Member Spotlight: Skylar Taylor

Account Coordinator PIMS

Meet Skylar Taylor, a former Southern pageant girl who once envisioned a real-life Elle Woods future — until an editorial internship at CEW revealed her true passion for beauty. Surrounded by mentors who believed in her, she discovered that the best careers aren’t always planned — they’re uncovered through persistence, openness, and heart. Now working on prestige beauty accounts like Estée Lauder and Shiseido as an account coordinator at PIMS, Taylor is building her path as a rising leader with bold ideas and an eye toward innovation.

Career Milestone: As a former beauty pageant girl from the South, I knew how to apply makeup, but never imagined it as a career. I was on the path to becoming my own version of a real-life Elle Woods when I was offered an editorial internship at CEW. That experience taught me an important lesson: true success comes from doing something you genuinely love and being open to paths you may never have planned. I began as an editorial intern, unsure of my writing abilities but surrounded by people who believed in me. Through mentorship, exposure to the industry, and meaningful connections made at events and conversations, I discovered a career I genuinely loved. Today, CEW is a client of PIMS, and I work on prestige beauty accounts such as Estée Lauder and Shiseido, one of the most pivotal areas of the beauty industry.

Key advice: Finding my place in beauty taught me that the best career may not always be planned, it can be discovered along the way. Stay open, keep showing up, and don’t fear rejection. It may take 200 no’s to hear one yes, but that yes can change everything. Also, opportunities don’t just happen, you create them by staying persistent and working relentlessly toward what you want.

Mentor: My Uncle Guy always knows the right words to say when I’m unsure of something, and he never lets me off the hook for anything. Having both grown up in the South, we were raised with manners — always saying “yes, sir” or “no, ma’am”. He pushes me to be more assertive in going after the opportunities I want, especially in a competitive city like New York.

Five-Year Career Goal: I aim to establish myself as a rising leader, managing high-profile accounts, and contributing to innovative marketing campaigns. My mind is always racing with ideas, and I hope that one day I’ll have the opportunity to help work on a brand/product that fills gaps in the industry.  I’m especially passionate about oud fragrances and truly clean, fragrance-free skin care, as I have eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis, and it would be exciting to work on projects featuring products like these.

Best Networking Convo Starter: “What a great jacket”, “I love your hat”, “cool glasses.” Compliments are a simple, natural way to break the ice. Go up, say something nice, and then let the conversation flow. Approaching people can always be a bit intimidating, especially when new to networking, but don’t overthink it. The main point is to make a connection with that person. Be yourself, and you’ll be more memorable and make a better connection that sticks.