Roster Radio: The Beauty Discourse

What does it take to lead a 40-year-old artistry brand in the modern beauty world? How do you balance a global brand identity with market-level strategies in today’s competitive market? How do you empower a team to take the right risks, and scale pilot tests?💄🎙️💭  

Join your host, Ilina Luthra, as she dives into these questions (and so many others) with Sonika Malhotra, President and General Manager Americas for MAKE UP FOR EVER. With a career spanning continents, categories, and groundbreaking achievements—like co-founding the sustainable beauty brand, Love Beauty and Planet—Sonika shares her unique perspective on the beauty industry's power and responsibility in serving its consumer.

On our Radar are the challenges of leading an autonomous brand under the world's luxury leader, LVMH, and Sonika’s powerful journey, ranging from global geographic transitions to category transitions.

Tune in to hear exclusive insights from one of beauty’s top executives. Follow Roster Radio: The Beauty Discourse for more conversations with the leaders shaping beauty and wellness, worldwide. 

How do you blend EMV goals, with consumer engagement? Can emerging brands with small budgets plan thoughtful events? What metrics should a brand prioritize, when planning IRL event programming?💄🎙️💭

Join your host, Ilina Luthra, as she gets the answers for these questions (and many others) from Brittany Hohl and Brittany Savastano, founders of the bicostal communications agency, Beach House PR. 

On our radar are beauty event considerations, tactics to combine consumer engagement with splashy press mentions, and how to bring a strategic mix of influencers to your brand events!

Follow Roster Radio: The Beauty Discourse, as we continue to share advice and actionable insights from beauty and wellness industry experts from all over the world.

How do you speak to consumers, across different generations? How do you differentiate assortment in Sephora Vs. Ulta? How do you balance effective, targeted solutions with simplicity of use?💄🎙️💭

Join your host, Ilina Luthra, as she gets the answers for this question (and many others) from Alicia Grande, the Founder & CEO of the #1 iconic lash and brow serum brand, Grande Cosmetics.

On our radar are skincare-infused makeup products, balancing digital & retail strategy, product safety & transparency, and more.

Follow Roster Radio: The Beauty Discourse, as we continue to share advice and actionable insights from beauty and wellness industry experts from all over the world.

What are some of the biggest strategic challenges with scaling early or growth stage beauty brands? How do you integrate ethical considerations into the business strategy of a profitable business?💄🎙️💭

Join your host, Ilina Luthra, as she gets the answers for this question (and many others) from Farah Azmi, CEO of Rahua Beauty, formerly the Chief Of Staff at Oui The People. Before her ventures in beauty, Farah worked in Corporate Strategy at Tommy Hilfiger and Investment Banking at Barclays, specializing in Consumer Retail. Farah has also been recognized by Beauty Independent as one of the Emerging Beauty’s Brightest Executives.

On our Radar are hiring strategies for beauty brands in the growth stage, tactics for efficient financial planning, and how to navigate the ever-evolving wholesale and retail landscape in beauty. 

Follow Roster Radio: The Beauty Discourse, as we continue to share advice and actionable insights from beauty and wellness industry experts from all over the world.

What are the nuances of international pricing strategy? How can an indie brand enter the European market? How can a brand plan ahead for global regulatory restrictions in their product development cycle?💄🎙️💭

Join your host, Ilina Luthra, as she gets the answers for this question (and many others) from Karen Hayes, founder of Indie Global Strategies, a retail expansion advisory. Karen brings 25 years of global experience, successfully leading and growing brands domestically and abroad – across the Americas and in the UK, EMEA and Asia-Pacific – for brands like Summer Fridays, Nécessaire, Bobbi Brown and GLAMGLOW, among others.

On our Radar are global market maturity, pricing strategy, market entry strategy in Europe and the UK, the UK beauty market evolution, differences in consumer behaviour, challenges for expansion in APAC, and navigating regulatory guidelines in different regions.

Tune in to learn everything you need to know about global expansion into regions like EMEA, APAC, MENA, and ANZ. Follow Roster Radio: The Beauty Discourse, as we continue to share advice and actionable insights from beauty and wellness industry experts from all over the world.

What are some of the craziest things you've heard about botox and dermal fillers? What should you know before going into your first injetcables appointment? How early is too early for botox?💄🎙️💭

Join your host, Ilina Luthra, as she gets the answers for this question (and many others) from Dr. Michael Kennis, Founder of Velour Medical, the most loved cosmetic aesthetic practice in New York.

On our Radar are myths associated with injectables, the aeshetic industry’s hottest trends, and what it means to "have work done."

Tune in to learn everything you need to know about cosmetic injections. Follow Roster Radio: The Beauty Discourse, as we continue to share advice and actionable insights from beauty and wellness industry experts from all over the world.

If you want to book your first session of botox or fillers at Velour, use code RRL20.

How do celebrity-founded brands stand out amidst a slew of newness, using PR & Influencer Marketing?💄🎙️💭

Join your host, Ilina Luthra, as she gets the answers for this question (and many others) from Ruhi Thakker, Founder of ruhiandco (formerly Head of PR and Influencer Marketing for FORMA Brands like r.e.m. Beauty)

On our Radar is building a strong communication strategy--in this conversation, we explore how brands can leverage unexpected influencer categories for virality, how to assess trends, and the do's and dont's for editorial awards.

Tune in to unpack how to handle a PR crises, leveraging celebrity reach, building an organic community, and press relationships. Follow Roster Radio: The Beauty Discourse as we continue to share advice and actionable insights from beauty and wellness industry experts from all over the world.

For office hours with Ruhi, email her at [email protected].

How did a third-generation esthetician build an (uncomplicated) beauty service business in the digital age?💄🎙💭 Join your host, Ilina Luthra, as she answers this question (along with many others) with Rachel Liverman, Founder & CEO of Glowbar.

On our Radar is the business of beauty services--in this express conversation (much like the Glowbar facials), we explore how Glowbar's 30-minute, customized facials revolutionised the industry. Rachel dives into overcoming the COVID hangover, building sustained growth in the ever-turbulent brick-and-mortar environment, creating memorable customer experiences, and maintaining a successful membership business. Tune in to unpack the meaning of 'well-care,' and learn how to share resources with peers, along with tons of valuable insights on building a team, standing by your mission, and more.

Use code, ROSTER, for $$ off your first Glowbar facial.

This was a bonus episode, recorded in the midst of the global pandemic. Reigning queen of costume jewellery, Sasha Grewal has been a Forbes 30-Under-30 honouree, a Vogue Fashion Fund winner and a successful entrepreneur since the inception of her jewellery brand, Outhouse, in 2012. Almost a decade later, she sits down with me to discuss the most important lessons in starting your own label, working with her sister, Kaabia, and a lot more. Tune in to learn from her how to expand the horizons of your business, even in the given climate.