Thia Breen,
President, North America for the Estée Lauder Companies
HR: How did you get your start in the industry?
Breen: My first experience in the cosmetics industry came when I was in the eighth grade. I was the Bonne Belle buyer for my father’s drugstore in Benson, MN. I’ll always remember how the salesman would come to see me after school, and listen patiently as I agonized over whether to order three lip glosses or six.
Later in career, I took a job in the cosmetics department at Dayton’s – now Macy’s – in Minneapolis. That led to my first Account Executive job with Clinique and the Estée Lauder Companies in 1977.
HR: What was your childhood career dream?
Breen: I always wanted to be a teacher.
HR: After 30 years in the business, what is the most important thing you’ve learned?
Breen: My most important learning has been you cannot be a great leader without a great team.
HR:What is the one piece of advice you would offer someone starting out in their career?
Breen:My advice is to know that you have to take the reins of your own career and manage its direction. Also, expect to work hard.
HR: What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
Breen:The development of my North America Affiliate Leadership Team– a team that helps me lead the North America region responsible for approximately 40% of the global sales for our Company.
HR: What do you do to relax?
Breen:Read and workout.
Claudia Poccia,
President and CEO, Gurwitch Products
HR: After years in the business, what is the most important thing you’ve learned?
Poccia: Listen to, and think like your customer, so that your brand stays relevant and evolves while also staying true to its DNA.
HR: What is the one piece of advice you would offer someone starting out in their career?
Poccia: Work hard and follow your passion… you will be amazed at what you can accomplish.
HR: What do you do to relax?
Poccia: I feel most relaxed when I’m with my husband at our lake house in western Maryland simply taking a boat ride. I also lose track of time when I’m working out with my “trainer,” our boxer puppy, Dolce.
HR: Most memorable beauty words of wisdom you’ve received?
Poccia: Embrace your individuality and wear sunscreen every day!
HR: How did you get your start in the industry?
Poccia: I started as a beauty advisor in our local department store.
HR: What was your childhood career dream?
Poccia: To be a foreign language interpreter at the United Nations.
Maureen Case,
President, Specialty Brands, for the Estée Lauder Companies
HR: How did you get your start in the industry?
Case: When I graduated college, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I thought maybe I would become a psychologist, but I found out about a job at in the Finance arm of Estee Lauder Companies, applied for it, and got the job, which ended up being a great fit. I then moved over to Travel Retail followed by a marketing position. When I look back at my career, I realize that my career path grew very organically as I personally kept growing, learning and challenging myself with new opportunities that were out of my comfort zone. Now, as President of Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone and La Mer, I feel very lucky to continue to challenge myself by growing these businesses, working with different teams, and learning from incredible mentors like John Demsey, Fabrizio Freda and Leonard Lauder. I feel like I was always meant to be where I am right now, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
HR: What was your childhood career dream?
Case: I was a very imaginative child and would dream big. During my pre-teen years, I would write, produce and “star” in my own plays, so I thought I could be in theater, and then I realized I wasn’t very good at that. So I completely switched my focus to medicine and thought I could do something to help people and give back. As I got older, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I can honestly say now that I have a dream job that, as a child, I never would have imagined having.
HR: After years in the business, what is the most important thing you’ve learned?
Case: I have learned that nothing amounts to more success or satisfaction than having a talented team who you can empower to do what they do best. It truly takes a village and you cannot do it alone.
HR: What is the one piece of advice you would offer someone starting out in their career?
Case: Do what you love and always go above and beyond your actual job requirements. Step up to the plate to take on challenges, be a sponge, and stay hungry enough to keep learning.
HR: What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
Case: I am fortunate enough to have had so many, but I think working on the Bobbi Brown brand for more than 12 years and growing it into a global brand with Bobbi – who is such an incredible partner and has an inspiring entrepreneurial spirit – has been a highlight and privilege. Another privilege has been knowing and working for Leonard Lauder.
HR: What do you do to relax?
Case: I do things to take care of myself like yoga or exercising in general. I also find that anytime I am on the beach, or spending time with my family and friends, I am happiest.
HR:Most memorable beauty words of wisdom you’ve received?
Case: Estee Lauder used to say that beauty is an attitude, and Bobbi says that beauty is about being who you are, and about inner confidence. Those are great beauty words of wisdom that continue to inspire women, including myself.
Tags: Beauty, Bobbi Brown, Claudia, Estee Lauder, Executives, Gurwitch, Laura Mercier, Maureen, Powerful Players, Revive, Thia
