Despite “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” being one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals — the UN’s call to action to end poverty and protect the planet by balancing social, economic and environmental sustainability — momentum around gender parity seems to have slowed as governments have focused attentions on the perma-crises that have followed the pandemic, global wars and the mounting climate crisis.

With her own mission and concept to improve gender parity through education in the beauty industry, Francis Tesmer, founder and CEO of Rolfs Global Institute — a group of international, privately owned beauty companies focused on sustainability, social justice and economic growth — called on L’Oréal for collaboration. Since 2014, L’Oréal has supported the Women’s Empowerment Principles, a collaboration between UN Women and the United Nations Global Compact, and partnered with the UN’s Unstereotype Alliance, an industry-led initiative which unites advertising leaders, decision-makers and creatives to end harmful stereotypes in advertising.

In 2021, Lead | Rolfs Global Institute officially launched as the first-ever college and university degree designed for beauty professionals. Within three years, the programme has awarded over $1 million dollars in scholarships to the beauty industry workforce — 92 percent of whom are women.

“This is a global movement to increase the impact of beauty professionals and the beauty industry collectively, in a time when we need it the most. I have engaged politicians, governments and community, national and international leaders, to collaborate and support this transformative initiative.” shared Tesmer.

Lead is designed to transform the beauty industry from trade to profession, by providing accelerated and affordable pathways to higher education for beauty professionals. With classes available online or on campuses at partnering universities, the programme is designed for students to achieve a bachelor of science degree, arming them with well-rounded skills to meet and exceed the evolving demands of the sector. To support its global movement and impact, Lead will also launch an international apprenticeship programme in 2025.

“Our goal is to educate hundreds of thousands of beauticians globally to become the beauty professionals of the future, creating generational transformation. Lead equips beauty professionals to fulfil the wide range of career opportunities in the beauty industry, such as the much-needed roles of managers, entrepreneurs, laboratory scientists, educators, and more.” Tesmer told BoF.

“This higher education pathway gives beauticians a bachelor’s degree in science, specialised in beauty and wellness. With confidence, they are able to look at the consumer in a whole new light, executing an innovative and cutting-edge approach to their beauty experience. Beauty is at the heart of how we connect with ourselves, our communities, and our world. And now Lead is unfolding the power of beauty and fulfilling the opportunity for unprecedented progress.”

Through this programme, Rolfs Global Institute and L’Oréal seek to create the beauty workforce of the future, equip students with the necessary skills to become leaders in today’s competitive market and unlock increased financial success of the millions of beauty professionals in the world. The programme is available on a global scale, with students currently enrolled across the US, Europe, Asia and Africa, with special focus on supporting developing countries and underprivileged communities.

Indeed, for its innovative nature, the Lead programme was recognised for its work by the United Nations, receiving the Global UNIDO SDG Innovation Award for its international commitment to the UN’s sustainable development goals and the call to eradicate poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all.

“Lead is closing the gap between the incredible scientific and innovative contributions of the beauty industry and stigma of the beauty profession. I want this industry to be the next possibility that everyone seeks, knowing that this is one of the most impactful careers of our time,” said Tesmer.

Since its inception, the programme has broadened in its scope. “We have created diversified pathway options with customised curriculum, giving beauty professionals total freedom to create their future,” added Tesmer. “It’s designed to be a holistic approach to education.”

Now, BoF sits down with three of the programme’s graduates to learn more about the evolution of the programme and how it has enabled its professionals to bolster their success, embrace innovation and adapt in the ever-changing beauty landscape.

Sherilynn Smart

Smart joined L’Oréal in 2001 as an educator/artist based in New York, having worked her way up today to become a Redken Regional Education Manager, facilitating educational in-salon and virtual events for industry professionals.

How do you believe the Lead programme has assisted in your development as a beauty professional?

The Lead programme has been transformative, both professionally and personally. It recognised my four decades of experience as a licensed cosmetologist by granting me a year of college credit. The programme itself empowers beauty professionals like myself to leverage their position in the community to make a real difference. It has also instilled in me a sense of discipline and honed my prioritisation skills, which are essential in our fast-paced world.

The programme’s emphasis on self-awareness was invaluable. It allowed for deeper connections with colleagues and a more empathetic approach to leadership, ultimately contributing to my recent promotion. The skills that I have gained from the Lead programme are aligned with L’Oréal’s vision for leadership, which emphasises pushing boundaries in the beauty world, further collaboration and customer-centricity.

How has Lead impacted your next career steps or aspirations?

The programme has opened my eyes to see the global picture and how beauty professionals can be leaders, mentors and pillars of their communities. My immediate focus is on excelling as a manager, fostering a supportive environment for my team to thrive, and to empower beauty professionals to go beyond “the chair” to build strong relationships with clients and inspire those around them.

Looking ahead, I expect to step into a director role within the next three to five years. The Lead programme was not just about academics — I am now walking away with new skills, a stronger sense of self and a renewed passion for my work at L’Oréal.

Jharline De Anda

De Anda has worked in the beauty industry for more than seven years. Today, she holds the position of BeauScientist at Rolfs Global Institute, as she is becoming a national educator for the future generations of beauty professionals.

Why did you apply for the programme?

I have been a beauty professional at Rolfs Global Institute for several years and was honoured to be offered the opportunity to not only be among the first students enrolled on the Lead programme, but also to be offered a full scholarship.

I always wanted to go to college, but it had not been a possibility for me in the past as a first-generation student. At that time, there was also not a degree available to me that related directly to the beauty industry.

The Lead programme has provided me with what I had been missing — a more customised pathway to earn the qualifications needed and equip me with the tools to take control of my career.

What are some of the vital skills you have learnt from the Lead programme?

We learned to build our foundational e skill sets in areas like communication, emotional intelligence, whole brain awareness, stress management, impactful collaboration and leadership principles. From there, we received transferable skills to apply in our personal and professional lives, such as systems thinking, financial literacy, sustainability priorities and broader business acumen.

I’ve gained an understanding of science as it relates to wellness and beauty, and have a better appreciation for scientific innovation in the beauty industry and how it impacts clients.

Now, I’m growing in the space of becoming an educator. I want to give back to this industry and the Lead programme by fulfilling a leadership role and educating future generations, especially with regard to empowering the Hispanic community to leverage the industry opportunities provided to us by offerings like Lead.

Alex Torres

Torres joined L’Oréal in 2018 as a regional educator based in New York. Prior to this, he worked as a hairstylist for over a decade. Today, Torres is a senior manager in digital education for Matrix Professional, a division of L’Oréal.

Why did you apply for the programme?

I was always someone who wanted to prove that you could be successful in the beauty industry without a college degree, and I had achieved a fair amount of success at the point of learning about the programme itself.

However, I was starting to realise that in order to truly reach my full potential, a college degree would be vital. Once I saw the opportunity to apply for a bachelor’s degree, tailored to the beauty industry, I knew I had an opportunity to be part of the initial cohort of students in the Lead programme, and a chance to further myself in the industry.

How do you believe the Lead programme has assisted in your development as a beauty professional?

As a full time educator for one of L’Oréal’s brands, I have been able to communicate more effectively to influence stakeholders, strategise on new initiatives at L’Oréal and better manage budgets for events we are running. I have honed these skills through the classes provided by the programme that centre around finance and leadership.

As my career evolves, my goal is to become the head of education for a brand or department at L’Oréal. The Lead programme has helped put me well on my way.

This is a sponsored feature paid for by L'Oreal Lead as part of a BoF partnership.