Career Exploration Day at L’Oréal: Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders

As part of Seeds of Fortune Inc.’s Career Fellows Next Gen Externship Program, L’Oréal’s Luxe Division, the Black@L’Oréal Employee Resource Group, and Seeds of Fortune Inc. hosted college students for a job and career fair titled “Exploring Beauty, Innovation and Careers at L’Oréal.” The event brought together future leaders and industry professionals for a day of learning, mentorship, and opportunity.

Students were welcomed into the world of beauty, business, and innovation, gaining an inside look at how L’Oréal continues to shape the future of the industry. The highlight of the day was an engaging panel discussion featuring professionals from across the L’Oréal family, representing areas such as marketing, finance, product development, and brand management. Panelists shared their personal career journeys and offered thoughtful insights on professional growth, leadership, and the importance of authenticity in the workplace.

Students listened attentively as speakers such as Sarah Curtis Henry, General Manager, L'Oréal Luxe USA, Armani & Valentino reflected on lessons learned throughout their careers and offered advice on navigating the transition from college to the corporate world. The conversation emphasized resilience, curiosity, and the value of building meaningful relationships in one’s career path. The day was coordinated by Louis J. Desforges.

The day reflected L’Oréal’s commitment to mentorship and empowerment, aligning perfectly with Seeds of Fortune Inc.’s mission to prepare young people for success in college, career, and beyond. Together we continue to bridge opportunity with inspiration, one career conversation at a time.

Meet the Volunteers:

Brittaney Trent is an accomplished leader with experience in driving brand growth and innovation across  the beauty industry. Currently a Marketing Director at  L’Oréal, she leads strategy and innovation for some for  skincare and hair brands, combining creativity with data driven insight to shape the future of beauty. Before  transitioning into marketing, she began her career as an  on-camera host for Yahoo Sports, interviewing some of  the world’s top athletes—a role that honed her  storytelling skills and confidence. Her journey from  journalism to beauty marketing is rooted in curiosity,  courage, and a passion for inspiring others to pursue  their dreams with purpose and authenticity.

Wendy Bonsu, a Harvard Business School alumna,  transitioned from Private Equity to the

beauty  industry, holding key roles at Jo Malone London,  NARS Beauty, and Chanel. For eight years at L'Oréal,  she has championed diversity and mentorship,  aligning her passions with the company's mission to  "create beauty that moves the world." Today, Wendy passionately leads La Roche-Posay’s  Oncology and Pediatric businesses. In this dream  role, she leverages dermatological expertise to  develop vital skincare solutions for cancer patients  and children, significantly improving their quality of  life during treatment. Wendy's work is a powerful  example of leadership that truly makes a difference.

Alexis Brown currently works in demand planning, where she drives forecasting and planning for promotional activity,  hair accessories, and sampling. She has been with the  company for two and a half years, and she’s passionate about  making a meaningful impact—both on the business and on the colleagues, she works with every day. Alexis believes in  fostering collaboration and driving results that benefit both our teams and our customers. 

John Goodman's journey in the beauty industry spans nearly three decades, and it's a path he is incredibly proud of. Born and raised in the Bronx, he credits his strong upbringing and unwavering work ethic to his Southern parents, qualities that have undoubtedly propelled him through both his professional and personal life. His career in beauty began in 1996 at Liz Claiborne Fragrances, where he dedicated a decade to mastering the intricacies of promotional packaging and purchasing in the beauty world. Following that foundational experience, he brought his expertise to Elizabeth Arden, contributing to their promotional success for five years while working on such iconic brands as Liz Taylor, Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift and Usher. The culmination of his professional path led him to L'Oréal USA, where he continues  to make significant contributions to the present day as Director of CPD Promotional. Demonstrating an incredible commitment to lifelong learning and mentoring, he embarked on a  new academic chapter in 2020 at the age of 53, returning to college to pursue a bachelor’s in  business administration. His dedication paid off handsomely, as he graduated Magna Cum Laude  in May 2023, a testament to his remarkable discipline and intellectual drive. Beyond his impressive corporate and academic achievements, John also has a rich musical  background. As a member of an entire family of singers and musicians, his passion has led to the  release of two R&B projects of all original music, both of which are available on all major  streaming services, and he can be found performing regularly at the Blue Note Jazz Club NY for  their Sunday Gospel Brunch. It’s clear this creative outlet just showcases another facet of his  diverse talents and his story results in a powerful blend of professional excellence, artistic  expression, and inspiring academic achievement.

Emily Patton is a Marketing Manager on the Lancôme Makeup team, where she leads initiatives across the complexion category including foundations, concealers, and blushes. Originally from South Florida, she is a proud Japanese American and a double alumna of the University of Florida.

Emily began her L’Oréal journey in the Miami Travel Retail office as an intern with Armani Beauty before finding her true home at Lancôme. She first worked in fragrances before transitioning into the vibrant world of makeup. Her early experiences in Miami taught her warmth, perseverance, and grit, qualities that helped her achieve her dream of joining the L’Oréal USA office in New York City.

After nearly two years and countless coffee chats, Emily’s manager, Kendra Kelly, took a leap of faith on her, and together they have been passionately championing Face Makeup ever since. Emily believes foundation is one of the most personal beauty categories and is deeply committed to fostering inclusion across every age, race, and skin type. She remains grateful for the growth, creativity, and community that L’Oréal continues to bring into her life as she looks forward to where her journey will lead next.

Meet Erline Louigene, Executive Assistant II supporting two General Managers within the L’Oréal Luxe Division. With more than five years of experience, Erline blends creativity, strategy, and precision in everything she does.

Since joining L’Oréal in 2022, she has become an integral force behind the scenes, managing executive operations, travel, and communications with poise and professionalism. She also leads team engagement efforts and brand experiences across multiple Luxe houses, reflecting L’Oréal’s spirit of excellence and innovation.

Holding a master’s in strategic organizational communication and a background in criminal justice, Erline thrives at the intersection of business and storytelling. Outside of work, she channels her passion for beauty as a professional makeup artist and content creator, having collaborated with brands such as Urban Decay, Juvia’s Place, and Shea Moisture.

When she’s not organizing or creating, Erline enjoys time with her family, relaxing at the beach, or sharing insights on her platform Read My Lip-gloss, where beauty and books meet.

Jayda Parrish is the Social Advocacy & Influencer Lead for La Roche-Posay, where she spearheads influencer campaigns across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Her journey with L'Oréal began as a college sophomore through the Diverse Future Leaders Program, followed by an internship on Redken DMI. She then launched her full-time career on the Matrix US color team. Jayda brings her whole self to her work and life, fueled by a passion for giving back and exploring new interests.