All CEW Foundation Board Members personally support Cancer and Careers.
Sonia Kashuk
Founder, 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 shape and color took her beyond being a top award winning makeup artist, to a respected beauty entrepreneur. Not only did she create her own performance-based formulas, she also designed packaging to showcase her luxurious, yet affordable beauty brand. Every season Sonia reinterprets the trends creating new colors, new shapes and patterns for brushes, bags and more. She transforms the everyday, making luxury fun, glamor accessible and beauty a reality.
Lucy Kriz
VP Global Brands, Criteo
As a senior executive with 20+ years of experience launching and growing profitable and culturally-relevant media brands, Lucy Kriz is known as a trailblazer in the advertising industry. Lucy joined Criteo in October 2022 to lead global consumer goods strategy as the company drives toward becoming the world’s leading Commerce Media Platform.
Most recently, Lucy served as Chief Industry Officer of Beauty for Condé Nast beginning in 2017. In this role, Kriz oversaw strategic category initiatives and advertising solutions, within the beauty category, across the Condé Nast portfolio. Lucy was successful in re-engineering the business from 75% print to 75% digital and video over the course of her tenure and was recognized as a CN Top Performer in 2019 and 2020 for business and organizational transformation.
Prior to leading the Beauty vertical at Conde Nast, Lucy Kriz was publisher and chief revenue officer of W Magazine. In addition to posting W's third consecutive year of revenue growth in 2015 and winning the Condé Nast Bronze Award for Business Performance in 2014, Ms. Kriz was also the recipient of the company's coveted Collaborative Leadership Award for her partnership with editor-in-chief Stefano Tonchi. Under her leadership, W was named to Advertising Age's A-List in 2016 and 2013, and the magazine was honored with a spot on Adweek's Hot List in 2015.
Kriz came to W from the Condé Nast Media Group, where as senior executive director she oversaw omnichannel sales across fashion, beauty, accessories, and other key categories. Previously, she was associate publisher at Details from 2009 to 2010 and, prior to that, corporate fashion director at Condé Nast Media Group, where she was named Corporate Salesperson of the Year in 2008.
In 2002, Kriz joined the launch team for Teen Vogue as fashion and retail director. The brand received numerous awards during this time, including Adweek's Startup of the Year. She was named Teen Vogue Salesperson of the Year in 2003 and 2004, and was honored with Condé Nast's overall Salesperson of the Year Award in 2004.
Kriz began her career in publishing in New York at Hearst with posts at both Harper's Bazaar and Marie Claire. She earned a BA from Eckerd College.
Melissa Mahler
Counselor and CEO
Melissa Mahler is a highly sought-after strategist, lawyer and social impact entrepreneur. She is the managing partner of Mahler Law Group PLLC and founder of Pro Player Insiders. For over 15 years Melissa has advised C-Suite executives, boards of directors and NGO's in negotiating complex transactions, advancing policy objectives and managing strategic and diverse relationships. She has collaborated with management teams on social impact initiatives, emerging technologies, closed financing and commercialized technology with universities, governments and Fortune 100 companies.
Prior to graduating from law school, she was a news anchor and communications executive. She was awarded an associated press award for spot news coverage and developed and coordinated several campaigns in the healthcare arena.
Melissa is the founder of Pro Player Insiders, a pioneer in athlete lifestyle media, partner of the NFL Players Association and credentialed by the NFL. She has worked with United Nations Office on Sports for Development and Peace International Power of Sport Summit, developed and hosted a panel series with athletes and experts on domestic violence, created a leadership program for youth using athletes for inspiration, and regularly works with athletes, their families and NGOs that use sports as a vehicle for inspiration and change.
As a cancer survivor, Melissa is honored to join the Board of Governors of the CEW Foundation / Cancer and Careers and support the organization's mission of helping people Be the Boss Over Cancer.
In addition to her other activities, Melissa frequently writes and speaks on the intersection of law, technology and social impact. She is on the advisory board of the Children's Health Fund and is the Senior Legal Advisor to the World Education Foundation.
Melissa has a BS in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School of Public Communications with a minor in Political Science from Maxwell School of Citizenship. She has Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law.
Diane Paccione Rizzo
Vice President, bareMinerals
Diane Paccione has more than 30 years of retail apparel experience with a strong background in merchandising, marketing and product development.
In January 2019, Diane joined bareMinerals as Vice President of Spa / Independent accounts. Prior to this, Diane was Founder and President of DPR Consulting, and was an in-house consultant for Shiseido Americas Corporation since February 2016.
From July 2010 through March of 2015, Diane Paccione was vice president of jewelry and beauty merchandising at QVC. In this role, Paccione managed the company's jewelry and beauty merchandising categories, responsible for developing strategic long-term plans and maximizing sales.
Prior to QVC, Diane Paccione was president and chief executive officer at Deb Shops, Inc. where she was responsible for executing the company's strategy, leading the management team and running the business. Paccione has also held executive management positions at Charming Shoppes, the May Company and Sears.
Paccione earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Queens College, Queens, NY.
Jadzia Zielinski Tirsch
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Shiseido Americas
Jadzia Zielinski Tirsch is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Shiseido Americas, a regional division of Shiseido Company, Limited. Since 2016, Jadzia has led the company's corporate external communications, internal employee communications, and its many philanthropic and charitable initiatives across the regions.
A passionate communications expert, Jadzia joined Shiseido in 2002 as Vice President of Public Relations for the Shiseido and clè de peau Beautè brands. During her tenure, she helped to establish the public relations department as a key stakeholder within the brands, partnering closely with marketing and sales to integrate communications into a holistic brand-building business model which succeeded in driving awareness and sales of both brands in the US market. Eventually Jadzia also assumed responsibility for media buying and creative services for both brands.
From 2000 to 2002, Jadzia worked as an independent consultant for a variety of beauty brands including Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Dr. Eris Skincare and Beauty.com.
From 1989 to 2000, Jadzia held various roles of increasing responsibility at Revlon, Inc. including Vice President, Corporate Initiatives where she ran the company's corporate sponsorships and philanthropic endeavors including the Revlon Run / Walk for Women. She also served as Vice President, Public Relations for the Revlon brand where she oversaw strategic communications campaigns for key franchises such as ColorStay and Age Defying with the company's iconic spokeswomen, including Cindy Crawford, Halle Berry, and Claudia Schiffer.
Jadzia began her career at L'Oréal where she held various roles within the Public Relations function for both L'Oréal Makeup and Haircare.
As an enthusiastic supporter of the Foundation's Cancer and Careers Program, Jadzia has led Shiseido's sponsorship efforts for this initiative for more than a decade.
Born in Poland, Jadzia is a (nearly) native New Yorker, who resides in Westchester County with her husband and two children.
Carlotta Jacobson
Founder, Cancer and Careers
Carlotta Jacobson is a leader in the beauty industry. She has held a series of key positions, including beauty editor of Harper’s Bazaar, and served as President of the beauty industry’s foremost association, Cosmetic Executive Women for over 25 years.
CEW is an international organization of 9,000 individual members representing a cross section of beauty and related businesses. CEW’s primary purpose is to support the advancement of women in the beauty industry.
During her 20+ year tenure at CEW, Carlotta Jacobson has led the organization through tremendous growth – from fewer than 400 to over 9,000 members, creating unique programming, industry awards, and developing a prestigious board of governors—establishing CEW as the industry authority it is today.
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, a resource for people working with cancer.
Ms. Jacobson was honored by the American Cancer Society for her commitment.
She is the recipient of the CEW UK Achiever Awards Special Industry Award, Traditional Home Classic Woman Awards Editor & Publisher Award, and the John Mack Carter Founders Award, presented at Komen Greater NYC’s annual Impact Awards.
She was named in WWD Beauty Inc.’s first-ever list of the 50 most influential people in the beauty industry.
She has served as chairwoman of Women In Need (WIN), a nonprofit charitable organization that provides housing and other vital services to homeless women and their children in NYC.