It’s Carol Hamilton’s final official week at L’Oréal, and the chief is in her comfortable house: the 100,000-square foot West Coast campus of the world’s largest magnificence firm, which she was charged with designing and executing in the course of the darkish days of the pandemic.
“This mission personifies a lot of how I really feel concerning the magnificence trade and my run at L’Oréal,” stated Hamilton, who’s retiring after a 40-year profession that noticed her rise by the ranks from a junior marketer on the L’Oréal Paris model to the very highest echelons of the enterprise, operating key manufacturers and divisions and, most just lately as group president of acquisitions. “It’s fascinating to have one place that’s so vital as a logo of the development of your profession.”
Carol Hamilton in L’Oréal’s West Coast headquarters.
Michael Buckner/WWD
Hamilton’s purpose in designing the places of work was to convey the trade to life, reflecting the dynamism of each the enterprise and shoppers, enabling L’Oréal’s 4 West Coast-based manufacturers to commingle, collaborate and create a tradition of reference to shoppers and coworkers alike.
“What I actually needed to do was create a long-lasting and best-of-class expertise that celebrated the form of folks L’Oréalians are,” mused Hamilton, who stated that after touring the house, L’Oréal Luxe president Cyril Chapuy informed her, ‘It’s very clear that somebody who deeply is aware of and deeply loves L’Oréal labored on the constructing.’”
“That summarizes precisely what I used to be attempting to do,” stated Hamilton. “I felt a lot private gratification in getting that validation.”
That is only one spotlight in Hamilton’s storied profession, which CEW is recognizing her for with its Lifetime Achievement Award in the course of the 50th annual Achiever Awards being held on Wednesday. Hamilton is certainly one of only a handful of individuals to be thus acknowledged; previous recipients embrace Leonard A. Lauder, Clinique’s Lynne Greene, and Karen Fondu, who herself succeeded Hamilton as head of L’Oréal Paris when Hamilton was promoted to steer the Luxe division within the U.S. in 2008.
“I’m so honored to obtain this — a lifetime achievement award says it’s encompassing, not simply in years, however in scope and affect,” stated Hamilton, who has been a board member of the group since 1997 and was one of many very earliest supporters of its philanthropic arm, Most cancers & Careers.
“CEW is so vital — it created a foothold for ladies to have the ability to community and perceive the bigger magnificence trade,” she continued. “The truth that it has remained true to its trigger is exemplary. Girls ought to have their very own board representing them, particularly in a enterprise so depending on ladies.”
Over the course of her profession, Hamilton chalked up many massive wins, and has been a core a part of the staff that helped L’Oréal evolve from what was primarily an affiliate workplace with a small outpost at 530 Fifth Avenue in New York Metropolis into L’Oréal’s second-largest market globally. Recognized for her sharp strategic acumen, limitless vitality and deep snicker, Hamilton’s affect prolonged far past simply rising the P&L, nonetheless.
As she grew in her profession, she frequently pressed herself to do higher, be taught extra and create deeper connections, together with her staff and with shoppers. Those that know her effectively know that after she has selected a plan of action, she is single-minded in her pursuit of it.
For instance, Hamilton took the reins of the Luxe division within the U.S. in the course of the 2008 recession. Regardless of the difficult enterprise circumstances, certainly one of her first actions was to cost every model underneath her purview with growing a philanthropic initiative and objective. “That means our staff might dream about altering the world as a substitute of, ‘oh no, I’m down 40 % in Nordstrom!’” she stated.
“We didn’t know when the black cloud was going to elevate, however we knew every thing we did between from time to time would assist us be in a greater place and that we needed to hunt down initiatives that had been progressive for the long run in order that we didn’t spiral into despair,” she continued. “I spotted there are management qualities that you must select within the context of the occasions which may be totally different from different occasions.”
One other key lesson: Know your price. When confronted with workplace politics, Hamilton by no means let her feelings get in the best way of her accomplishments. “I consider all profession selections must be made on the workplace, by no means out of anger or damage,” she stated. “All the time take into consideration the lengthy sport. Sure, it’s important to show your self, but additionally be clear about your contributions.”
As for what’s subsequent? Whereas Hamilton is retiring from L’Oréal, she has no plans to step away from the trade that she adores. “I’m this as a brand new starting, a brand new chapter, that may enable me to concentrate on the issues I like most,” stated Hamilton. “I’ve at all times needed to mix philanthropy, social affect and sweetness, and now I’ll have extra time to do this. All the pieces I’m doing should have a constructive affect on the world — in any other case, why do it!”