February 3, 2023 | A Conversation with the CEO of Glossier, Kyle Leahy

On February 3, 2023, GRLA had the pleasure of hosting the CEO of cosmetics giant Glossier and Georgetown Alumni Kyle Leahy for a conversation with GRLA in the ICC Auditorium at 3pm. Students had the opportunity to learn about her extensive career in the retail industry, scaling global brands, and what she envisions for the future of Glossier. Graduating from Georgetown in 2005, Kyle worked nine years with Nike and Cole Haan before stepping into the role of CEO of Glossier in May 2022. 

Kyle spoke of Glossier as a “community driven beauty brand” built on the belief that someone’s narrative is most important. They are more than a beauty company; being entirely women led, Glossier uses their platform to have a greater impact in local communities. 

Glossier is driven by a strong and devoted commitment to its consumers' demands and desires. Direct and close ties with customers are where it all begins. The company prioritizes the precise consumer product demand up front, streamlining the sales and marketing process in contrast to typical beauty firms that produce items first, then must find out how to sell them. 

In the future, Kyle envisions Glossier becoming a leader in the retail & beauty space. The beauty industry will host more value based brands and have a greater emphasis on clean and sustainable products. Glossier is like Nike and Apple, as all three companies focus on their interactions with customers and the community, and place an emphasis on innovation.