Jennifer Cooper, E! EntertainmentSteven Waldberg may have one of coolest jobs in the beauty biz.
As Vice President of Brand Communications at L'Oréal Paris, his workload isn't exactly light. But after 14 years with the famous French beauty company—which is faced by the likes of Irina Shayk, Karlie Kloss, Naomi Watts, Jennifer Lopez and more big-league celebrities—he wouldn't change a thing.
Lucky us, we caught up with the seasoned beauty executive on everything from this fall's biggest beauty trends to the boldest career move he's ever made—and why it turned out to be one of the best decisions. Now go on—scroll down to hear from Waldberg himself!
What was your first job?
I started in the Global PR department at Helena Rubinstein, one of L'Oréal's international cosmetics brands.
How did you get started in your career?
I started in France where I grew up. After graduating from university, I sent my résumé to several companies in the field of luxury and beauty. Back in 2001, it was still customary to send résumés with hand written letters by regular mail. The only company whom I reached out to electronically through their website was L'Oréal. I was drawn to them because they were the leader in beauty and I wanted to work for the best. I interviewed with eight people before being offered the job.
What is a typical day like for you?
It starts early and at home with a full breakfast with my partner so we can catch up. I usually get to work by 8 a.m. and from there, it's a marathon of meetings and calls with our marketing teams, our partner agencies and a fair bit of traveling, especially during award season when L'Oréal Paris sponsors quite a few events in Los Angeles. Since most weekends I am recharging in the country, weeknights I like to go out in New York City to discover new restaurants or return to classic favorites.
Tell us about your office décor. When did you last give your office a makeover?
I moved offices a few months ago, and now have a table to regroup with my team or even have a civilized lunch! The two main focus areas are my cork mood board where I manually and regularly pin inspiring visuals (no disrespect to Pinterest!) or notes I've received from people and my stack of orange Hermès boxes which remind me of France.
Do you have a workspace at home or in different cities? How do they differ from your main office?
Just a laptop that I try to take home with me as little as possible! These days, much can be done remotely with just a smart phone. I like for my home to be about just that: home.
What's the best part about your job?
I've been with L'Oréal for 14 years and I can assertively say that the best thing about this company is its people. I get to work with incredibly smart people from all over the world. In my last role, I had at one point counted 14 nationalities on our floor of 40 or 50 people! That is what inspires me most.
What makeup trends do you expect to catch on this fall?
I foresee a lot of rich deep reds and burgundies for lip and nail. For hairstyle, I think we will be seeing a lot of sleek high pony tails.
What's the biggest misconception about working in the beauty industry?
That it's all fluff and not innovative.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
To stay true to whom I am.
Who are some of your career heroes?
Jenna Lyons (Creative Director and President of J. Crew) and Marie Gulin-Merle (L'Oréal USA's Chief Marketing Officer) because they both climbed through the ranks of their companies to become true agents of change. Natalie Massenet (founder of Net-A-Porter) because she started in journalism and went on to launch a first of its kind online and shoppable destination which changed the way people purchased high end fashion.
What's the most daring career risk you've ever taken at work?
In 2012, we shot a four-episode video series for L'Oréal Paris' cult product Elnett called "Hairspray Confessions." We cast an interesting host of characters who all used hairspray including a famous blogger, a supermodel, an interior designer/fashion icon and a transgender burlesque performer (Carmen Carrera). This was before the conversation about transgender had become so prevalent and I did not know what reactions this might cause. I am happy we took that risk because, L'Oréal's motto is "beauty for all" and ultimately, viewers only had nice things to say.
Finish the sentences below:
Today for lunch I had… sushi and more specifically a yellowtail scallion roll, a sweet omelet and a miso soup.
The first website I log onto every day is…CNN.com
My usual Starbucks order is… I don't usually get Starbucks, I make my own coffee using a French press every morning and only need one cup with some almond milk.
If I wasn't doing this job, I would… run a bed & breakfast with my partner.
My favorite place to visit is… my weekend house in Sharon, Connecticut, in Litchfield County.
My favorite Instagram account is… @karliekloss because she genuinely lets her followers in on her journey, inspiring young women around the world to learn and work hard, all the while doing good around her.
The book I'm reading right now is… Unabrow: Misadventures of a Late Bloomer by Una Lamarche.