Sari Sternschein on the Beauty of Giving Back

There are so many amazing women leaders who have supported the #ggmovement. Sari Sternschein, the President of Qosmedix, has been donating disposable makeup applicators to our volunteers for 20 years! Read on to learn about Sari’s journey of becoming President of Qosmedix, what being a female business leader means to her, and more!

What inspired you to go into the beauty industry?

When I was 11, my father started our company Qosmedix, which supplies cosmetic companies and retailers with essential hygienic cosmetic applicators, packaging, makeup brushes and other accessories. So, the beauty business has always been a part of my life! It was also around that time that I began to experiment with makeup (a little blue eyeliner and pink lip gloss went a long way in the 80’s!) and loved how it could transform your look and also help improve your self-confidence. It was easy to make a career out of something I was so passionate about. 

After I graduated college, I wasn’t ready to join the family business and wanted to have a successful career on my own. I naturally applied to jobs in the beauty business and was lucky enough to spend 5 years with Clarins, the French skincare company and then 4 years with The Estee Lauder Companies in their corporate offices in sales, marketing and e-commerce roles. During my time at Lauder, I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and received a Master of Professional Studies in Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management, furthering my knowledge in the field.

What would be your advice to our volunteers who are looking to be a part of the beauty industry but maybe don’t have a lot or any experience in that field? 

Everything I learned about the beauty industry was learned on the job. You don’t necessarily need specific skills related to cosmetics or skincare to enter the beauty industry in a general business role – marketing, accounting, public relations, human resources, sales. But you do need a solid educational foundation and strong computer skills to be successful in those types of positions. If you have a passion for makeup and/or skincare, that will easily shine through during the interview process, because who doesn’t like to talk about their favorite cosmetic brands?! If you are interviewing for a certain brand, I would make sure you do your homework and understand what the brand stands for, what is its history and mission so that you are educated on the company and its products.

Congratulations on your promotion!  What were some moments during your time at Qosmedix when you were challenged but helped you to grow and be where you are now?

I’m actually quite shy and introverted so I had a tendency to remain behind the scenes. But as I kept taking on more and more responsibility, my role morphed into more of a brand spokesperson and team leader. It forced me out of my comfort zone and gave me opportunities to be on camera, present to customers and motivate employees. I am still learning how to be a more effective public speaker and how to feel more comfortable in the spotlight – I don’t think that will ever stop!

Sari at the Glammy’s in 2015 (middle)

Thank you for your continued support of GlamourGals!  We have been using your supplies for almost 20 years!  This is such a great example of two female leaders coming together to do good.  What other ways have you been able to build up other female business leaders like yourself?  OR What is your favorite thing about being a female business leader?

In the beauty industry, it’s not uncommon to be surrounded by successful female business leaders and I have had the great pleasure of working with so many of them that have inspired me in my career. To be able to share a bond with other women over shared experiences, like navigating the challenges of being a working mom is invaluable. I recently joined CHIEF, a private network for women in executive leadership roles, whose mission is to help women strengthen their leadership, magnify their influence and pave the way to bring others with them. It has been a great resource to me so far and I am thrilled that an organization like this exists so I can continue to learn, grow, develop my leadership skills and meet other women that are in a similar position to me. Finally, it’s always rewarding to be able to give back to others, especially female led organizations. That’s why we have had such a long standing relationship with GlamourGals, an organization whose mission is to help empower other women.