Michelle Crossan-Matos’ Post

#DiverseVoices As my second-to-last semester of university comes to a close, I am thankful for having the opportunity to take Robyn Hankerson-Printemps Diverse Voices course! DEI is such an important factor to use in all work fields. Even with my knowledge of diversity prior, my professor gave us a better idea sight as to how to implement inclusivity into our daily lives. In this class’ textbook “Diverse Voices: Profiles in Leadership” edited by Shelly & Barry Spector, Rosanna Fiske mentions how millennials view diversity and inclusion as an expectation, and wished “diversity was just ingrained in everything we do, as part of our reality everyday; that there wouldn’t be the overt effort of having to make diversity a key component” (Fiske 55). My team and I had worked on exploring Ulta Beauty’s DEI program and how the company showcased inclusion with both their employees and customers. I’ve learned from both my professor and Rosanna Fiske that yes, while it is great to have diverse board members to run your company, they also have to take effort into researching 1) how to have a welcoming presence for your employees and guests, 2) take notes from other companies what they’ve achieved or not achieved in setting up an inclusive workplace and 3) recognize the cultures that make your company spark! What I mean is that companies should always be the place every guest, employee, leader, etc. would want to return to. I highly recommend reading Forbes’ “Why Diversity and Inclusion Remain Important in Beauty Marketing” written by Erleia. Here’s a great quote from the article to reflect on: “Beauty consumers are no longer content with superficial nods to diversity either. They crave authenticity and brands that understand they aren't just keeping up – they're creating genuine connections with their audience.” https://lnkd.in/e55ZynuK

Many businesses of all sizes have started having conversations around the ideas of diversity and inclusion over the last several years. The trend toward creating a more diverse and representative culture inside companies is a positive change for both company culture and a company’s bottom line...but what about your marketing and brand image? In this blog post, we discuss the difference between diversity and inclusion and provide an introductory look at representation and accessibility and why they're important. https://lnkd.in/gVHXbuqB #diversityandinclusion #marketing #representationmatters #accessibility #adacompliant

Although Women's History Month has come to a close, we proudly recognize the outstanding women who drive our supply chain success at Ulta Beauty! This week, we shine a spotlight on the incredible women leaders who exemplify our commitment to promoting from within and investing in talent, attraction, development and retention. From warehouse operations to strategic planning, these trailblazing women demonstrate excellence in every facet of their roles. Today, we want you to hear from Clarisia (Munoz) Gutierrez, Senior Operations Manager: For those who are mothers, how have you navigated balancing a successful career and motherhood? "I think answering this question is quite funny because I wish I could sit up here and be a role model for you all and say I have it all figured out, but I don't. Over the course of my career journey I've learned that balancing motherhood, or even personal life, with work life can often times be challenging especially when you have a certain expectation of what your career journey should look like, as well as your personal life. One thing I have learned over the course of these years has been to be very intentional with my time here at work and my time management, so that when I do go home, I can be very intentional with my time and how I spend that time with my son. It's been difficult, and mom guilt throughout the course of the years has been real, I wish I could say it hasn't, but it's true. It's been really difficult at times, but I've learned not to be so hard on myself. As much as I would like to have attained all of the expectations I have for myself outside of these four walls, the reality is that sometimes the laundry will sit in the dryer for maybe more than 2 days, and maybe I'll have to run another cycle so I can fluff up the laundry again before I fold it. If that's what it means to take a little bit of break for my own mental health, and so that I can invest back into my family and my son, then that's the new expectation that I have for myself. It's been challenging, but it's been fun." #UltaBeauty #WHM #SupplyChain

Although Women's History Month has come to a close, we proudly recognize the outstanding women who drive our supply chain success at Ulta Beauty! This week, we shine a spotlight on the incredible women leaders who exemplify our commitment to promoting from within and investing in talent, attraction, development and retention. From warehouse operations to strategic planning, these trailblazing women demonstrate excellence in every facet of their roles. Today, we want you to hear from Jennifer Kobus, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Support & Operational Planning: For those who are mothers, how have you navigated balancing a successful career and motherhood? "As a mom of 3, throughout my life there was definitely challenges balancing both work and my career. I've also been one that's very involved in the community, on PTOs, school boards, etc, so balancing all of that plus my passion for the industry, as well as my development, can get a little crazy. What I would say is, definitely leverage your network. I am very blessed to have an amazing family and friend network that's able to pitch in and help support me when needed. I would also say "give yourself grace". I know I did the best I can, and although my kids like to tease me at times of what that best might look like, I know I truly tried, and I think that's what's most important. If I would give any advice, I would say make sure you are present. There were many times juggling my career, travel, the kids, etc., where I might have been going through the motions versus really being there and in that moment, and when I look back, those are the moments that I regret. So definitely be present." What are some of the most pressing issues facing women in the workforce today, and how do we address it? "I think the most pressing issue facing women today is representation, depending on your industry and field that you may be passionate or function that you may be interested in, might not have the representation of women that you would desire, which can be challenging just as you think about diversity of thought and inclusivity. The second is around advocacy. Ten years ago there wasn't a lot of talk about advocacy, but I can honestly tell you that without advocacy, your career journey might stall. It is really, really important to have an advocate, to have a mentor, to have someone supporting you along your career journey." #UltaBeauty #SupplyChain #WHM

Introducing another important member of our illustrious Hearst Charlotte DE&I Committee: Darlene Gidron! Read on to learn more about her and her #why: 𝟏. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨? Darlene Gidron-Advertising Operations Manager – Implement strategic initiatives to improve operational efficiency and revenue growth. Coordinate with sales, marketing, and creative teams to ensure seamless execution of advertising campaigns. Develop training programs for team members to enhance their skills and knowledge.  𝟐. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐄𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞? I joined the DEI Committee to be a part of the diverse voice that educates and bring awareness of the different races, gender, age groups and sexual orientation. I want everyone at Hearst, regardless of their background, gender, or age, to feel included and heard. 𝟑. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞? Because the workforce doesn’t just exist of one kind of people; the workforce is diverse. And with different backgrounds, you get different point of views. This can lead to better ideas and solutions for the organization. When we broaden our minds to allow and hear different perspectives of others, it can only help enhance processes. 𝟒. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞? I would like to see the committee be more diverse in its memberships. Our committee currently has only 1 male member and does not represent all ethnicities within the Hearst Hub in Charlotte. #DEI #diversity #equity #inclusion #committee #why #Hearst #HearstCharlotteDEI #volunteer #creative #events #initiatives #work #culture

I have observed that in the skincare industry: more products = more inclusion. And I don't agree. Genuine inclusion isn't just about quantity. Inclusion is about designing products with underrepresented people in mind. A large portfolio can miss the mark if it doesn't address the real needs of its intended audience. From my own experience, inclusion begins with a simple, yet powerful act: a conversation. To include people, is to listen to them. Engaging with customers, asking questions, and being genuinely curious should be a step of product design. It's about making the customer an integral part of the creation process. Only then, in my opinion, can we make truly inclusive and intentional products. Let's start inviting our customers to our offices. It is a powerful reminder of who we're here to serve.😎 #skincareinnovation #skincareinclusion #conversations #focusgroups

Given that this Friday is International Women’s Day we thought we’d reflect on our journey at Moss and how we are committed to balancing our teams. Read on for our story….   Historically our gender representation has been imbalanced, so we set about to change that and prove the adage that ‘diverse teams make better teams’ holds true.   There are many reasons why commercial teams fall into the trap of being male-dominated. Call it the misguided perception that sales people need to have certain traits that have been socialised as ‘male’ - we know that this is fundamentally untrue.    As we were building up our UK commercial team, we decided to do it a bit differently. We started balancing the stakes and have now an almost 50:50 representation in our commercial team.    Interesting things started to happen. Embracing idea sharing and innovative thinking became the cornerstone of our sales approach - ‘What do our customers need? How can we break the status quo of our existing sales cycles?’. The more diverse make-up of our team meant that we started to incorporate these simple, yet powerful, daily challenges as standard, and instantly saw positive results.   We strongly believe that the influence our balanced team has had over time - confronting old mindsets and challenging us to update the way we interact with each other and our customers - makes us a better company. This International Women’s Day, we are celebrating the fact that a balanced team makes us a better team, allowing us to deliver value to the people that matter.    We always have more work to do; whether it is continually improving our product; strengthening our value proposition for customers; or, indeed, company building with a diverse team. We will never be done with those targets and only hope to continually improve. 

Over the last 15 years we have seen the beauty industry evolve in incredible ways. One of the most impactful changes has been their growing commitment to diversity and inclusion. 💄 Representation Truly Matters 💄 Beauty is universal. When we champion diverse talent, we ensure that every consumer feels seen and celebrated. This isn’t just good for business; it’s essential for creating a world where everyone feels valued. 💄 Innovation Through Diversity 💄 Diverse teams bring a wealth of experiences and viewpoints, sparking creativity and innovation. When we foster an inclusive environment, we unlock groundbreaking ideas and strategies that resonate with a wide audience. 💄 Building Genuine Connections 💄 The beauty industry is all about personal connection and self-expression. Understanding and celebrating diverse backgrounds helps brands connect authentically with their audience, creating meaningful and lasting relationships. 💄 Talent Retention and Growth 💄 An inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued is key to keeping top talent. By offering equal opportunities for growth and development, we build a motivated and dynamic workforce ready to drive the beauty industry forward. 💄 A Commitment to Social Responsibility 💄 As beauty professionals, we have a responsibility to set a positive example. Prioritizing diversity and inclusion contributes to a more equitable society and inspires change beyond our industry. Let’s continue to push for diversity and inclusion, not just as a checkbox, but as a core value that drives us forward. There is an opportunity to create a beauty landscape where everyone feels empowered, celebrated, and truly beautiful. #DiversityandInclusion #BeautyIndustry #Recruitment #Innovation #RepresentationMatters #InclusiveWorkplace #TalentGrowth #SocialResponsibility #BeautyForAll What are your thoughts and experiences on how we can keep moving the needle on diversity and inclusion in the beauty industry? 🌍✨

Our Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Ms. Nisha Singhania, provides her insights regarding the strategies brands can employ to enhance inclusivity. Dive in with us! #CEOInsights #InclusiveBranding #DiversityAndInclusion #BrandStrategy #InclusivityMatters #InnovativeStrategies #BusinessGrowth #MarketingInsights

As we adorn our spaces, envision a season aglow with inclusive warmth. How can we infuse our celebrations with thoughtful touches that embrace diversity and radiate joy? What creative ideas do you have for celebrating inclusively this year? Share your insights in the comments below! #Inclusiveholiday #holidayseason #Inclusivehandbook #DEI #EmbraceInsights