Carol Hamilton

Incoming Chairwoman, CEW effective January 2027

Carol J. Hamilton has spent her career building things that last: iconic beauty brands, businesses, leaders, opportunities for women and, increasingly, a legacy of impact.

Over 41 years at L’Oréal, Carol helped shape the company’s extraordinary growth in the United States and became one of the most influential brand builders in the beauty industry. Her career spanned some of beauty’s most iconic names, including L’Oréal Paris, Lancôme, Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent and Kiehl’s. In her final decade at L’Oréal, she turned her attention to M&A, emerging brands and founders, helping expand the company’s portfolio and establish its West Coast presence.

But Carol’s career has always been about more than beauty.

Inspired by the enduring power of “Because I’m Worth It,” she has spent decades championing women and developing the next generation of leaders, sponsoring and mentoring more than 1,000 women and men throughout her career.

That commitment now sits at the center of her next chapter.

Carol serves as Vice Chair of UNICEF USA and, in 2025, became the Founding Anchor of POWER4Girls, UNICEF’s first gender equality program dedicated to adolescent girls. She is also deeply engaged with Harvard Kennedy School, where she previously chaired the Women’s Leadership Board and continues to support research advancing gender equality, while serving on the board of its Center for Public Leadership.

Today, Carol brings her experience back to where her passion began: building brands and believing in people. Through board roles with emerging beauty and lifestyle companies including Kayali Fragrances, Patrick Ta, Juno Hair, Pura and Smalls, she advises the next generation of founders as they build what comes next.

After four decades of building brands, Carol’s focus today is on something even more enduring: helping people realize their potential and using her experience, access and voice to create opportunity for the generations behind her.

Carol lives in Connecticut with her husband, Rodney, and their two beloved Maine Coon cats, Rosie and Elvis.

• Boards and Positions:
  CEW Inc Board Emeritus