Like many industries, the beauty industry has grown to be one of the fastest evolving markets with consumers who demand authenticity, representation, and innovative products that fit their unique needs. At The Estée Lauder Companies’ (ELC), our collective vision is to be the most inclusive and diverse beauty company in the world as well as the employer of choice for diverse talent and the brand of choice for our global consumers. Because of this, we understand that talent today don’t just want to know what companies WILL do as it pertains to inclusion, diversity, and equity, but have a genuine track record and a commitment to current and future leader’s career advancement.

We are consumer obsessed and because of this we focus our priorities on ensuring our employee population reflects the communities we impact by ensuring equitable access to professional development and advancement opportunities.

Driving Professional Development within HBCU Communities

As an organization dedicated to professional development and education, we pride ourselves in our ability to deliver on our ID&E commitments through external programs with our employee populations and HBCUs. To date, ELC has partnered with Howard University, Spelman College, and Florida A&M to provide virtual networking and career advancement programs for alumnae seeking ways to transition to the beauty industry.

• She’s Howard – ELC’s partnership program with Howard University was inspired by ELC’s longstanding relationship with the University that began in 2018 through an increased focus on HBCU recruiting. Since its inception in 2021, the program continues to be a resourceful networking tool for all Howard Alumnae. 

• Let’s Talk Beauty – ELC’s partnership program with the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College was designed to serve as a platform for ELC to connect with Spelman Alumnae through intentional conversations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities to provide career coaching and insights into the beauty industry. 

• FAMU 10-Week Travel Retail Program – ELC’s partnership program with Florida A&M University was designed to engage rising juniors and seniors by providing an inside look into the fast-paced world of Travel Retail. Participants join for a 10-week program during which 41 merit scholarships of US$10,000 were awarded to students in the University’s School of Business and Industry over the course of five years by the University on behalf of The Estée Lauder Companies. 

Leading From Every Chair

We believe in the power of leading from every chair and are committed to creating space for talent with unique backgrounds and perspectives to support and lead innovation. As one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care products sold in approximately 150 countries and territories, we offer a number of opportunities for undergraduates, early career professionals and our internal community of employees to continue to challenge themselves and contribute to a number of exciting business priorities. 

• Lauder Summer Internship Program – A 10-week program that offers undergraduate students in the U.S. the opportunity to think critically in real-world corporate situations. Students have the opportunity to apply for openings in our corporate functions or at one of our brands, and they will be assigned based on their academic backgrounds and interests once they are accepted into the program. 

• Presidential Associate Program – An intensive, 18-month rotational program specially designed for undergraduates. This program integrates professional rotations with continuous leadership development, coaching, mentoring, hands-on practical experience, group networking opportunities, and strategic thinking initiatives to optimize talent and build business acumen and capability.

• From Every Chair Program – In June 2020, William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman, and Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer, shared ELC’s Commitment to Racial Equity. As part of our ongoing commitment to ensure Black employees have equal access to leadership trainings and mentorship programs with senior executives, the Global Talent team and the Inclusion & Diversity COE, in collaboration with the Network of Black Leaders and Executives (NOBLE) Employee Resource Group, created the From Every Chair (FEC) Leadership & Development Program. This 9-month Sponsorship and Mentorship program for current employees focuses on one-on-one mentoring sessions, curated professional development seminars and dedicated coaching from highly regarded executive coaches. Since its inception, the program was designed to develop and advance Black talent through enhanced programs focused on soft skills and career coaching for all participants.

• ELC Grow – In 2022, ELC launches its internal Talent Marketplace designed to connect employees to personalized recommendations for full-time roles, project and networking opportunities that can empower our community to grow their skills and careers. By matching employees with internal opportunities autonomously we encourage an environment of continued learning and fueling future career aspirations and interest.

Head over to The Estee Lauder Company’s company profile to learn more about the company and for information on open roles!

The post Learn How The Estée Lauder Companies Champions Diversity & Career Advancement in the Beauty Industry appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This post was adapted from a story by Kelly Sheppard about Arizona State University graduate Sirikwan O’Gorman, who got a free education through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan. The article originally appeared in the Starbucks Newsroom. Read the full story here.

How many people can say that a coffee shop is paying for their college education (and transforming their life in the process)? Thanks to Starbucks, the answer is over 7,000 and counting. It’s all part of the Starbucks College Achievement Plan , which started three years ago and lets employees—or “partners” as Starbucks calls them—choose from over 70 online undergraduate degree programs from Arizona State University with full tuition-reimbursement. So far, more than 730 Starbucks partners have changed out of their green aprons and into maroon caps and gowns to graduate from ASU. Along the way, they’ve been backed by the support of the close-knit Starbucks community.

Sirikwan O’Gorman, a member of this year’s graduating class, has an especially remarkable story. She grew up in Thailand, inspired by the work of her grandfather, who would invite anyone who needed healing to their countryside house so he could help them get better. Sirikwan saw the impact her grandfather made on so many lives and knew she wanted to one day pursue a career with a similar impact.

This May, she proudly walked across the ASU stage to receive a degree in Healthy Lifestyles Coaching—an achievement made even sweeter by the fact that she’s the first in her family to earn a college degree.

But Sirikwan’s path here wasn’t an easy one. Her grandfather, the person who inspired her career path, died in 2001, compelling her mother to give the family a fresh start, away from Thailand. So she moved to the United States to find a job, leaving Sirikwan and her brother back home with their grandmother. It wasn’t until five years later that her mother returned to Thailand to bring her two children to Las Vegas. Adjusting to life in the United States was challenging for Sirikwan, who was a high school student at the time. But she dedicated her spare time to studying hard and taking additional night classes. Because of that dedication, she graduated high school with straight A’s and went on to enroll in the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Paying for college wasn’t easy, so Sirikwan started working two different part-time jobs. Little did she know, both would change her life for the better. Her first job, a receptionist at a dentist’s office, ultimately determined her future career. At her second job as a waitress, she met her now-husband, Kevin O’Gorman. At the time, Kevin was working at a nearby hospital, but he later joined the Air Force with the goal of becoming a doctor one day. Because of Kevin’s career path, the two relocated from Las Vegas to Maryland and Sirikwan left school at the University of Las Vegas Nevada.  

It was in Maryland that Sirikwan found a job as a Starbucks barista—and a support system in the process. Since she wanted to complete her college degree, a store manager encouraged her to take advantage of the Starbucks College Achievement Plan. It was another life-changing decision that earned Sirikwan the Bachelor’s degree she’d been working toward for so many years.

Now, countries away from where her story started, Sirikwan has a college degree and she’s following in her grandfather’s footsteps. She’s pursuing a job as a dental hygienist, where she’ll be able to both help people and find work she loves no matter where she and her husband move in the future.

Ready to join a company that believes in empowering its partners (employees) and providing a college education? Starbucks is hiring baristas across the country on WayUp!

Barista Application Tip!

Did you know you can submit your application to up to 5 stores at one time? In order to stand out after submitting your application, stop by the store(s) you applied to and introduce yourself to the manager or shift supervisor. Let them know you recently applied and what excites you about the opportunity. If you don’t get a call for an interview within 60 days, you can re-apply to the same or different stores. Good luck!

The post Starbucks Stories: How This Barista Pursued Her Childhood Career Dreams appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.