💄🩴✨ Behind the Brands: Insights from Women Leaders at NARS & Birkenstock
NARS on my face, Birkenstocks on my feet—it’s my go-to look! And today (October 23rd), I was lucky enough to attend an insightful panel session featuring two amazing leaders from these iconic brands. Angela Simpson (Senior Vice President of Marketing at NARS Cosmetics) and Kia Holifield Wimmer (Vice President, Intellectual Property Counsel at BIRKENSTOCK) shared powerful insights on women in leadership and how to build a brand in today’s rapidly changing consumer landscape.
Corporate structures today are often dominated by uniformity, with a noticeable lack of diversity, especially in leadership positions. Many brands struggle to build genuine connections with their audiences because they don’t reflect the diversity of the customers they serve. Angela, however, stands out in her approach at NARS. She emphasized that transparency and authenticity are crucial in today’s market, and this drives her team’s strong commitment to diversity. With 30+ marketers from different races and genders contributing to key decisions, her team ensures that a wide range of voices is heard. This balanced perspective allows NARS to resonate deeply with diverse audiences. Angela’s leadership left a lasting impression on me: No matter who you are as a customer, there is someone on her team at NARS who understands and represents you.
In many corporate environments, leadership often lacks the human element, focusing more on results than on people. However, Kia stands apart with her leadership philosophy, emphasizing two key aspects:
1️⃣ Emotional intelligence—the importance of understanding and managing emotions, not just in oneself but also in others. Kia stressed the need to care for employees from a human standpoint, being truly aware of their emotions and well-being.
2️⃣ Authenticity—the importance of being true to yourself, knowing what you want to do, and ensuring that your skills align with the job requirements. Kia mentioned that it’s not about chasing a leadership title but about recognizing your strengths and using them in roles that truly fit your abilities.
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📚 Career Advice from Kia and Angela:
• Be eager to learn—approach every opportunity as a chance to grow and absorb as much knowledge as possible.
• Become a functional expert—build valuable expertise through experience, and bring meaningful insights to the table.
• Invest in mentorship—find mentors who will guide you honestly and help you grow both personally and professionally.
• Find balance—know your limits, ask for help when needed, and make time for things that give you relief.
• Stay true to yourself—be confident, maintain resilience, and understand what you can tolerate, especially in challenging or awkward moments.
Thank you to Kia, Angela, and the Wharton Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Club for organizing such an insightful session!
#NARS #Birkenstock #WUEC #WomenInLeadership #MarketingInnovation "
President | COO | CSO | Consumer Growth Expert
2moCongratulations Jenny! A great honor and so well deserved.