2024 SUMMIT: INNOVATORS & ICONS PANEL
FROM CONCEPT TO CULT FAVORITE: THE FOUNDERS’ JOURNEY IN BEAUTY
Join us for an exploration of the future of beauty from the perspective of top industry founders, whom will share their unique entrepreneurial journeys, the challenges and triumphs of building their brands, and the visionary trends driving the beauty industry forward.
CHELSEA RIGGS
FOUNDING MEMBER & CEO, AMIKA
Chelsea Riggs is CEO & Founding Member of amika, one of the largest independent premium haircare brands in the US. Throughout her 14 year tenure, Chelsea's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication propelled her from Business Development Manager to CEO. Under Chelsea's leadership, amika soared into #6 Prestige Haircare Brand (Circana/NPD), gaining 6 ranks in 2023—growing 7x higher than the overall market. amika is a Top 10 EMV hair brand and #3 haircare brand on TikTok US YTD 23' according to CreatorIQ.
Chelsea refocused the brand to a purpose-driven ethos centered on being a friend to hair, hairstylists, people and the planet. amika has become B-Corp Certified, Climate Neutral, & Clean+Planet Positive at Sephora, demonstrating amika's dedication to people and the planet. Chelsea's commitment to increase equity in the beauty industry is evident through her implementation of the brand’s giving back strategy, particularly in the professional beauty sphere through $500k+ of annual scholarships, grants and mentorship programs. Additionally, amika has surpassed the $1 million donation mark with its longstanding charity partner, HairToStay where Chelsea serves on the Board.
Chelsea also led the brand through Bansk Group's 2022 acquisition of amika.
MARIE KOUADIO AMOUZAME
CO-FOUNDER & CEO, EADEM
Marie Kouadio Amouzame was born in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, and grew up in Paris, studying computer science engineering. She later moved to the United States, where she continued her prolific career in Silicon Valley. Formerly Head of Brand and Strategy at Airbnb and Global Head of Brand Marketing at Google, Marie’s expertise is in growth, social, and B2B marketing - which she brought to the development of EADEM in 2021. Together with her co-founder Alice Lin Glover, the duo is growing this award-winning beauty brand that centers around the needs of melanin-rich skin. Made for the path-forgers, the code switchers, EADEM is redefining beauty standards and challenging the industry to push beyond tokenism.
RACHEL LIVERMAN
FOUNDER & CEO, GLOWBAR
Rachel Liverman, the force behind Glowbar, is a trailblazer in the beauty and wellness industry. Fueled by her own struggle to find an effective, convenient, and trustworthy source for consistent facials, Rachel founded Glowbar in June 2019. With her innovative spirit and hyperfocus on exceptional experiences, Rachel has propelled the brand’s 30-minute, results-driven facials to cult-following status.
Her entrepreneurial drive and commitment to quality have not only shaped the brand but have also contributed to the industry's evolution. Rachel has taken her decade of experience in the beauty industry to develop a leadership style focused on creativity, business insight, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact on people's lives through Glowbar's services. As Glowbar continues to grow, Rachel remains at the forefront, leading the charge in how we approach skincare and self-care.
SARAH KUGELAMAN, CBS ‘89
FOUNDER & CEO, SKYN ICELAND, ALL GOLDEN
As a serial entrepreneur Ms. Kugelman has built two successful beauty brands that have become synonymous with key inflection points in the beauty industry – digital and wellness.
In 1999, Ms. Kugelman revolutionized the beauty industry by creating the first beauty website, gloss.com, a multimedia beauty brand for which she raised $25 million in venture capital and grew to over 100 employees. Sarah sold gloss.com to The Estèe Lauder Companies in 2000.
In 2005, Ms. Kugelman founded and was CEO of the global skincare brand skyn ICELAND, Solutions for Stressed Skin. It was one of the first clean, indie skincare brands and she grew it into a $25 million global beauty brand. In June 2022, the company was acquired by Impala SAS, a multi billion-dollar French company.
Currently, she is crafting her third beauty brand ALL GOLDEN, a skincare and hair care line targeting a new inflection point – aging for women over 50. With this brand she is committed to changing the cultural conversation and combating ageism. By developing an innovative, technologically ground-breaking product line and creating a community that elevates and celebrates women, she is planning to target major white space.
Sarah has an M.B.A. in Marketing and International Business from Columbia Business School and a B.A. cum laude from Tufts University. She currently sits on the Tufts’ Derby Entrepreneurship Center Board with the goal of advancing female entrepreneurship. She is also a 2023 Columbia Business School mentor in the high impact EC-America program exclusively for Latino entrepreneurs. She lives in New York City with her 16-year-old daughter.
ANGELINA PIZZULLI, CBS ‘24 (MODERATOR)
COLUMBIA BEAUTY CLUB VP OF PARTNERSHIPS & SPONSORSHIPS
Angelina is a second-year MBA student at Columbia Business School with six years of experience in the beauty industry. Prior to business school, Angelina led creative development LVMH beauty brand incubator Kendo Brands, bringing over 500 FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna, FENTY FRAGRANCE, KVD Beauty (Kat Von D) and OleHenriksen cosmetic products from concept to mass production.