Our CMO Leonie Faddy shared some thoughts this week with the team at Inside Retail Australia, reflecting on a career in beauty, (spoiler alert, the best industry), how data plays a role in marketing and why at Go-To kindness is king.
Head of Brand Advocacy - Yotpo 🦩
Airwallex Community Hero Award Winner 2024 🏆 Finalists “Industry Elevator of the Year Award” NORA National Online Retail Association.
Data Storyteller | Market & Industry Research Specialist | Sustainability Advocate | Supporting Businesses with Insights & Impact Assessments | Champion of the Underdog | Win-Win Business Practitioner
In recent weeks, I did a LOT of thinking about the balance between professionalism and authenticity.
Especially when it came to clothing choices and what to wear to present at a Scottish Parliamentary Reception filled with key business stake holders, MSPs and other government officials from both Turkey and Scotland last week.
I've had various words of 'advice' given to me on the topic over the years, some questionable with regards to what women in particular should or shouldn't wear to work and to be successful. But I believe how we feel in our clothes is just as important as how we look. Authenticity can shine through when we feel comfortable and confident in what we wear.
So I did it, I wore the tartan trousers and the big black boots. And not only did I feel comfortable and confident - I received SO many compliments!?
I'd love to get your input in the comments - but I'd also (note my un-subtle segue) love less than 2 minutes of your time to complete our current Research Chamber survey into perceptions of market research... pretty please?!
👉 https://lnkd.in/ezsjC3Y8
Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts! Away to make a coffee....(couldn't have a post and not mention it, you'd be disappointed!)
#authenticity#presentationstyle#professionalism#confidence#survey#coffee#ResearchChamber#marketresearch
Are beauty brands using weaponised incompetence to dodge accountability? Ennie Fakoya's latest article exposes the disturbing trend of brands failing their diverse customers.
Skin Therapist Nyssa Donna Grays says, 'So many cosmetic chemists will say that it's literally not hard to make a foundation shade. There are three primary colours so what the brand did was a choice. Even the people they were testing on were randomly chosen. Why would you make the darkest shade when there are so many hues of brown? I think we should stop giving these brands attention on social media because it feeds their engagement; we should focus our attention and money into brands that actually care.'
From inadequate shade ranges to lack of effort in understanding undertones, it's time to call out brands that fall short. Black beauty creators like @missdarcei and @okaysophi are leading the charge, highlighting brands that truly cater to all skin tones.
Dive into the full article and join the conversation on holding beauty brands accountable.
Link here: https://lnkd.in/eRDSKrG5
Strategist | Founder, The DAME Collective | Author, "Find Your Authentic Voice" | great questions, better answers | Team Builder | Superpower: What if?
A Slight Change of Plans: Labels, Pick Me and Authenticity
According to labeling theory, "self-identity and the behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them". Basically, this means that when we identify with a label it can change our concept of self. For example, early on in my career Tracy Wong nicknamed me "Surly Red". There were no negative intentions with this, just a nickname among friends.... but, as I learned—and like labeling theory states—it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, and we become the label. My big energy, my absolute-ness, my emphatic-ness (or what I now call young planners’ disease) formed who I was because a) I was that and b) someone I looked up to validated those characteristics—validated me—with a label, in the form of a nickname. I felt seen, important and yes, damn-it-all, it seems that I was a pick-me girl before there were pick me girls. Le sigh.
There were other nicknames, both before and after, and before I figured it all out (i.e. therapy) I bought more into those labels more than I bought into myself.
But in the end, our culture is a culture of labels. And a culture of validation. And these two things often come together as a pair, especially, and unfortunately, for women. I found during research among a hyper-focused group of elite female athletes, that being singularly labeled their whole life—the gymnast, the softball player, the swimmer—leaves them completely untethered, feeling lost and unworthy when the label doesn’t fit anymore. Which is why I wasn’t surprised to hear these findings played back to me by Olympian swimmer Missy Franklin on the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. She talks at length about how she struggled with her mental health and sense of self because she didn’t know who or what she was without being the ‘Olympic gold-medal swimmer’.
Women, especially in our professional lives, have been dogged with a lot of labels, none of them meant in a positive light--emotional, assertive, ambitious, and for Black women, the very specific, 'angry Black woman". And like we teach our children, words have impact. According to my research 59% of professional women between 25-60 feel that they bought into the negative labels at some point in their career. And 95% of those women say that it deeply affected them and their career negatively.
So, ladies…let's help ourselves and each other out by spending our time, money and energy on being authentic and not being the Pick Me Girl…jumping through insane hoops, changing your values, your personality, and even your purpose in response to a label that has stuck is just a road to nowhere--and we've got places to go and a lot of good shit to do.
Happy Summer Friday!
#labels#women#professionallife#authenticity#pickme#aslightchangeofplans#missyfranklin#elitefemaleathletes#womenatwork
Resharing this important piece, “Buzz, Kill — The Physical, Psychological, and Financial Price Women Pay for Working in Beer“ on Good Beer Hunting by Beth Demmon. In May 2021, a #metoo movement in the craft beer industry was ignited by thousands of stories shared by women who have experienced sexism, and sexual harassment and abuse while working in beer. It created a global conversation. The Brave Noise global brew collab and initiative was launched shortly after. We must keep this conversation going, and hold companies accountable.
*Content warning: This story includes discussions of sexual harassment, assault, and violence.
🌟 In today's beauty landscape, inclusivity is no longer an option—it's a necessity. The cosmetics industry is stepping up by prioritizing inclusive shade ranges, ensuring that beauty is accessible to all. From foundation to concealer, every skin tone deserves a perfect match. Let's celebrate the industry leaders breaking barriers and setting new standards for diversity and representation. #InclusiveBeauty#DiversityInBeauty#CosmeticsInnovation 🌈
Every woman deserves to feel #confident and beautiful in her own skin. It’s not about comparing ourselves to others but about embracing the unique qualities that make us who we are. We all have our own strengths, #beauty, and #purpose, and when we recognize and celebrate that, we unlock our true potential.
#marykay isn’t just about #skincare and #makeup; it’s about #empowering#women to see their worth and achieve their #dreams. The brand’s mission goes beyond enhancing physical beauty—it’s about touching hearts and #inspiring women to realize they are important, valued, and capable of anything they set their minds to. Mary Kay believes that every woman has something special to offer the world, and by nurturing our #confidence, we can step into our purpose with grace and strength.
So, when you invest in Mary Kay, you’re not just investing in products that make you look good; you’re investing in a philosophy that encourages you to feel good, be confident, and live out the #potential you were born with. Each of us has a unique path, and with the right support and self-belief, there’s no limit to what we can achieve. Mary Kay is here to remind every woman of her power, beauty, and the endless possibilities that await her.
If you think Mary Kay may be something you may like to try, contact me and we can talk💕
#halifax#marykaycanada#consultant#novascotia#makeup#business#businessowner#businessgrowth#skincare#skincareroutine
"Should there be age restrictions on provocative attire? Join the debate on balancing freedom and protection."
In this discussion, we share perspectives on whether age restrictions should govern the availability of provocative or revealing clothing. It's a complex issue involving societal norms, personal autonomy, and safeguarding minors from potentially harmful influences. 🌟
👩🏻💻Moderating this forum involves fostering respectful discourse, ensuring all voices are heard, and maintaining a constructive environment. It requires enforcing guidelines to uphold civility while allowing for diverse viewpoints to be expressed.
Through moderating such discussions, I've learned the importance of empathy, patience, and impartiality. It's crucial to understand different viewpoints, manage conflicts diplomatically, and facilitate productive exchanges of ideas.
Moving forward, I will apply these insights by continuing to promote inclusive discussions, uphold standards of respectful engagement, and contribute to creating forums where diverse perspectives can thrive. This approach ensures that debates remain constructive and contribute meaningfully to broader societal discourse.✨💫
#AgeRestrictions#ClothingRegulations#YouthProtection#FreedomOfDress#ParentalGuidance#SocietalNorms#BodyPositivity#EthicalFashion#CulturalValues#GenderEquality
Head of Brand Advocacy - Yotpo 🦩 Airwallex Community Hero Award Winner 2024 🏆 Finalists “Industry Elevator of the Year Award” NORA National Online Retail Association.
5mo🙌🙌