2007, the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association recognized Minda’s contributions by inducting her into the Retail Advertising and Marketing Hall of Fame.

Jill Granoff

Chief Executive Officer, Kellwood Company

Jill Granoff has a distinguished 25-year career as a strategist and brand builder in the fashion and beauty industries. For the three years, she was the Chief Executive Officer of Kenneth Cole Productions, a leading designer and marketer of fashion footwear, apparel and accessories worldwide. She was previously Executive Vice President at Liz Claiborne, Inc., where she had global responsibility for Juicy Couture, Lucky Brand Jeans, Kate Spade, and the company's e-commerce and outlet businesses. Before Liz Claiborne, Ms. Granoff was President and Chief Operating Officer of Victoria's Secret Beauty, a subsidiary of Limited Brands. Prior to that, she worked at The Estee Lauder Companies for 10 years, holding several senior management positions. Ms. Granoff received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia University.

Susan Heaney

Susan is a graduate of The College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Susan Arnot Heaney joined Avon Products, Inc. in June 1997 with the goal of working for a company committed to corporate citizenship and empowering women. Susan is currently responsible for developing and implementing strategic global communications and mobilization programs in support of Avon’s corporate responsibility agenda, with a particular focus on the Hello Green Tomorrow environmental program. She is also responsible for the company’s Corporate Responsibility Report and engagement of stakeholders who track goals, metrics and performance.

Susan has helped Avon achieve #16 of the “Best 100 Corporate Citizens,” #52 on the Newsweek “Green Ranking” and #28 on the “Corporate Social Responsibility Index Top 50,” as well as a 2010 Ladies Home Journal Do Good Award.

Prior to joining Avon, Susan was Director of Public Relations and Corporate Communications for Elizabeth Arden, and spent over a decade in the business side of publishing, including two years at USA Today during the newspaper’s initial rollout.

Jean Hoehn-Zimmerman

President, JHZ Creative Management, LLC

Jean retired as EVP of CHANEL, Inc. in 2005 after 27 years. She was a member of the Operating Committee, the Global Coordinating Committee and the Strategic Advertising Committee.

After graduating from the University of Florida, Jean began her career at Charles of the Ritz, followed by Bristol-Myers, Estee Lauder, and CHANEL in 1978.

Jean served on the Fragrance Foundation Board of Directors. She is a member of Advertising Women of New York, The Fashion Group, the New York committee for United Cerebral Palsy, FIT Advisory Board for the Graduate Program where she is an adjunct professor, and the Auxiliary Board of Lenox Hill Hospital.

Jean’s received: The Cartier Scholarship Recognition Award, The Cosmetic Executive Women Achiever Award, and The University of Florida’s Alumni of Distinction Award.

Jean was featured in House & Garden, Worth, More, Mirabella and Biz. Good Housekeeping profiled Jean’s kidney donation that saved her father’s life, which merited the Leah E. Harrison Humanitarian Award.

In 2007, she started JHZ Creative Management, LLC. She spends her time traveling, playing sports, and with her family. 

Carlotta Jacobson

President, CEW Foundation

Carlotta Jacobson is a leader in the beauty industry. A respected administrator, editor, and consultant, she has held a series of key positions, including her former position as beauty editor of Harper’s Bazaar, and her current role as president of the industry’s leading trade association, Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW).

Ms. Jacobson served as executive director of CEW from 1997 until her appointment as president in 1999. She was chairwoman of the CEW board from 1987 to 1991.

A dedicated supporter of philanthropic activities, Ms. Jacobson is also president of the CEW Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CEW, founded in 1993. She founded the foundation’s first independent initiative, Cancer and Careers.

In 2002, Ms. Jacobson was honored by the American Cancer Society.

She has served as chairwoman of Women In Need.

The author of “How to Be Wrinkle-Free: Look Younger Longer Without Plastic Surgery” (G. P. Putnam’s Sons), Ms. Jacobson has also developed publications for leading fashion and beauty companies, including Donna Karan and Chanel.

Sonia Kashuk

President, Sonia Kashuk Beauty

Sonia arrived in New York as a wide-eyed kid from the Midwest, in search of her version of the American dream. She soon discovered the buzzing and unforgiving world of fashion, where her creative flair as a makeup artist, capable of transforming any face into a richly photogenic canvas, quickly established her reputation. But it wasn’t long before her brilliant eye for shapes and color took her beyond being a top award-winning makeup artist, all the way to becoming an accomplished designer. Not only does she create her own performance-based makeup formulas, blended from ingredients of the highest quality; She also designs high-end packaging to showcase her luxurious, yet affordable makeup line. Her uncompromising commitment to beauty and perfection is in constant motion and expansion: every season Sonia reinterprets the trends, creates new colors, new shapes and patterns for brushes, bags, and more. She hunts down the best materials, explores textures, shapes and colors relentlessly and passionately, until everything expresses her unique vision and reaches her high standard. With experience, taste and instinct as a guide she transforms the everyday on a daily basis; making luxury fun, glamour accessible and beauty a reality.

When Sonia decided years ago to take on a new challenge, being the first to bring department store quality products to the mass market, she saw Target as the ideal partner. She admired Target's innovative retail style, and knew they could bring truly high-end cosmetics and accessories directly from manufacturer to store, creating a low price point for incredibly good quality. She signed up with Target in 1998, and the long-standing creative partnership between Target and Sonia Kashuk continues to break new ground in retail. Nearly 15 years later, the brand/partnership remains as fresh as the day it was first introduced.

Kim Kelleher

President, Say Media

Kim Kelleher is the President of Say Media.  Previously she was the Worldwide Publisher for TIME. Previously, Kelleher was Vice President, Publisher for the Sports Illustrated Group, where she was the first female executive to lead Sports Illustrated Advertising Sales. Prior to joining Sports Illustrated, Kelleher was SELF Magazine Vice President and Publisher. Kelleher was named Condé Nast’s 2008 Publisher of the Year and her teams at SELF twice earned the Condé Nast Gold Award (2008-2009). 

A 2007 inductee into the American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Achievement, Kelleher has been featured among Advertising Age’s “40 Under Forty” and Folio’s “Industry Influencers.” She also received Media Industry Newsletter’s Sales Team Leader of the Year Award and the Executive Women’s Golf Association’s Leadership Award.

In addition to her professional success, Kelleher has helped advance many important philanthropic initiatives with organizations involved with breast cancer, heart health, sun safety, smoking cessation and other important causes. While at SELF, Kelleher also fostered many high-profile outreach campaigns and events including the Signature Workout in the Park health and wellness festival.

Mary Morgan

Vice President & Publisher, Chief Revenue Officer, Redbook

Mary is Vice President/Publisher & Chief Revenue Officer of Redbook, one of the country’s largest women’s content brands, reaching over eleven million active and engaged consumers. She joined Redbook in 2003, and under her guidance the brand quickly evolved to a refreshed and re-energized market position, capturing the population surge in Gen X women. With brand changes fully implemented, Redbook has enjoyed record-breaking performance and the most profitable years in the brand’s history. That performance resulted in Redbook being awarded the Hearst 2005 Hall of Fame Award, the 2006 Hearst Tower Award and in 2007, the inaugural Hearst Magazine of the Year Award.

Prior to joining Redbook, Mary served as vice president/publisher of Time Inc.’s Health magazine. During her tenure, the magazine grew over forty- four percent in circulation and saw advertising revenue growth of over one hundred percent. Mary has served in a variety of other magazine management roles, including associate publisher, Ladies’ Home Journal, associate group publisher, Gruner and Jahr’s Parenthood division and on the launch team of Fitness magazine.

She is Immediate Past President, Advertising Women of New York and continues to serves on AWNY’s Board of Directors, and is President of AWNY’S Executive Advisory Board. Mary is a member of the Board of Directors of Cosmetic Executive Women, an active member of Women in Communications and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and is a past member of the Editorial Advisory Board for Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine. In 2006, Mary was selected by Folio Magazine to The folio 40: Most Influential People in the Industry, and in 2007, she was voted MIN’s Sales Executive Team Leader of the Year. In 2008, she was inducted into MIN’s Sales Executive Hall of Fame. Mary commutes between New York City and her home in Chatham, Massachusetts.

Kathrine O'Brien

Vice President of Marketing to Shoppers, Unilever, NA

Kathy O’Brien is most recently Unilever’s Vice President of Foods, US. Prior to this new role, she was Vice President and General Manager of Personal Care in the United States. She is responsible for AXE®, Dove®, Caress®, Lever 2000®, Suave®, Vaseline®, Degree®, Pond’s® and Q-tips®.

During her time at Unilever, Kathy has worked in Customer Development, Marketing and Shopper Marketing.

Among her many accomplishments, Kathy was the Marketing Director for Dove. She was responsible for building brand equity and executing brand activation plans for Dove in the United States. During her tenure on Dove Kathy led programs that helped Dove achieve its goal of reaching 5 millions girls with self esteem programming. Dove is the leading personal wash brand in the United States

Previously she was the North American Brand Development Director for all® detergent. During the three years in this critical role, she helped lead the brand to #2 in the detergent category.

Kathy was honored in 2010 as one of Advertising Ages 25 Women to Watch, and was recently named to Irish America’s Annual “The Business 100” listing of top Irish-Americans in business.

Kathy holds an undergraduate degree from Boston College and an MBA from Columbia University. She resides in New York City.

Rebecca Sanheuza

VP and Deputy General Counsel, Director of Business Affairs, TV and Video, Time Inc.

Rebecca Sanhueza is Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Time Inc. where she is responsible for both editorial and business side issues in connection with the company’s two largest divisions, Style and Entertainment and Lifestyle.

Rebecca also is the lawyer for the PEOPLE magazine group of publications and digital platforms.

Prior to Time Inc., Rebecca was Associate General Counsel at Gruner + Jahr USA Publishing for over three years and, before that, she was a litigation associate for seven years with the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

Rebecca has a J.D. from Columbia law school and a B.A from the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor.

Jadzia Tirsch

Senior Vice President, Advertising & Public Relations, Shiseido Cosmetics America

Dr Cornelia (Conny) Wittke

President & Chief Executive Officer, Tweezerman

Named CEO of Tweezerman International in January 2006 and President and CEO in 2008, Conny began with Tweezerman International by taking the lead of global brand management and new product development and sourcing in 2005. Major strategic initiatives under her direction have included, for example, the re-launch of all Tweezerman product lines for a significant enhancement of the brand’s awareness and image at the POS, the introduction of major product innovations, the launch of the Tweezerman Studio Collection and the ongoing aggressive internationalization of the Tweezerman brand. In January 2012, Conny took over additional responsibility as a Member of the Board of Management of the Zwilling Beauty Group in Solingen, Germany.

Before joining Tweezerman International, Conny headed corporate development for the Zwilling J.A. Henckels AG in Solingen, Germany, and spent seven years with the international consulting firm McKinsey & Company with a focus on Sales and Marketing. She earned a doctorate in marketing from the University of Mainz and an MBA from the University of Cologne where she graduated as best in her class and held a scholarship of the German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes e.V.), Germany’s largest and most prestigious organization sponsoring the academically gifted.

Conny is passionate about product design and performance, and deeply committed to Tweezerman’s brand promise to constantly “wow” consumers with beauty tools they love. She lives on Long Island with her husband and two children.