The Confidence Lounge: Conversations that fuel your ambition & move your career forward.

What does it really take to go first?

To innovate before there’s a blueprint?

To disrupt an industry and still give back while doing it?

In this episode of Faces Behind Beauty, I sit down with Nicole Collins, the genius behind some of the most defining moments in beauty.

From helping build ipsy into a Silicon Valley unicorn to launching 213Deli, the beauty industry’s first text-to-buy platform - she continues to pivot, innovate and disrupt at every level.

This is a real, honest conversation about:

• What it means to lead before the world is ready
• Taking big risks that actually pay off
• Staying relevant in an industry that never stops evolving
• Reinventing your career without losing yourself
• Building power and lifting other women as you rise
• Knowing when to quit a role that is no longer working for you

Nicole doesn’t hold back.

We talk about courage, innovation, disruption, leadership, motherhood, and what it truly takes to build something that doesn’t exist yet.

If you’re a woman in beauty who feels the pull to do more, lead bigger, or go first - this episode is for you.

LINKS:

🔗 Learn more about 213Deli: https://www.213deli.com/
📲 Follow 213Deli on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/213deli
📲 Follow Nicole on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collinsinla
💼 Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/collinsinla/

PS: If this episode sparked something in you, just know - listening is only the beginning.
The real magic happens in the room where women speak truth, take up space, and rise together.

If that’s the energy you’re craving, I’d love to see you at Beauty Career Lab LIVE on 1/24 in LA.

The first-ever event dedicated to helping women in beauty rewrite the rules, redefine leadership, and shape the future of the industry.

🎟️ Join us here: www.soulmakeup.com/beautycareerlablive

Episode 5 of the Faces Behind Beauty series is HERE and this one is pure gold for every woman building her career, her confidence, and her empire in beauty.

I sat down with Elyse Koenig, Founder of Elyse Koenig: Beauty & Wellness Consulting (Team EKC).

She is a PR powerhouse who has spent 18 years shaping the brands, stories, and strategies that move the beauty industry forward.

Before launching Team EKC in 2016, Elyse built her career inside some of the most respected beauty spaces: working at top PR agencies LaForce and Alison Brod in New York City, serving as the first in-house PR Director at Too Faced Cosmetics in Los Angeles, and launching the beauty division at Wetherly Group.

Her experience has given her a front-row seat to what actually works in a fast-changing industry and what doesn’t.

She has helped launch brands, amplify founder narratives, and turn products into household names.

If you’re in beauty, you’ve likely felt her influence - whether you knew it or not.

Inside this episode we dive into:

⚡️ How to lead when you don’t know what’s next

⚡️ What authenticity in PR really looks like

⚡️ How to build a business on trust, not burnout

⚡️ Why evolution is the new power move

⚡️ How leadership in beauty is being redefined

This conversation is powerful, grounded, and real - a blueprint for any woman who wants to build something bigger than herself. It reminds us that success isn’t just earned in headlines or revenue, but in the courage to trust ourselves through every chapter.

Loved this episode? Share it with your beauty network and tag us. The more women we reach, the more doors we open.

LINKS:

@elyse.koenig

@elysekoenigconsulting

www.elysekoenig.com

PS: If this episode sparked something in you, just know - listening is only the beginning.

The real magic happens in the room…where women speak truth, take up space, and rise together.

If that’s the energy you’re craving, I’d love to see you at Beauty Career Lab LIVE on 1/24 in LA.

The FIRST EVER event dedicated to helping women in beauty rewrite the rules, redefine leadership, and shape the future of the industry.

🎟️ Join us here:www.soulmakeup.com/beautycareerlablive

In episode 4 of our special edition Faces Behind Beauty podcast series, we focus on the importance of community to have a thriving career in beauty.

Because behind every iconic product and brand moment...there’s a human being who needed support, courage, and connection to get there.

This week, I interview ⁠Taylor deDiego⁠, the powerhouse behind ⁠Beauty Work Friends⁠, to explore what happens when you stop trying to figure it out alone and start building a network that fuels your confidence, your opportunities, and your career.

Because the truth is: success in this industry was never meant to be a solo sport.

We go deep on the real journey from corporate to consultant - the fear, the mindset shifts, the identity work, and the power of surrounding yourself with women who get it.

Inside this episode you’ll hear:

⚡️ Real talk about leaving corporate and stepping into entrepreneurship

⚡️ How community becomes your confidence-builder during career transitions

⚡️ Why collaboration is the new competitive edge

⚡️ Why isolation kills creativity, confidence &opportunities

⚡️ What really happens behind the scenes of a corporate-to-consultant transition

⚡️ How your network becomes your net worth in beauty

⚡️ The mindset shifts that help you overcome fear and take bolder action

If you want a long, successful, soul-aligned career in beauty, you need people around you who speak your language, champion your ideas, and hold you through the scary leaps.

This episode will remind you exactly why community matters and how to find yours.

Hit play - your community is here for you.

Pass this episode along to your beauty work friends - because community is how we rise in this industry.

LINKS:

⁠beautyworkfriends.com⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylordediego/⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/beauty-work-friends/⁠

PS: If this episode sparked something in you, just know: listening is only the beginning.

The real magic happens in the room — where women speak truth, take up space, and rise together.

If that’s the energy you’re craving, I’d love to see you at Beauty Career Lab LIVE on 1/24 in LA.

This is the FIRST EVER event dedicated to helping women in beauty rewrite the rules, redefine leadership, and shape the future of the industry.

🎟️Join Us At Beauty Career Lab LIVE: ⁠⁠⁠www.soulmakeup.com/beautycareerlablive⁠

There are conversations that shift something inside you and this is one of them.

Today’s episode is electric & you’re going to feel it from the very first minute.

I sat down with the incredible Emily Perez, Founder + Executive Director of Latinas in Beauty, and the passion between us was so strong it literally disrupted the room.

When I asked Emily why she created Latinas in Beauty, she looked at me, leaned in, and said: “Take a seat.”

And the moment she said it - the mic CUT OUT.

The timing was so wild it felt like the conversation was too powerful for the equipment to handle.

And honestly? That moment captured the entire essence of this episode.

Because this is an episode about audacity.

About identity as power.

About no longer waiting for permission to sit at the table, speak up, take the lead, or build what the industry has never seen before.

Emily shares how one Sunday-night Instagram post became a national nonprofit…

How Latinas are driving beauty culture yet still underrepresented in the C-suite…

And how doing it scared — with your voice shaking + your knees trembling — is exactly how you rise.

In this conversation we talk about:

⚡️ Doing it scared (with your voice shaking)

⚡️ Cultural conditioning around money and visibility

⚡️ Advocating for yourself in rooms not built for you

⚡️ Why “Why not me?” is the mindset shift that changes everything

⚡️ The power of community for Latina women in beauty

⚡️ Stopping the generational pattern of shrinking, dimming, and staying small

If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much,” “too passionate,” or “too loud,” this episode will feel like a permission slip wrapped in power.

Because the truth is:

• Your identity is your superpower.
• Your voice is needed.
• Your presence is culture-shaping.

Emily isn’t just increasing representation.

She’s building the industry’s first-ever ecosystem for Latinas to thrive.

Emily isn’t shaping the future of beauty — She’s rewriting the blueprint for who gets to lead it.

The passion in this room was so big the mic couldn’t handle us…

So trust me when I say: you’re in for something special.

🎧 Listen now and share this with every Latina in beauty who needs to hear it.

💖 And for my non-Latina listeners…this is for you too.

Because what Emily models is what it looks like to see a gap in the industry, feel it in your bones, and decide: I’m going to be the one who builds what does not yet exist.

This is what it looks like to go first.

To innovate boldly.

To lead with courage, vision, and heart.

And you can do the same.

LINKS:https://www.instagram.com/latinasinbeautyofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/stories/emilycristinainc/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/latinasinbeauty/
https://latinasinbeauty.org/

PS: If this episode sparked something in you, just know: listening is only the beginning.

The real magic happens in the room — where women speak truth, take up space, and rise together.

If that’s the energy you’re craving, I’d love to see you at Beauty Career Lab LIVE on 1/24 in LA.

This is the FIRST EVER event dedicated to helping women in beauty rewrite the rules, redefine leadership, and shape the future of the industry.

🎟️Join Us At Beauty Career Lab LIVE: ⁠www.soulmakeup.com/beautycareerlablive

In Episode 2 of our special-edition Faces Behind Beauty series, you’re about to meet someone I have personally admired for YEARS.

She is the epitome of confidence embodied.

A visionary. A connector.

An unapologetic powerhouse who has shaped this industry more than most people will ever know.

Dynamic. Determined. Dedicated.

And she is Shannaz Schopfer.

Shannaz has spent over 40 years not just working in beauty — but architecting it.

Redefining what’s possible for brands, founders, and the global marketplace.

She’s the woman the world’s most influential companies call when they need someone who can see around corners — the strategist, the connector, the visionary who spots possibilities long before anyone else.

As CEO of The Beauty Architects, she’s built a global engine for innovation: sourcing what doesn’t yet exist, curating the impossible, and opening doors most people don’t even realize are there.

Her work elevates beauty brands to new heights, expanding markets, unlocking growth, and reshaping the future of this industry.

But what I love most about Shannaz isn’t just her experience — it’s her presence.

Her perspective.

Her ability to walk into any room, in any country, and lead with a grounded confidence that makes everyone around her rise.

And today, she’s pulling back the curtain — not just on what she knows, but how she thinks.

This conversation is a masterclass in:

⚡️ Staying relevant in an ever-evolving industry

⚡️ Why age is power (wear it like your badge of honor)

⚡️ Why women must stop fearing failure and run toward it

⚡️ Building a global, future-ready career

⚡️ Thinking like the founders and leaders shaping beauty’s next era

⚡️ Why financial literacy is a nonnegotiable skill

⚡️ Rising with clarity, conviction, and confidence — no matter where you’re starting

This is a conversation about pushing boundaries, speaking your unapologetic truth, and redefining what’s possible — for your career, your confidence, and the future of beauty.

And I’m going to say this without giving anything away...

There is something very exciting being announced for the first time publicly in this episode. 👀

So settle in.

Take a deep breath.

And get ready to learn from one of the most powerful, influential, respected women in our industry.

Let’s dive into this transformative conversation with Shannaz Schopfer.

🔗 LINKS

Connect With Shannaz On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shannaz

The Beauty Architects: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebeautyarc/

Website: https://www.thebeautyarc.com

🎟️ Beauty Career Lab LIVE: www.soulmakeup.com/beautycareerlablive
Use code SSVIP for 25% off your ticket

Lastly - If this episode moved you, inspired you, or gave you the exact reminder you needed today…

Rate, review, and share it with another woman in beauty who deserves to rise too.

This helps the episode reach the women who need conversations like this to step into their next level.

🙏Your support truly means the world to me 🙏

Welcome back to The Confidence Lounge and welcome to the return of something powerful.

Last year, I released a raw experiment of an idea.

A special edition podcast series that put the spotlight on the real women that power the Beauty Industry.

This wasn't about celebrities, influencers, or glam press headlines but instead spotlighted the women who actually make beauty happen.

No filters. No fluff. Just real careers. Real confidence.

Real women who build the products, movements, communities, and brands we all love.

That little experiment took off.

It traveled to 40+ countries, became one of our top podcast series of all time, and to this day, it’s still being shared by women saying: “This is what we needed.”

So we’re bringing Faces Behind Beauty back and this year, it is bigger, deeper, realer, and raw-er.

In this series - we’re spotlighting women who:

💄build movements, not just products

💋 turn community into brand loyalty

⚡innovate without the spotlight

🧠face emotional & professional hurdles nobody talks about publicly

We’re talking:

🧠 founders who dared to dream…and lost it all

💼 corporate leaders who paved unseen paths

📈 pivots, reinventions, layoffs, comebacks

💄artistry, manufacturing, innovation, creation

🎨brand storytelling + creative direction

🤝diversity, inclusion, advocacy, representation

💼entrepreneurship and growth inside billion-dollar brands

(and yes… maybe some faces tied to Beauty Career Lab LIVE 👀)

👉 And even if you’re not in beauty?

These episodes will hit you. Because they’re not just career stories — they’re stories about ambition, identity, burnout, reinvention, and building a life + career you’re proud of.

This series is for any woman who’s ever wanted more.

Today, we’re kicking off Season 2 with a surprising firstguest.

In a world where women build billion-dollar beautyempires and rarely get credit…

One woman decided the most powerful thing we could build isn’t a product…but ourselves.

From corporate labs to confidence coaching…

From launching lipsticks to launching leaders…

From product development to personal development…

This is the story of a woman who quit the meeting room…to build a movement.

🎬 Spoiler: it’s me.

Let’s talk about how I became the confidence behind the beauty industry.

Press play to hear how I went from developing products to developing people and how I walked away from my dream job doing Product Development at Estee Lauder to lead a confidence revolution.

LINKS:

Want to Grow Your Beauty Career with Me? Join the Beauty Career Accelerator - the only group program designed to advance women's careers in beauty.

Join the waitlist here to learn more about our upcoming enrollment: https://www.soulmakeup.com/bcawaitlist

Want to meet in person to do career development live? That is exactly what we are doing on January 24th at Beauty Career Lab LIVE.

Coach With Me — Transform how you lead, speak, and succeed: https://www.soulmakeup.com/coaching
Book Me to Speak — Give your team confidence they can feel: https://www.soulmakeup.com/speaking
Get to Know My World — The woman behind the movement: https://www.soulmakeup.com/aboutelyse

And make sure to connect with me on LinkedIn HERE for daily confidence building tips to help you advance your beauty career without burning out.

🎧 If This Episode Moves You - Rate + Review the Podcast

It helps amplify women’s voices and brings visibility to the ones who build beauty.
💬 Share with Your Network

If this conversation speaks to you, send it to women in your life beauty industry or not.

The more we share, the more we rise, together.

Because confidence isn’t curated. It’s claimed.

Tell me if this sounds like you...

You’ve been rehearsing what to say all day for this event.

You’re in the shower thinking, “Okay… if she says this, I’ll reply with that.”

You’re in the car worrying, “Please don’t let it be awkward.”

You walk in hoping no one can see how nervous you feel.

You smile too hard.

You grip your drink too tight.

You pray you don’t say anything cringe.

You wonder if everyone else already knows each other.

You start overthinking EVERY word that comes out of your mouth.

And the whole time you’re thinking…

Why does this feel so icky?

Why can’t I just be myself here?

Why does everyone else look so confident?”

If this is you -

I want you to exhale.

Because nothing is wrong with you.

You’re not socially awkward.

You’re not bad at networking.

You’re not “too quiet” or “too much.”

You’ve just never been taught how to network in a way that feels safe, authentic, and REAL.

And that is exactly why I created this episode.

To teach you how to walk into any room without dimming yourself, without forcing conversation, and without giving yourself the emotional ick.

Inside this episode, I’m breaking down:

⚡️ Why networking feels so unnatural for so many women

⚡️ What your brain + body are doing that make it feel awkward

⚡️ How to instantly shift your energy so connection feels EASY

⚡️ Body language cues that build trust (without trying hard)

⚡️ 5 science-backed tips to network without being fake

⚡️ How to leave a room feeling expanded, not drained

If you’ve ever left a networking event replaying everything you said…
If you’ve ever stood in a corner pretending to text…
If you’ve ever felt invisible OR like you were “performing”…

This episode is for YOU.

You’re going to feel SO seen, SO understood, and SO much more confident by the time it’s over.

Because here’s the truth: Being a good networker isn’t a personality trait - it’s a skill.

And once you learn the right way to do it?

It becomes one of your biggest success superpowers.

Let's get into it...

LINKS:

Connect with on LinkedIn me ⁠HERE⁠

Get your Beauty Career Lab LIVE tickets ⁠HERE⁠

Visit my website HERE

Most women in don’t realize this…
💡 Your company is already budgeting for YOUR growth.
Coaching, workshops, conferences - YES, they can be covered.

If you’ve ever held yourself back because of cost - I want you to hear this:

📌 There is money on the table for your development.
📌 It’s in most cases a tax-deductible investment for your employer.
📌 There are group rates to bring your whole team.
📌 You just need to know how to ask.

Inside this episode, I break down:
✨ Why companies WANT to invest in you
✨ The hidden budget most people don’t know about
✨ How to position your request to get a YES
✨ Exact language to use with your manager
✨ Why it’s more powerful to grow as a team
Because when women get access to the right support →
confidence rises, careers accelerate, and companies evolve.

If you’ve been waiting for “permission”…Here it is.

Your next level is already funded.

⚡️You just have to claim it⚡️

Tune in & make sure to send this to a friend who needs to hear it.

LINKS:

Get resources to get your career development costs covered by sending me a message on LinkedIn - Connect with me HERE

Get your Beauty Career Lab LIVE tickets HERE

Message me the word "DEVELOPMENT" on LinkedIn to get an exclusive group rate to sponsor your team to attend Beauty Career Lab LIVE

This week inside The Confidence Lounge, I’m introducing you to something I call The Readiness Trap.

It’s that quiet belief that one day, there’s going to be a magical moment when you finally feel ready to...

• Launch the thing...
• 
  

• Ask for the promotion...
• Speak up in the meeting...
• Take the leap you’ve been dreaming about.

But here’s the truth…
That feeling of readiness you’re waiting for?

It rarely comes.

And believing you need to feel ready first might actually be the biggest thing holding you back in your career.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

⚡️ What the Readiness Trap is (and how it shows up in your thoughts)

⚡️ Why this mindset quietly limits your success

⚡️ A simple formula to help you break free so you can finally move, even when you don’t feel ready

If you’ve been waiting for the “perfect moment” to take your next step…

This episode is your moment.

LINKS:

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Get your tickets to Beauty Career Lab LIVE on 1/24

It seems like something small.

Something you think is helping you.

Something sitting right in front of you every single day…

That’s the very thing that’s quietly triggering your overwhelm.

• It’s why your brain is foggy.
• Why you feel scattered.
• Why you keep spinning your wheels even when you’re “doing all the things.”

But what exactly is this sneaky little thing fueling your overwhelm?

I am about to tell you.

In this quick-power episode, I’m breaking down:⚡️ The sneaky trigger that’s keeping ambitious women stuck

⚡️ The science behind why it sends your nervous system into overdrive

⚡️ The simple shift that helps you feel calm, clear, and wildly productive again.

🎧 Listen now and find out what’s really behind that mountain of overwhelm and how to take your power back.

LINKS:

⁠Connect with me on LinkedIn⁠

⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠

⁠Visit my website⁠