Elana Drell Szyfer Takes Helm at CEW, Charting a New Course for Beauty Industry Leadership and Development
Elana Drell Szyfer, a distinguished veteran of the beauty industry and a former CEW Achiever, has officially assumed the presidency of Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW), succeeding longtime leader Carlotta Jacobson. Her appointment marks a pivotal moment for the esteemed organization, signaling a renewed focus on community building, strategic evolution, and the proactive nurturing of future professional talent within a rapidly transforming global beauty landscape. Szyfer, renowned for her strategic acumen and extensive operational experience, including her most recent role helming Révive Skincare, is poised to implement a comprehensive strategy designed to solidify CEW’s role as an indispensable nexus for information, partnership, and professional advancement across the industry.
A Legacy of Leadership: Carlotta Jacobson’s Transformative Tenure
CEW, established in 1954, has long served as the premier professional organization dedicated to advancing women in the beauty industry. Through its comprehensive programming, networking events, and prestigious awards, CEW has played an instrumental role in shaping careers and fostering a sense of community among beauty professionals. At the heart of its success for over two decades was Carlotta Jacobson, whose visionary leadership transformed CEW into a powerhouse. Jacobson’s tenure was characterized by significant growth in membership, the expansion of CEW’s influence, and the elevation of its signature events, particularly the annual Achiever Awards. These awards became a benchmark for excellence, recognizing top talent and inspiring countless women to aspire to leadership roles. Jacobson’s strategic foresight in identifying and celebrating industry leaders inadvertently created a natural pipeline for her own succession, setting the stage for Szyfer’s transition.
The process of selecting a successor for such an influential role is often meticulous, aimed at ensuring continuity while also injecting fresh perspectives necessary for adaptation. For CEW, an organization that annually champions the beauty industry’s top achievers, the decision to look within the ranks of its celebrated honorees was both logical and symbolic. Elana Drell Szyfer, herself an Achiever in 2020, embodied the very qualities CEW seeks to promote: proven leadership, strategic foresight, and a deep understanding of the industry’s intricacies.
Szyfer’s journey to the presidency began organically. "When I left Révive, Carlotta approached me about working with CEW to help them do their strategy," Drell Szyfer recounted, illustrating the collaborative nature of her initial engagement. This strategic consultancy, which commenced in April or May, provided Szyfer with an intimate understanding of CEW’s operational framework, its strengths, and areas ripe for evolution. This period of strategic immersion naturally led to her consideration for the top leadership role. "I started working with the strategy team in April or May, and when I heard there was a search for a new president, I threw my name in the hat and got named in October. I was working on strategy for six months or so before that, and now I’m implementing it." This timeline underscores a thoughtful and integrated transition, ensuring that the architect of CEW’s new strategic direction is also its chief implementer.
Elana Drell Szyfer: A Strategic Visionary for a Dynamic Industry
Elana Drell Szyfer brings an illustrious career to her new role, spanning leadership positions at some of the beauty industry’s most iconic companies. Her professional trajectory includes significant tenures at Shiseido Americas, where she served as CEO, and various senior executive roles within The Estée Lauder Companies, LVMH, Ahava, and Philosophy. This extensive background, encompassing brand management, marketing, and executive leadership across diverse segments of the beauty market, equips her with a holistic understanding of the industry’s challenges and opportunities. Her recognition as a CEW Achiever in 2020 further solidified her standing as a leader whose contributions have significantly impacted the beauty landscape.
Szyfer’s immediate focus is on reinforcing the core tenets of CEW while simultaneously modernizing its approach. "This year, there is a real focus on community and making sure that CEW acts as a beauty community aggregator — it’s really for members, but it also refers to the industry as a whole, and being a place where the industry can come for information and partnership," she articulated. This vision transforms CEW into a central hub, a vital resource for professionals seeking insights, connections, and collaborative opportunities in an industry experiencing unprecedented change. The global beauty market, valued at approximately $430 billion in 2023, is projected to grow significantly, driven by e-commerce, sustainability trends, personalization, and an increasing demand for wellness-integrated products. Navigating this dynamic environment requires robust community support and access to cutting-edge information, areas where CEW under Szyfer aims to excel.
Her strategic emphasis on partnership is evident in new collaborations with academic institutions. "We’re collaborating with people like the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Savannah College of Art and Design. I’ve stretched our reach to be able to say ‘we’re stronger together.’" These partnerships are crucial for bridging the gap between academic learning and industry practice, ensuring that future talent is equipped with relevant skills and insights directly from the field.
Nurturing the Next Generation: Education and Access Initiatives
A cornerstone of Szyfer’s strategy is the dedicated development of the next generation of beauty professionals. Recognizing that talent pipelines need to be actively cultivated, CEW is forging stronger ties with educational institutions. Among these collaborations, CEW has become the key programming partner for Columbia Business School’s beauty club, which boasts over 200 members. This initiative directly addresses a critical industry need. "There’s such a strong interest in the industry, but people don’t know where to go or how to access it," Szyfer observed. "A lot of companies don’t recruit so there are jobs, but people have to find them on their own, and we’re trying to be that access point." By providing structured programming, networking opportunities, and direct access to industry leaders, CEW is effectively demystifying career pathways in beauty and making them more accessible to aspiring professionals.
Further cementing its commitment to cultivating emerging talent, CEW is now offering free memberships to students. This initiative is a powerful step towards fostering inclusivity and broadening the talent pool. By removing financial barriers, CEW ensures that students from diverse backgrounds can access its invaluable resources, mentorship programs, and networking events, thus leveling the playing field and promoting a more equitable industry. This proactive approach is particularly vital in an era where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are not just buzzwords but fundamental imperatives for sustainable business growth and innovation.
Expanding Reach: Geographic and Functional Diversification
Szyfer’s vision extends beyond educational partnerships to encompass both geographic and functional expansion, reflecting the increasingly decentralized and multifaceted nature of the beauty industry. While New York City has historically been the epicenter of beauty, other metropolitan areas across the U.S. are emerging as significant hubs. "There’s a big growing presence in Los Angeles, but also Chicago and San Francisco," Szyfer noted. To leverage these burgeoning communities, CEW has launched an ambassador program, appointing members in each of these cities. These ambassadors, often proactive individuals who had previously expressed a desire to contribute, will serve as local liaisons, organizing events, fostering regional networks, and extending CEW’s influence beyond its traditional base. This localized approach recognizes the unique characteristics and needs of different beauty ecosystems, allowing CEW to be more responsive and relevant to its broader membership.
Equally important is the functional diversification of CEW’s membership. The beauty industry is a complex ecosystem, relying on a wide array of expertise beyond marketing and product development. Szyfer aims to broaden the organization’s appeal to professionals in areas such as finance, operations, supply chain management, technology, and data analytics. This inclusive approach acknowledges that robust businesses are built on diverse skill sets and that recognizing leaders in these often-overlooked functions is crucial for holistic industry growth.
Upskilling and Mentorship: Empowering Professionals
Professional development and mentorship are central to Szyfer’s strategy for empowering CEW members. In today’s rapidly evolving job market, continuous learning and skill enhancement (upskilling) are non-negotiable. CEW is addressing this need by investing in innovative platforms and resources. "We made an investment in a platform called Rally Board, which allows you to match one-to-many with a mentor. It’s a cohort model, and the platform schedules the meetings for you, takes meeting notes and is AI-driven," Szyfer explained. This sophisticated approach to mentorship streamlines the process, making it more accessible and effective. The cohort model fosters peer-to-peer learning alongside traditional mentorship, while AI integration ensures efficient matching and administrative support, maximizing the value for both mentors and mentees.
Complementing this technological investment, CEW has also engaged a dedicated career coach with deep roots in the beauty industry. This personalized guidance offers members bespoke advice on career progression, skill development, and navigating professional challenges, further solidifying CEW’s position as a comprehensive resource for professional growth. These initiatives collectively underscore CEW’s commitment to equipping its members with the tools and support necessary to thrive in an increasingly competitive and dynamic professional landscape.
Celebrating Excellence: The Achiever Awards and Diverse Representation
The annual Achiever Awards serve as CEW’s pinnacle event, recognizing outstanding contributions and leadership within the beauty industry. Under Szyfer’s guidance, the selection of honorees is meticulously curated to reflect the industry’s holistic nature and the diversity of roles that drive its success. "We try to represent the industry as a whole — not just the marketers and not only CEOs. There are a few honorees who I think are important for different reasons," she stated, emphasizing the deliberate effort to showcase a broader spectrum of talent.
Among the distinguished honorees, Mary van Praag stands out as a testament to commercial prowess and enduring leadership. As the CEO of Almay and Revlon Brands (and Revlon’s North America General Manager), van Praag exemplifies leadership through a commercial lens. Her remarkable achievement, with her company being one of only two, alongside E.l.f., to make significant market share gains in the color cosmetics category at mass, highlights the profound impact of strategic commercial leadership.
The recognition of Mandy Fields, the CFO of E.l.f., is particularly significant. Szyfer underscored the importance of acknowledging roles beyond traditional marketing. "A lot of the reasons why women are not gaining the top CEO jobs is because people say they don’t have operational or financial experience." By celebrating a CFO, CEW sends a powerful message about the critical role of financial acumen in executive leadership and actively counters narratives that limit women’s advancement. Similarly, the honor bestowed upon SK Lee, who leads a major category for P&G from Singapore, powerfully demonstrates the global interconnectedness and diverse geographical leadership within the beauty industry. It highlights that impact extends far beyond traditional Western markets, embracing the vast and vibrant Asian beauty landscape.
Szyfer also expressed long-standing advocacy for certain honorees, noting, "I’ve also been campaigning for Laura Slatkin to win an Achiever for years. Same with Jo Horgan and also Mary van Praag — they’re all incredible human beings and leaders." Laura Slatkin, founder of Nest New York, is celebrated as an incredibly talented brand builder. While Nest is widely recognized for its fragrance innovations, Szyfer championed Slatkin’s broader industry impact, ensuring her recognition extends beyond a single category. Jo Horgan, founder of Mecca, a leading beauty retailer in Australia and New Zealand, represents entrepreneurial vision and regional market dominance, further diversifying the honoree profile.
The ultimate descriptor for former president Carlotta Jacobson, who received the "catalyst" award, resonates deeply with Szyfer. "She was a catalyst for change, and I think the award is incredibly appropriate." This recognition not only honors Jacobson’s extraordinary contributions but also symbolically passes the torch of transformative leadership to Szyfer, who is poised to ignite her own era of evolution for CEW.
Broader Implications for the Beauty Industry
Elana Drell Szyfer’s appointment and her strategic vision for CEW carry significant implications for the beauty industry at large. Her emphasis on community aggregation and information sharing positions CEW as an essential knowledge hub, fostering greater transparency and collaboration across brands, retailers, and service providers. In an industry grappling with rapid innovation cycles, shifting consumer preferences, and the imperative for ethical sourcing and sustainability, access to timely and accurate information is paramount.
The renewed focus on nurturing emerging talent, particularly through educational partnerships and free student memberships, will directly address the beauty industry’s need for a diverse, skilled, and digitally-savvy workforce. By actively creating access points and mentorship opportunities, CEW is contributing to a more inclusive talent pipeline, potentially mitigating future skill gaps and fostering greater representation at all levels of leadership. The expansion of CEW’s geographic reach and its efforts to attract professionals from diverse functional backgrounds signal a more holistic understanding of the industry’s ecosystem. This inclusive approach will likely lead to more integrated solutions and innovations, as varied perspectives and expertise converge under the CEW umbrella.
Moreover, the sophisticated mentorship programs, exemplified by the Rally Board platform, reflect a forward-thinking approach to professional development, leveraging technology to scale impact. This commitment to upskilling ensures that current professionals remain competitive and adaptable, vital for an industry in constant flux. The diverse representation among the Achiever Awards honorees reinforces the message that leadership comes in many forms, across various functions and geographies, serving as a powerful inspiration for all women in beauty.
Under Elana Drell Szyfer’s dynamic leadership, CEW is not merely adapting to change; it is proactively shaping the future of the beauty industry. Her strategic blueprint promises to evolve CEW into an even more influential and indispensable organization, one that champions excellence, fosters innovation, and empowers a new generation of leaders to navigate and define the evolving landscape of beauty.
