What's your job about?
Maybelline is Australia’s #1 makeup brand and our brand team works to keep us on top by creating exciting activations in-store, launching the hottest products, rethinking how we can amplify the user experience, and engaging with consumers and retailers to build connections with our stakeholders.
As a Maybelline brand marketing grad, there are always so many different jobs on the go and no two days are the same. On any one day, you could be a briefing and workshopping new campaigns with agencies or working with retailers to decide which stock you’ll see on our displays. You might be working with suppliers to create new packaging for our products or attending shoots for our advertisements and voiceovers.
One of the most exciting things I’ve worked on has been presenting new launches to our management committee, and deciding which products and shades will be perfect for our market – keep an eye out for some fabulous products in 2023!
I’ve also recently been working through sourcing optimisation projects to prevent supply chain disruptions, allowing us to get makeup into the hands of our customers.
And with all the fun, there are also the more logistical, day-to-day tasks that you complete. Things like ensuring our system accurately reflect what we’ve got planned for our in-store displays or sending out packing documents, so our partners know exactly how we need the products packed and shipped. Don’t underestimate these tasks, they are critical to keeping the brand moving!
What's your background?
I grew up in Melbourne, although it’s probably more accurate to say that I grew up inside a gym. A different journey to most, I was an elite gymnast until I was 18, training 35hrs a week, 50 weeks a year. Gruelling! I worked hard enough to represent Australia internationally and compete in Olympic Trials. School took a backseat for most of this journey so when I left gymnastics, I really had no idea who I was or what I wanted to be. I started a short-lived psychology degree… turns out science wasn’t for me!
At 19, I discovered makeup – right as the youtube influencer era was peaking. I enrolled in an after-hours Diploma of Makeup whilst working full time, ultimately landing a retail artist job at MAC. I loved making people feel good about themselves but wanted to be on the other side of the industry – designing campaigns, launching products and shaping the way people experienced cosmetics.
So, I made the (daunting) decision to go back to uni at 22 and study for a Bachelor of Business and Arts. I loved uni, even completing an internship in Poland working on educational content for Auschwitz Birkenau Memorial & Museum.
In my final year of uni, I received an offer for L’Oreal’s Marketing Management Trainee Program – my dream offer! I’ve been in my role for 6 months and am about to start my next rotation. Although I’m sad to leave my current team, I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next!
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Absolutely! Anyone can do this role, but I think there are a few key skills that you need to thrive. Most importantly, being able to think on your feet and take challenges head-on. It can be overwhelming and oftentimes, it feels like you’ve had to throw your plan away at the last minute and try again. The magical part about all of that is, that you’re learning every single day about how you can work better as a person, a team and a brand. A good dose of optimism and resilience is key. Loving beauty helps, too!
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I love seeing campaigns come to life – through the creative process, filming on set or through new product presentations. The way that our team works together is electric and there’s always an opportunity to learn something new. I love learning and trying new things and Maybelline is the perfect launchpad to dive in headfirst and make an impact. But behind all the exciting launches, the heart of our brand purpose is initiatives like Greener Together (our Priceline recycling partnership) and Brave Together (our mental health initiative with Reach Out) which really show me that we’re doing the right thing.
What are the limitations of your job?
There aren’t many technical limitations to the role, but a few skills are fundamental for Maybelline. You’ll need to be a good problem solver. Whilst you won’t always know the right answer, you’ll need to be able to figure it out or know who to ask. It can be stressful to have so much on the go at once, and things don’t always go to plan. Sometimes that means long nights trying to find a solution. There can also be a lot of responsibility. So, this role will be great for you if you are calm under pressure.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...