THE 2025 Agenda

8:00am

Registration + Breakfast

9:00am

Welcome + Kickoff Presentation
Kelly Kovack, Founder + CEO, BeautyMatter
John Cafarelli, Co-Founder + President, BeautyMatter

9:15am

Beauty That Breaks Through: How Brands Make It at Sephora
Panel Discussion

Carolyn Bojanowski, EVP, Merchandising, Sephora
Nikki DeRoest, Co-Founder + CEO, ciele
Charlotte Palermino, Co-Founder + Chief Brand Officer, Dieux
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Moderator: Janna Mandell, Senior Editor, BeautyMatter

9:45am

AI Is Everywhere: The Question Is Not Whether to Adopt AI, but How?
‍Panel Discussion
‍
Chaz Giles, Managing Partner, Alida Labs
Jeffery Wagstaff, CEO, cosnova USA Inc.
Frank Freeman, VP, AI + Digital Disruption, Dermalogica, Unilever Prestige
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Moderator: John Cafarelli, Co-Founder + President, BeautyMatter

10:20am

The Indie Advantage: Agility in a Connected Commerce World
Panel Discussion

Nichola Tucker Gray, Co-Founder + CEO, Kate McLeod
Connie Lo, Co-Founder, Three Ships Beauty
Rosie Jane Johnston, CEO + Founder, By/Rosie Jane

Moderator: Christopher Skinner, Chief Revenue Officer, Front Row

10:55am

Networking Break

11:25am

Bootstrapping: Building and Scaling On Your Own Terms
Panel Discussion
‍
Cassandra Thurswell, Founder + CEO, Kitsch
Greg Starkman, Founder + CEO, Innersense Organic Beauty
Matthew Berkson, Co-Founder + CEO, Maison Louis Marie
‍
Moderator: John Cafarelli, Co-Founder + President, BeautyMatter

12:00pm

How Do Brands Capture Culture for Social Currency?
Panel Discussion

Gabbie Bradford, Co-Founder, Song Candy Media
Nina LaBruna, Co-Founder, Fazit
Dakota Kate Isaacs, Senior Director, New Global Ventures, DECIEM
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Moderator: Janna Mandell, Senior Editor, BeautyMatter

12:35pm

Regulatory Radar: Updates and Implications
Fireside Chat

‍Dr. Akemi Ooka, Interim CEO, Independent Beauty Association
Moderator: Kelly Kovack, Founder and CEO, BeautyMatter

12:55pm

Lunch & Networking

2:35pm

The Beauty Translators: A Fireside Chat With The Lipstick Lesbians
Fireside Chat

Alexis Androulakis, Founder + Content Creator, The Lipstick Lesbians
Dr. Christina Basias Androulakis, Founder + Content Creator, The Lipstick Lesbians

Moderator: Kelly Kovack, Founder and CEO, BeautyMatter

3:00pm

Retail Without Borders: Strategies for Global Beauty Growth
Panel Discussion

Shannon Monteith, Category Director, Makeup + Fragrance, Space NK
Stefanie Von Albert, EVP, Assortment + Purchasing, Douglas Group

Moderator: John Cafarelli, Co-Founder + President, BeautyMatter

3:35pm

Bigger Than Beauty: Building Brands that Matter
Panel Discussion

David Yi, Founder + CEO, Good Light Cosmetics
Éva Goicochea, Founder + CEO, Maude
Hillary Peterson, Founder + Board Chair, True Botanicals

Moderator: Kelly Kovack, Founder and CEO, BeautyMatter

4:10pm

From TikTok to Top-Seller: Turning Virality Into Long-Term Brand Power
Panel Discussion

Ajay Salpekar, GM of Beauty, TikTok Shop US
Erin Potempa-Wall, Co-Founder + COO, The Beachwaver Co.
Michael Malinsky, Founder + CEO, Wonderskin
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Moderator: Cristina Montemayor, Editor, BeautyMatter

5:00pm

Cocktails + Networking

6:30pm

Event Ends