CoverFX CEO Talks Lessons in Leadership and Setting Examples for Your Family

Emily Culp is all about positive mantras, an incredible trait to have as the CEO and leader of a high-performance clean beauty brand for all skin types and tones. A self-proclaimed optimist, Emily believes in the power of hard work and innovation, as demonstrated in her CEO duties overseeing Brand, Sales, Product Innovation and Development, Operations, and Finance. Throughout her career, she has learned critical lessons in being a leader: set a clear vision for your team, provide context for decisions you make, and surround yourself with a group of diverse perspectives. But it’s not just about career triumphs for Emily in terms of success. “On a personal level, it means being present with my family to the best of my ability when I am not working.” She believes in the power of setting an example for your kids and not only teaching them about humility and grace but living it as well. Learn more about Emily’s positive mantras as a leader, how she overcame gender bias in the workplace, and her golden advice on how to best prepare for those tough salary negotiation conversations. How did you get to where you are today? It is a combination of many factors: a constant drive to innovate, a lot of hard work, supportive leaders, great opportunities to work on world-class global brands, a family that is unwavering in their support, and starting in the digital/eCommerce industry as it was being formed. Starting in an industry as it was forming was extremely pivotal. I learned early on to embrace smart risk because no one had done it before. Finally, I learned early on how important your team is and how critical it is to set a clear vision, empower them and prioritize. Women often attribute much of their success to the support from the people they surround themselves with. How do you foster strong professional relationships as you grow in your career? I believe strongly in the idea of “all boats rise.” I am an optimist/realist–I believe I can learn something from every person I meet and in turn I hope I can contribute as well. I am fortunate enough to have a great group of professional men and women around me. It's important to have a diverse group so you can reach out to them on a variety of topics from business to personal. I believe I can learn something from every person I meet. I speak to someone in my ecosystem everyday whether it is on the phone, a quick text or email. One of the most precious assets we all have beyond on our health is time, so I am thoughtful about the idea of “giving” and “receiving” and hence feel extremely fortunate for the friends and colleagues I have met over the years. What’s one way you’ve invested in yourself that’s had the most impact over the course of your career? What about within the past year? Getting my MBA was a massive time and financial investment–I absolutely loved the perspective and relationships it provided for me. This year, I have stopped watching TV and decided to invest time more in reading. I truly believe it opens your world up to so many ideas, people, etc. and I make sure to do it every day (even at very late hours) for 20 minutes. How do you view work-life integration, especially now, and what advice can you share with others who may be struggling with it? Each day is unique and each day you will post many wins and fail as well–but remember you always have the next day and it is a clean start. Try to be thoughtful of your team members, family, and friends—provide context for decisions you make. Don’t overly apologize or feel embarrassed if you need help. This is a very hard time for many people worldwide and compassion is key. There are always solutions–sometimes you just have to be super creative about what they are. Can you recall a situation where you've dealt with typecasting in the workplace? And what advice do you have for other women on how to overcome typecasting at work? A few years into my career, I walked into a Board of Directors meeting for a client with three other men on my team. The CEO assumed I was the admin so immediately asked me to get him a coffee. I asked how he would like it, brought it back to him (while my male colleagues were watching). When the meeting started and the first topic was how to re-organize the multi-billion-dollar global company, I stood up to present my recommendations and fielded questions for an hour. Needless to say, the CEO apologized after the meeting. I have stopped watching TV and decided to invest time more in reading. The takeaway is not to judge people by age, race, or gender. Judge them based on their work. What’s one tip you can share or something you’ve learned on how to handle salary negotiations or raises? Try to build a business case for your request. What have you personally contributed (in numbers) to driving the business? Also, truly take into consideration where the company is financially and put yourself in your boss's shoes. It is a negotiation and if done well, both parties walk away feeling positive. Who has helped you in your journey and how did they help shape your career? I have an amazing professional coach who has truly made a profound impact on my career and helped me in more ways than I can list. I also have had the opportunity of working with amazing women (Gina Boswell and Jane Lauder) and men (Ralph Linsalata and Chris Lindner). What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Always manage a P&L and simplify constantly. What does success mean for you? Success is working at a company where you love the products, can constantly delight your consumers, and learn from your amazing team daily. On a personal level, it means being present with my family to the best of my ability when I am not working. Children are extremely perceptive and will model your behavior. If you want them to be active listeners, respectful, have humility, show grace and empathy, then you need to teach it to them and live it.

Women Trailblazers

CoverFX CEO Talks Lessons in Leadership and Setting Examples for Your Family

Emily Culp shares her positive mantras for leading a happy and healthy professional life.

Luz Corona

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Luz Corona