Andrea NagelEveryone remembers their first time — the energy, the tears, the joy, the swell of pride that sweeps across a crowded ballroom.
For many first-time attendees of CEW’s annual Achiever Awards luncheon — as well as for those who return year after year — it isn’t simply a ceremony; it’s a milestone. It’s where stories are shared about careers that began in grammar school classrooms, over family conversations at the dinner table, or during college internships. Most started in entry-level roles, as store clerks, assistants, or coordinators, and, driven by unrelenting determination, evolved into C-suite positions over the decades.
Hearing beauty’s most accomplished leaders speak candidly about building their careers, overcoming workplace obstacles, making difficult pivots, and balancing work with family responsibilities does more than command attention, it creates common ground. Whether you’ve just started out as a brand coordinator or you sit in a corner office, everyone in attendance inevitably reflects on their own path, how to reach the next level, and how the lessons shared onstage might guide them in the months and years ahead. Many leave resolved to return the following year with colleagues — not to mention daughters, sons, nieces, and nephews — eager for them to witness firsthand what leadership, resilience, and ambition look like, and to see the industry pause, however briefly, to celebrate its own.
Now marking its 51st anniversary in 2026, CEW’s Achiever Awards, presented by People Inc., remains the only program of its kind in beauty — an exclusive platform dedicated to recognizing the achievements of female C-suite executives in the industry. Drawing more than 1,000 leaders annually, the luncheon stands as a powerful testament to progress and individual perseverance. In an industry defined by transformation, the Achiever Awards continues to provide a rare and enduring space for acknowledgment, honor, and empowerment at the highest ranks.
For 2026, the lineup of Achiever Award Honorees include:
- Kathleen Dunlop, Chief Marketing Officer for Beauty & Wellbeing North America, Unilever
- Mandy Fields, Chief Financial Officer, e.l.f. Beauty
- Stephanie Kramer, Chief Human Resources Officer, L’Oréal North America
- SK Lee, President – P&G Skin Care, P&G Beauty
- Laura Slatkin, Founder, NEST New York
- Mary van Praag, CEO, Milani Cosmetics
Special Awards:
- Corporate Empowerment for Women Award: MECCA M-POWER, Jo Horgan, Founder & Co-CEO, MECCA
- Retail Leadership Award: Kecia Steelman, President & CEO, Ulta Beauty
- Catalyst Award: Carlotta Jacobson, Executive Chair, CEW
Event Details:
Where: Hilton Midtown Hotel, New York
When: Apr 30, 2026 • 11:00 am – 2:00 pm EST
To celebrate the women moving beauty forward, make sure to attend this year’s Achiever Awards. For information about sponsorship, please contact Landree Bower at lbower@cew.org. To purchase tickets, click here.
