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NYT NOT YOUR TYPICAL BEAUTY ISSUE
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RECOUNTS HER YEARS WITH BCA AS WE PAY HOMAGE TO EVELYN H. LAUDER AND THE LEGACY OF THIS ASTUTE BUSINESSWOMAN p.
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ELIZABETH HURLEY
How to Live Like a
p.44
ROCK STAR
The Best Thinking Man’s 36 Guide to Easy Style p.
LEADERS,
p.16
Stop Wasting Your Money!
ASTRID POLETTI: THE WOMAN, THE BRAND
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March-April 2012 STRATEGYMAGAZINE.COM
LOSING YOUR MIND TO FINE ART FASHION p.32
TABLE OF CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE / March-April 2012
COVER
on the
on the
WEB
In our Not So Typical Beauty Issue, we recount notable steps with Elizabeth Hurley, Estée Lauder and The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Spokesmodel, and serve to keep Evelyn H. Lauder’s gifted message alive, despite the month on the calendar. In her 18th year of representing Estée Lauder as a spokesmodel, Hurley is making this one of the world’s longest running beauty contracts.
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STRATEGY brings you Business Learning & Life via our website and social networking sites. Register online for print subscription and sign up to receive our newsletter for free; keep updated on the latest self-help business trends, plus extensions to our feature articles. Facebook: Become a Fan of Strategy Magazine and connect with other like-minded professionals.
EDITOR’S LETTER 4 COLUMNS Dave Says 6 Rude Nation 8 PERSONAL GROWTH 10 LIFE COACHING The Olympic Secret of Happiness BUSINESS 14 VISIONARIES How Body Is Getting Its Smart 16 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Avoid Costly Mistakes By Employing Solid HR Practices
FEATURES 20 WORDY WOMEN OF OUR LIVES Their names grace our favorite fiction books, their rocket-reaching sales have exceeded the expectations of many bestselling lists, and most are acclaimed by achievement awards, and best of all, their families. Let’s raise our champagne flutes for our Top 7 Female Authors. 24 IN THE BUSINESS OF HELPING OTHERS In our Not So Typical Beauty Issue, we honor Evelyn H. Lauder’s business of helping others, recount notable steps with Elizabeth Hurley, Estée Lauder and The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Spokesmodel, and serve to keep Lauder’s gifted message alive, despite the month on the calendar. 28 ASTRID POLETTI FOR ALL How a working visa turned into another working visa, which later turned into a life of freedom to work in, and reap from what is loved. Famed jewelry designer speaks on the importance of business ethics and faith.
18 SALES & MARKETING Viral Marketing À La Skincare LIFE 32 FASHION Foreshadowing Onto The Next Season With Luxury Scarves 36 FASHION Shinning Silk Passion, For Men 38 BEAUTY Striking Hair, Skin, & Pout 39 WELLNESS Stale Air Making You Sick? CONFERENCE CONCIERGE 40 Where to... Las Vegas OP/ED 46 ELEVATOR PITCH Learning More About Lenny strategymagazine.com
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EDITOR’S LETTER Editor-in-Chief
Mavian Arocha-Rowe
THE VALUE OF A NEW MOON
Senior Editor Amy Day
Associate Editor Paola Ramirez
HER FACE IS A MAP OF THE WORLD IS A MAP OF THE WORLD YOU CAN SEE SHE’S A BEAUTIFUL GIRL SHE’S A BEAUTIFUL GIRL AND EVERYTHING AROUND HER IS A SILVER POOL OF LIGHT THE PEOPLE WHO SURROUND HER FEEL THE BENEFIT OF IT
Art Director
Stephanie Threinen
Sales Director Matt Peterson
Writers
Dave Ramsey, Dayna Steele, Isis Pardo, David Leonhardt, Margaret Hintz, Christian Ruben
Web Developer
IT MAKES YOU CALM SHE HOLDS YOU CAPTIVATED IN HER PALM
Avion Technologies
Customer Services
For more information on subscriptions, call 800.883.1387 and/or visit, strategymagazine.com. For more information on advertising, call 800.883.1387 or email us at advertising@strategymagazine.com. Vol. 5, Issue 2 © Strategy Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Photo credits are not given to improperly identified photos. Published by: Strategy Magazine, LLC 2625 Piedmont Road, Suite 56-370 Atlanta, GA 30324 PRINTED IN THE USA. COPYRIGHT ©2012 BY STRATEGY MAGAZINE, LLC. All rights reserved. Published six times per year.
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Coming into spring, SUDDENLY I SEE everyone is used to reading THIS IS WHAT I WANNA BE headlines that convey Mavian Arocha-Rowe, SUDDENLY I SEE (SUDDENLY I SEE) spring-cleaning; whether Editor-in-Chief WHY THE HELL IT MEANS SO MUCH it’s the home, office, car, the closet or the kids’ TO ME room, spring reflects the spirit of cleanliness and beauty. In our NTY (Not Your Typical) Beauty Issue we I FEEL LIKE WALKING THE WORLD wanted to do things a little bit different. LIKE WALKING THE WORLD Rather than your “typical” beauty issues that portray the best of beauty products, we at STRATEGY decided to bring YOU CAN HEAR SHE’S A BEAUTIFUL GIRL out the “beauty” from those who aspire beauty, every day. SHE’S A BEAUTIFUL GIRL We lift our champagne flutes to strong leaders who take SHE FILLS UP EVERY CORNER LIKE control and budget wisely, writers who aspire to boost every SHE’S BORN IN BLACK AND WHITE person’s confidence, designers who make their mark by playing to the off beats, and especially those who lived to help others. MAKES YOU FEEL WARMER WHEN We have also decided that our magazine—although its YOU’RE TRYING TO REMEMBER name relates to both male and female [men, I know you will WHAT YOU HEARD like this idea…] STRATEGY is actually a woman! SHE LIKES TO LEAVE YOU HANGING Her heart races to a new tempo and defines business learning as sexy. She is alive. She grabs the attention of ON HER WORD business leaders, men at Wall Street, and the ultra chic women who are molding their futures with their “Working Smile” and positive STRATEGY’s unrelenting growth is power trips. STRATEGY’s unrelenting growth what strengthens her edification, is what strengthens her edification, and a new beginning awaits her and and a new beginning awaits her all of us… Soon she will be speaking past the walls of Modern English and and all of us… into the hearts of those who speak the passionate language of Español. Her fresh perceptive to life now involves more than just business. From community service projects to philanthropic works her hands are busy and her conscious fully aware. So with this, we sip some more Moët as the celebration continues and hilarity puts an end to night vigils. In fact, why not sing a little too? With the inspiring and poetic words of KT Tunstall when “Suddenly I See” I smile, laugh, and laugh harder as the new direction of STRATEGY unfolds. Her face is indeed, “a map of the world.”
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DAVE SAYS
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COLUMN BY DAVE RAMSEY
Insurance Necessities Dear Chris, Dear Dave, The purpose of insurI’ve got auto ance is to transfer risk that insurance, but can you can’t afford to take. you tell me what Most people can’t afford other kinds of insurance to have a heart attack are good to have? and triple bypass surgery. — Chris Having to pay for something like that completely out of pocket would bankrupt just about anyone. That’s why health insurance is a vital part of any good financial plan. It’s also important to have auto, which you do, and homeowner’s insurance, too. If you don’t own a home, make sure you have renter’s insurance instead. Don’t forget about life insurance, either. If you’re married or have kids, you should carry eight to 10 times your yearly income in a good, 15- or 20-year level term life insurance policy. This means if you make $40,000, you should have about $400,000 wrapped up in life insurance. Long-term disability insurance is vital. The cheapest way to get this is in a group. If you buy it yourself, out on the open market, you’ll find that the rates are based more on your occupation than your age or health. So, if you fly a desk, it’ll be a lot cheaper than if you work with your hands. And don’t forget long-term care insurance. You need “nursing home insurance” the moment you turn 60. It will also take care of you in your own home. The statistical probability of needing it before age 60 is about one percent, so I’d wait until then to buy long-term care insurance. This kind of insurance can make sure you get the kind of care you want in your declining years. Plus, it can keep your nest egg with you and your family and out of the hands of the nursing home.
Land Investment Dave Ramsey
Land Investment Dear Mary, You guys have done a great job of saving for retirement and staying out of debt. Let’s go over the Baby Steps you mentioned. Baby Step Four is putting 15 percent of your income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement plans. Baby Step Six is paying off your home early. The thing that worries me is you’ve completely skipped Baby Step Three, which is having three to six months of expenses in an emergency fund. This is money set aside strictly for emergencies, not vacations, toys or a new car. The problem right now is if you have a real emergency, you’ll have to cash out your 401(k). If you do that, the government’s going to penalize you 10 percent, plus your tax rate. That’s about a 40-percent kick in the teeth just because you didn’t do things in the right order! Again, you’re in pretty good shape overall, but in building your financial house you’ve put the roof on before you’ve laid the foundation. If I’m you, I’m going to temporarily stop my 401(k) contributions until I get my emergency fund fully loaded. By temporarily, I mean six months at most. That way, you’ll be covered when life happens without having to sacrifice your retirement savings.
Dear Dave, We’ve read about your plan, and we’re in pretty good shape financially, but we don’t know what to do next. We have $400,000 in a 401(k) for retirement, but we don’t have an emergency fund or any other savings. The only debt we have is our house. What should we do about Baby Steps Four and Six? — Mary
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Dear Dennis, Dear Dave, I don’t know if there’s My wife and necessarily a specific perI make about centage for this kind of $85,000 a year. thing. Since you guys are We’re debt-free, already debt-free you need and we have no kids. We’d like to to make sure that you’ve got start saving money a fully-loaded emergency to buy some land fund of three to six months in the near future. of expenses in place, along What percentage of with retirement funding. In our savings should your case, anything else you have sitting around is simply we put toward wealth. this? — Dennis
If you’ve got $50,000 sitting in a savings account in addition to these things, and you’d rather have $50,000 worth of dirt instead of a bank account, I’m cool with that. It’s really more a matter of ratios than percentages.
...health insurance is a vital part of any good financial plan. TEXT BY DAVE RAMSEY Dave Ramsey is a personal money management expert, popular national radio personality and the author of three New York Times bestsellers – The Total Money Makeover, Financial Peace Revisited and More Than Enough. In them, Ramsey exemplifies his life’s work of teaching others how to be financially responsible, so they can acquire enough wealth to take care of loved ones, live prosperously into old age, and give generously to others.
RUDE NATION
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COLUMN BY AMY DAY
AMERICA: THE RUDE NATION THERE’S AN OLD ADAGE THAT SAYS, “IF YOU DON’T TAKE CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS, SOMEONE ELSE WILL.” IT CONTINUES TO AMAZE ME THAT SO MANY BUSINESSES DON’T SEEM TO REMEMBER (OR CARE) ABOUT THIS SIMPLE TRUISM AND IT’S POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE BOTTOM LINE. AFTER ALL, CUSTOMERS WANT GOOD SERVICE AND THEY’RE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THEY WILL GO OUT OF THEIR WAY—TO INCLUDE PAYING MORE FOR THE SAME PRODUCT OR SERVICE—TO GET IT.
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t’s true I’m especially aware of the customer service experience and how things “should be” in an ideal situation; but I don’t feel this makes my expectations any greater than what would be considered reasonable. I simply consider how I would treat a customer in my same situation and I then expect the sales associate or employee with which I am dealing to treat me in the same manner. It’s been several years since it became blatantly obvious to me; however, that it was a lot more common to have a negative customer experience than it was to have one I’d share with others. It may seem like a sweeping generalization, but it’s widespread enough that I feel comfortable saying it: Customer service has disappeared, and no one seems to care enough to send out a search party. Instead, we have allowed ourselves to slip comfortably into the shoes of a Rude Nation. The truth is that it’s our society as a whole and not necessarily limited to businesses only. We have all become so comfortable speaking in texts, emailing, Tweeting, Facebooking, and posting everything we love to our boards and stacks, that we have forgotten how good it feels to actually see someone else’s face, hear their voice, and receive a smile. In fact, when I’m out in public and can capture someone’s glance away from their iPhone just long enough to get a smile, I consider it an accomplishment. In business, these methods of communication are ruling customer interactions. Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m a marketing guru first and foremost, so I don’t think there is anything wrong with some powerful social networking. But just like everything in marketing, it has to complement the rest of the strategy. So, while you’re investing in tactics that ensure you can “reach customers where they are,” you also need to ensure they can reach you where you are when needed. Consider this: When is the last time you called 8
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a 1-800 number and a live person answered the phone instead of a computerized menu of choices? About two weeks ago, I was having issues with a new piece of hardware I purchased for my computer. I had paid for the protection plan, so I called the provided number for “assistance.” Of course, I was immediately directed to a menu. I selected No. 4 in the first menu, No. 2 in the second menu, No. 1 in the third menu, No. 2 in the fourth menu, No. 1 in the fifth menu, No. 2 in the sixth menu, No. 8 in the seventh menu, No. 2 in the eighth menu, and No.1 in the ninth menu. I was then placed on hold for 20 minutes, at the end of which the computerized menu hung up on me. Talk about rude. I returned the hardware that same day and decided not to ever purchase from this company again. I am sure at some point in time; someone in a big corporation ran an efficiency report that showed it was a better use of resources to allow a computer to perform the function of answering phones and directing calls. But with that decision, companies have lost valuable “face-to-face” time with their customers and the ability to express their “thanks for the business” just by answering the phone. This is only a single example in a long list that I’ve collected over the years, but you see where this is going. So, I want to provide a great example of how it’s done right. Disney does it right. Are you surprised? Probably not. And that’s because Disney stakes its reputation on the ability to provide a great customer experience. How else do you think it became “The Happiest Place on Earth”? I was very lucky to be chosen among a select few from my MBA program to attend a customer service certification series at Walt Disney World. Many don’t know of its existence, but it allows students to go behind the scenes and work side-by-side with the pros. The goal is to learn how to deliver a great customer experience. The take away for me was this: Customer service is in everything; it’s in the hostess, it’s in the wait staff, it’s in the decorations, and it’s even
in the food. From the back to the front of the house, customer service is in everything and the customer can feel it. My goal in writing this ongoing column and subsequent book, Rude Nation (release date in early 2013), is to not only bring attention to this problem, but to teach businesses about competitive advantage. My own research shows that 100 percent of customers admit a willingness to pay more for the same product or service if it means receiving better customer service. Imagine that: your company can effectively compete, even with higher prices, by dedicating significant efforts to the customer experience. How will you leverage this newfound information?
Customer service has disappeared, and no one seems to care enough to send out a search party. TEXT BY AMY DAY Amy Day is STRATEGY’s Senior Editor and the founder of Cowtown Creative, a full-service marketing firm that is dedicated to meeting customer needs with customized solutions and a superior experience. She has an MBA in Marketing Consulting and Strategic Leadership from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. Day has been certified by the Disney Institute in Customer Service and recognized as a Cox Distinguished Business Leader.
PERSONAL GROWTH
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LIFE COACHING
THE HAPPINESS SECRET OF THE BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS.
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The 2002 Winter Olympics flame.
THE OLYMPIC SECRET OF HAPPINESS
I
kick off my keynote workshops with the following question: After the gold medal winner, who is happier at the Olympics? The silver medal winner or the bronze medal winner?
Then I draw out responses from the audience. Some pick the silver medal winner. Some pick the bronze. Occasionally someone chooses the coach or even the audience. One participant recently shouted out, “The sponsors!” The correct answer is the bronze medal winner tends to be happier than the silver medal winner, according to research conducted in 1995. When I ask the audience why they think this might be; they always understand the answer. The silver medal winner can taste the gold she missed. She is thinking, “No, no, no. I missed.” Meanwhile, the bronze medal winner is clinging for dear life to his medal as if it was the edge of a cliff overlooking the abyss of Nobody-hood. He is thinking, “Oh thank God I made it. I almost missed out on a medal, but at least I’m an Olympic medalist.” This is the secret of happiness…
The Secret of Happiness on Display at the Rink
The question takes on a whole new meaning, thanks to the Salt Lake City Olympics. In case you were hibernating when the big scandal hit the news, Jamie Salé and David Pelletier skated the perfect pairs program. The Canadian pair was flawless and they knew it. The crowd cheered: “SIX! SIX! SIX!” The television commentators gave them the gold medal. But the judges gave the gold to the Russian pair. Thunk! That is the sound of Salé’s and Pelletier’s expectations hitting the floor. Oh sure, they showed class, rejoicing in the success of their flawless performance and telling the world how proud they were of their silver medal. But if athletes who earn their silver medals with silver medal performances are somewhat disappointed, how much more so were Salé and Pelletier who knew they had earned solid gold? Meanwhile, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo skated to a triumphant bronze— triumphant because it was the first time ever that China picked up an Olympic medal of any color in pairs figure skating. So if bronze medal winners normally feel grateful and relieved for their medal, these two heroes felt pure joy sending their country into the medal circle for the first time? This strange coincidence of events illustrates even more dramatically than usual that bronze medal winners tend to feel more happiness than silver medal winners. But this same turn of events obscures the reason why this is so.
“In our dog eat dog world, we are taught to be perfectionists, to give 110 percent, to strive to be No. 1.”
Manage Your Expectations of Success for Maximum Happiness
The point I make with the question up front is that we can measure our daily happiness, and to some degree control it, by the yardsticks we use as measurements. That’s the secret of happiness. The unusual reasons to celebrate bronze and sulk over silver this year should not obscure the lesson for the rest of us.
Olympic-Style Happiness
As in the Olympics, there are gold, silver, and bronze medals in daily life. Gold is absolute success, like when you land the big contract that will keep your company afloat for several years to come. Or when you score a prom date with the homecoming queen, or when your child comes home with straight As on his report card. The silver medal is nothing to turn up your nose at, though. It is still success: another contract that will keep business humming happily along; a date with another lovely lady (whom the judges mistakenly failed to name homecoming queen, perhaps?); or a full set of fairly good marks on your child’s report card. Bronze medals come in every situation, as well. It may not be much, but it is a contract. At least you have a date. And your child passed every subject. Each is an example of success, too. In our dog eat dog world, we are taught to be perfectionists, to give 110 percent, to strive to be No. 1. If you are a perfectionist, second place may not be good enough for you. You may not be satisfied unless you land the big contract, the
Looking back at Salt Lake City Olympics 2002, “Last year, we did over 40 shows. This year, very few. The money isn’t there, really, to justify being away from our son,” says David Pelletier, with skate partner and now ex-wife Jamie Salé. Photograph by: GRANT BLACK POSTMEDIA NEWS FILE, Postmedia News
Looking forward to London 2012, with great pride, the bronze is surely up for grabs.
perfect date, or straight As. However, if you are not a god, you probably will have to be satisfied with less than perfection. Or, you can choose to be dissatisfied. It remains your choice. I prefer to be satisfied with all my imperfections and call them successes rather than mope around dissatisfied with them. That does not mean giving up, by the way. I do aim for top spot. I do give 110 percent. But I choose to accept my limitations rather than be unhappy about them. As hard as it was, Salé and Pelletier tried to be satisfied with their silver medal. In the end, they did not have to. The International Olympic Committee stepped in to stem the growing public outcry by suspending a French judge who admitted cheating. The IOC awarded the Canadian pair with a gold medal, sharing it with the Russian pair. An Olympic event with no silver medal winner? Hmm. Perhaps, that’s the secret of happiness. TEXT BY DAVID LEONHARDT David Leonhardt is author of a self-help happiness book. He also runs a Liquid Vitamins Store and serves as a SEO/SEM website marketing consultant.
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BUSINESS
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VISIONARIES
HOW BODY IS GETTING ITS SMART LEVERAGING THE BENEFITS OF HER CULTURE AND EDUCATION, VALERIE BLEUS TURNED TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND IS SQUEEZING A SMART BUSINESS OUT OF WOMEN’S EVER-LASTING APPETITE FOR LOOKING GOOD.
Based in sunny South bEACH, Valerie Bleus, CEO of Stellar Cosmeceuticals has developed a groundbreaking formula to help significantly reduce the appearance of unsightly cellulite, and still has the time to be the successful Marketing Director for New You Magazine, the first national publication devoted to exploring aesthetic and anti-aging medicine.
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Prior to forming Stellar, Bleus was the Marketing Director for the third largest structured settlement company in the country. In that position, she managed a significant monthly marketing campaign involving TV, radio, Internet, and direct mail for the company. Previously, Bleus coordinated special events and supervised public relations activities at Equity Marketing, a Chicago-based real estate firm and Sonshine Communications, a local PR firm. While working in the financial sector, Bleus earned her MBA and began working closely with a chemist to develop her ecofriendly cellulite gel, Stellar. And with a diverse ethnic background, (Haitian and Danish decent), it’s no wonder she has been handpicked for various international freelance projects, the last of which brought her to Tokyo as the media liaison for a Caribbeanbased band commissioned by Louis Vuitton.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR PASSION? A. My passion is accomplishing things I previously thought were impossible. I never imagined I would start my own business; however, I became so passionate about my vision that the impossible quickly became my reality. Q. WHAT DOES YOUR COMPANY SPECIALIZE IN? A. Stellar Cosmeceuticals specializes in reducing the appearance of cellulite. Roughly 90 percent of women have this condition so we created this unique formula to help woman combat this issue so they can look and feel their best. Q. WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF AND ARTIST OR CREATIVE BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL? A. I consider myself both. When I was younger I felt more artistic; as I have gotten older my thought processes has become more logical. This has actually been a great combination for me. For example, I art directed the logo, packaging, and concept for Stellar, while running the business as CEO. Q. WHAT IS YOUR DRIVING FORCE IN BUSINESS? A. The driving force in my business is truly to help woman feel better about their bodies and look their best. I also hope to inspire more women to pay closer attention to their overall health. Stellar is an amazing product; however, diet and exercising are important components to maintaining a healthy body. Q. WHAT IS YOUR DRIVING FORCE IN LIFE? A. The driving force in my life is really my desire to be a better person every day. I awake trying to be a better business woman, girlfriend, sister, cousin, friend, you name it. I feel that once you do that, you receive life blessings in abundance. Q. HOW DO YOU NURTURE YOUR CREATIVITY? A. I nurture my creativity by looking at art. Since my time is so limited at this point, any chance I get I go to art exhibitions or look at magazines to inspire me creatively.
Stellar is an amazing product; however, diet and exercising are important components to maintaining a healthy body.
Q. HAS THERE BEEN A MENTOR IN YOUR LIFE? IF SO, TELL US ABOUT HIM/HER. A. My mentor for many years has been my friend Peter. He comes from humble beginnings, yet has always managed to accomplish anything he sets his mind to. He also has the unique ability to maintain a childish curiosity about him. He’s just amazing and inspires me every day. Q. WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FROM OTHERS IN THIS WORLD? A. My ability to be positive even in the face of great adversity makes me stand out. We all have our doom and gloom moments but somehow I am able to step back, put this bad moment into perspective and see the bright side of things. I also truly believe that I am lucky. That thinking alone has attracted so many blessings to my life. Q. WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED THAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? A. I am most proud of getting my MBA. My undergraduate degree was in English so business school demanded extra hard work, particularly in accounting and finance. After getting through business school, I literally feel like I can run the world. Well maybe not the world, but… Q. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE THE RISK OF BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR AS OPPOSED TO GIVING IN TO THE 9-5 DAILY GRIND? A. A wonderful blogger named Steve Pavlina wrote a great piece: Ten Reason You Should Never get a Job. It really put exchanging work for money, as well as my time, into perspective. Business school also helped me think about living life on my own terms and setting my own schedule. So far, so good. TEXT BY ISIS PARDO
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LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT
AVOID COSTLY MISTAKES BY EMPLOYING SOLID HR PRACTICES
Businesses face numerous challenges that can threaten their success: poor sales, bad location, increased competition, to name a few. But poor human resources practices can have an equally negative impact on the bottom line. Developing ourselves as vital leaders means no longer neglecting vital tasks such as recruitment, employee relations, and regulatory compliance, which can run head-on into potentially insurmountable obstacles.
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But by tackling HR issues with the proper tools and knowledge, a company can improve its odds of success. Here are five key HR mistakes— and how smart companies avoid them.
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MAKING THE WRONG HIRING DECISION
Companies may be experiencing growth or need to fill an available position quickly, but making a hasty decision can have expensive consequences. Along with the inconvenience of replacing a bad hire, employee turnover can cost from 90 percent to 200 percent of a departing employee’s salary to replace that person, reports the Society for Human Resource Management. In addition to the costs associated with replacing an employee, trying to terminate even a bad hire can be a difficult process. With the potential for employment lawsuits or backlash, firing someone should not be taken lightly. When handled inappropriately, business owners can find themselves tied up for long periods of time in frivolous lawsuits. It’s critical that managers devote adequate time and resources to ensure the most qualified candidates are interviewed, screened and hired. Employees are the lifeblood of an organization. Careful consideration should be given before selecting just anyone who walks through the door.
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OVERLOOKING REGULATIONS
Staying on top of the growing number of ever-changing local, state, and federal government regulations is overwhelming and time consuming. But small businesses can’t afford to ignore them. Research by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy shows that small businesses with fewer than 20 employees pay thousands more per employee to comply with regulations each year than a company with 500 or more employees. While smaller companies are dealing with increasing regulatory burdens, the staggering fines and penalties for not complying can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars, and sometimes the business itself. It’s imperative to keep up with regulations on an ongoing basis. A number of local and national organizations, including small business advocacy groups, human resources advisors, and professional organizations can provide the resources to help business owners stay informed and compliant.
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NEGLECTING TO DEVELOP AN EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK
When a business doesn’t have formal policies and procedures that are accessible to all employees, problems can unfold in the workplace. Unnecessary stress and tensions arise when employees don’t know what is expected of them, and that can create avoidable conflicts. All companies need an employee handbook that clearly spells out its expectations and clarifies important operations and procedures. All employees should be given a copy and managers should spend time reviewing it during new-employee orientation or in a staff meeting. Clearly writing down policies and helping employees understand the company’s expectations can help businesses avoid employee relations disasters and even potential employment litigation.
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OVERLOOKING THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING
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FAILING TO REWARD EMPLOYEES
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ENLIST OUTSIDE HELP TO PREVENT MISTAKES
By not providing employees with opportunities to sharpen their skills is wasting a chance to improve productivity and job satisfaction. To remain competitive, employees need to be up-to-date on the latest developments and best practices in their respective fields. Training doesn’t have to be an expensive undertaking. Many professional organizations offer low-cost webinars or online training modules that often can be accessed by more than one employee at a time, and sending staff to local conferences can reduce travel expenses. Whether it is continuing education, leadership or skills-based training, it’s important for employees to gain fresh ideas. The time and money invested will go a long way toward employee retention.
All employees need to know their value to an organization— whether it’s a staff of three or 300. Many employers forget this important component of employee relations. To retain good employees, businesses must recognize and motivate them, and sometimes a verbal compliment isn’t enough. A solid performance-management system can help bolster retention by providing employees with incentives toward achieving established goals. The resulting boost in morale also can help alleviate the challenges that come when an employee leaves for another opportunity.
Some companies find that turning to an outside resource, such as a business advisor, can help avoid costly blunders. By entering into a relationship with a company that will help optimize its workforce, a business gains access to professionals experienced in HR practices, regulatory compliance, and business performance… so why not? These companies also can provide relief and expert insight in administrative areas, such as recruiting and selection, payroll management, benefits management, training and development, organizational planning, and more. Keep in mind, with the help a business advisor, small companies don’t have to keep making costly mistakes and instead can turn these challenges into successes.
Employees are the lifeblood of an organization. Careful consideration should be given before selecting just anyone who walks through the door.
TEXT BY MARGARET HINTZ Margaret Hintz is a manager of HR services in Atlanta for Insperity (NYSE: NSP), a trusted advisor to America’s best businesses for more than 25 years. Insperity provides an array of human resources and business solutions designed to help improve business performance. With 2011 revenues of $2 billion, Insperity operates in 56 offices throughout the United States.
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SALES & MARKETING
Debra Jaliman
VIRAL MARKETING À LA SKINCARE
IN THIS INDUSTRY WHERE BOTOX IS KING, DEBRA JALIMAN MD, AUTHOR OF SKIN RULES: TRADE SECRETS FROM A TOP NEW YORK DERMATOLOGIST HAS SOARED AMONGST HER COMPETITION BY PROVIDING THE BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO HIT THE STREETS OF COMPETITIVE LANE. IS IT HER SLOGAN, CREATIVE MARKETING TEAM OR PUBLIC RELATIONS? ACTUALLY…IT IS HER GOOD OLD-FASHIONED “CUSTOMIZED CARE MEANS BETTER RESULTS,” APPROACH THAT HAS GRANTED HER SUCCESS, YEAR AFTER YEAR. 18 /
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You may have seen her appearing as a leading skincare expert for many TV shows, including spots on 20/20, BBC News, CBS News, CNN, Dateline, FOX News, Discovery Channel, Lifetime, NBC News, Oxygen or Primetime. World-renowned dermatologist with a private practice on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, Dr. Debra Jaliman is internationally recognized for her research and work in clinical and cosmetic dermatology. At the forefront of the latest skincare news, clinical updates, and emerging trends, there is no wonder her “one size does not fit all,” philosophy has granted I feel you can network her the anywhere you are. reputation for being a perfectionist when it comes to personalized patient care, skin screenings, and treatment. Dr. Jaliman’s high-profile clients rely on her to keep their skin healthy and looking flawless and now, she steps into the role of an author and distills the best and most important advice she regularly gives to actors, models, and newscasters in Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist. Down to seventy-seven simple rules that will help anyone navigate the beauty aisles in stores, and ask the right questions with their own dermatologist, Dr. Jaliman lays out clear, easy-to-understand information on the latest technologies, as well as advice on what products are worth spending money on (moisturizers, sunscreens and anti-aging products), and which ones you don’t need to pay a lot for (cleansers).
Q: WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF PUBLISHING YOUR NEW BOOK, SKIN RULES, AND WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FROM THE LAUNCH? A: I have 25 years of experience with skin and there are various things I have observed and wanted to share with the general public. I really felt there was a need for this particular type of short concise book. There’s really nothing like this on the market. In this fast paced world, people want information that is easy to digest. Q: WHAT KEY POINTS DO YOU HOPE READERS TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BOOK? A: There are a lot of myths out there that I wanted to dispel. For example, people tell me they need to go out in the sun without sunscreen to ensure that they get vitamin D when they already have skin cancer. This is not true. Also, I still have patients going to tanning beds as they think they need this before going on vacation to get a base tan. Additionally, many people think they don’t think they need to wear sunscreen on a regular basis as they don’t know that sun damage is cumulative. Q: YOU MENTION SEVERAL BRANDS AND SPECIFIC PRODUCTS IN YOUR BOOK, SOME OF WHICH ARE DRUGSTORE BRANDS, ARE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU MAKE TO YOUR PATIENTS? A: To patients I recommend drugstore brands as well as my own line of skincare. Q: PLEASE DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF WRITING, AS WELL AS PUBLISHING AND WORKING WITH EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS. A: When I was a teenager I loved to write short stories so it was very exciting for me to go back to writing again. To write this book, I set aside time two days a week. I wrote the entire book first and then wrote the book proposal. I was fortunate enough to sell the book in two weeks. I realize this is an unusual story but I knew this book had to be published. It was very well received by the publishing house and they only asked me to make minor changes. Q: HAVING A HIGH-CLIENT ROSTER, DOES THIS SOMETIMES IMPEDE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN REGARDS TO YOUR BLUNT TRUTH VERSUS SUGAR-COATING TRUTH? A: I think effective communication is essential both in writing and dealing with the media or patients. I always believe in a straight forward approach. I like to put things in a positive light, including bad news. I was rather surprised when I read an article in The New York Times which shed light on the fact that many doctors don’t give their patients truthful information. Q: IF YOU HAD A $550,000 BUDGET TO SPEND IN 20 DAYS, HOW WOULD YOU SPEND IT AND WOULD YOU DIVIDE IT INTO PERSONAL VERSUS BUSINESS? A: If I had that budget I would spend it in new technologies for my practice. I’m very interested in cutting edge technologies. I would much rather spend it on my business rather than in personal expenses. Q: WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NETWORKING? PLEASE PROVIDE FIVE GOLDEN RULES AND FIVE DON’T EVER DO’S. A: I feel you can network anywhere you are. I’m a firm believer in networking through life. I have met new patients at the bank, walking my dog, and while shopping. I love what I do and am always drawn to speaking about skincare.
Networking Do’s: 1) Network with excellent people in their respective fields. 2) Always acknowledge someone if they sent you a referral or done you a favor, do it immediately with a personal note. 3) Be willing to go out of way and do someone a favor even if you don’t see an immediate benefit.
4) Always have a business card no matter where you are. 5) Write a follow-up email after you’ve met someone. Networking Don’ts: 1) Do not bad mouth a colleague if they have done something wrong. 2) Never approach another person’s client. 3) Don’t get too personal with business associates. 4) Don’t monopolize the conversation. 5) Don’t hand out business cards without being asked. Q: WHAT VALUE AND ETHICS HAVE ESTABLISHED THE REPUTATION OF YOUR NAME AND THAT OF YOUR PRIVATE PRACTICE? A: I was taught by my family very early on to always try your best at everything you do and always try to exceed expectations. In my practice we always go the distance to make this the best experience possible for our patients. I answer emails from patients at 2:00 a.m, call in prescriptions during the weekend, and have made house calls in the past. We go above and beyond in my practice. Q: WITHIN YOUR BIO, THE WORDS “CUSTOMIZED CARE LEADS TO BEST RESULTS,” ARE SHARED. WHAT MADE YOU CREATE THAT THEORY AND HOW EFFECTIVE IS CUSTOMIZATION WHEN YOU HAVE A BUSINESS TO RUN? A: I feel that a lot of practices are very cookie cutter. We have a boutique practice which means that many times we don’t have a high volume of patients but we take great care of the people we see. Q: IS THERE A FINE LINE BETWEEN CARING FOR PATIENTS AND RUNNING A BUSINESS? HOW DO YOU SEPARATE THIS? A: It is difficult to care for patients and run a business because you can’t focus on both. Sometimes we lose money as we have demanding patients who require a lot of my time. I would rather focus on patient care. Q: WHAT IS YOUR BEST FORM OF MARKETING? A: A patient referral is the best form of marketing. Q: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOCIAL MARKETING AND HOW HAS THIS AFFECTED YOUR BUSINESS AND PERSONA? A: We have Facebook and Twitter; it has helped us a little. I feel that social networking has helped me reconnect with people from my past. This can be useful for the practice because we have received new patients. Q: DO YOU BELIEVE YOU PAY WHAT YOU GET FOR AND/OR DO HIGHER PRICES EQUAL BEST QUALITY AND SERVICE? WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO ON VALUE VERSUS PRICE POINTS? A: In my industry, there are people who charge less for Botox and filler but they don’t have 25 years of experience. I was one of the first people doing Botox. A lot of these doctors specialize in other fields and I’ve spent a lot time fixing their mistakes.
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7 SEVEN
FEATURE
TOP FEMALE AUTHORS TAKE THE STAGE
Their names grace our favorite fiction books, their rocketreaching sales have exceeded the expectations of many bestselling lists, and most are acclaimed by achievement awards, and best of all, their families. Let’s raise our champagne flutes for our
Top 7 Female Authors. 20 /
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Katherine Paterson
OF OUR LIVES NNOR • WORDY WOMEN BARRON • LESLIE CO Z UE IG DR RO A DR SAN N • MEG CABOT • YEN MAH • CANDACE BUSHNELL E KATHERINE PATERSO IN EL AD NICOLA BARKER •
Katherine Paterson was born in China, where she spent part of her childhood. After her education in China and the American South, she spent four years in Japan, the setting for her first three novels. Paterson has received numerous awards for her writing, including National Book Awards for The Master Puppeteer and The Great Gilly Hopkins, as well as Newbery Medals for Jacob Have I Loved, and Bridge to Terabithia. Paterson lives with her husband in Vermont, and they have four grown children.
“I was one of those fortunate children who was always read to. We lived in China and thus the only English books we had access to were in our family library. Many of them were English—all the A.A. Milne books, Beatrix Potter, Kenneth Graham, Robert Louis Stevenson. We read Bible stories a lot, of course, and the Bible itself. I loved, as I got a little older, The Secret Garden, books by Robert Lawson, such as Ben and Me; and Hitty by Rachel Field. When I was eleven my mother gave me a copy of The Yearling. All of these books have remained dear to me through the years.” Photo Credits (headshots left page - upper left to lower right) KATHERINE PATERSON: Samantha Loomis | CANDACE BUSHNELL: Marion Ettlinger | LESLIE CONNOR: Scott O. Petrequin | MEG CABOT: Ali Smith | NICOLA BARKER: Eamonn McCabe | SANDRA RODRIGUEZ BARRON: Erin Bell | ADELINE YEN MAH: Dr. Earl Feiwell
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Nicola Barker
CONTINUE
Nicola Barker is one of Britain’s most original and exciting literary talents. She is the author of two short-story collections: Love Your Enemies [winner of the David Higham Prize and the Macmillan Silver Pen Award] and Heading Inland [winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize]. Her previous novels are Reversed Forecast, Small Holdings, Wide Open Behindlings and Clear, the last of which was long-listed for the 2005 Booker Prize. Her work is translated into twenty languages, and in 2000, she won the IMPAC Award for Wide Open. In 2003, Nicola Barker was named a Granta Best of British Novelist.
Leslie Connor
FEATURE
Leslie Connor has her own memories of the energy crunch of the seventies, and she got to thinking: What comes after the long lines at the pumps? What if the earth’s supply of gasoline were to finally run out? She tried to imagine what it would look like: “I saw bicycles. And I saw them taking to the highways. I also saw a changing value of goods and services. Then Dewey showed up on my shoulder to tell the story of these kids home alone, trying to keep up with operating a busy bike-repair shop and coping with the unfamiliar condition of suddenly having something everybody else wants.” Connor is the author of many award-winning books for children, including Waiting for Normal, winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award, Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel, and Dead on Town Line, a young-adult novel in verse.
“[When I wrote in a male perspective], it just happened. I’ve written three novels in the first person now, two of those narrators are male and one is female. The reasons why you end up choosing a particular sex to narrate for you are often quite mundane and plot based. In the case of Clear I felt like the people who seemed to hate (and feel most threatened by) my characters were male, so it made sense to approach the issue from that perspective.”
“I love releasing my imagination onto the page and creating images with words. If there is anything I don’t like about my job, it’s got to be trying to tell someone “what my book is about.” I always get quiet when somebody asks that question.” strategymagazine.com
Meg Cabot Meg Cabot is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of books for both adults and tweens/teens. Born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, Cabot also lived in Grenoble, France, and Carmel, California (the setting for her bestselling Mediator series) before moving to New York City after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Indiana University. After working for ten years as an assistant residence hall director at New York University (an experience from which she occasionally draws inspiration for her Heather Wells mystery series—two new books in the series will be out in 2012 and 2013), Cabot wrote the Princess Diaries series, which was made into two hit movies by Disney, sold more than 16 million copies, and has been translated into 38 languages. Cabot also wrote the 1-800-Where-R-You? series (which has been reprinted under the title Vanished and was made into the Lifetime series called Missing), as well as numerous other award-winning, bestselling stand-alone books and series, including All-American Girl and Avalon High (on which an original Disney Channel movie was based), and several books told entirely in emails and text messages (Boy Next Door / Boy Meets Girl / Every Boy’s Got One). Cabot’s newest series include the tween hit Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls, the YA trilogy Airhead, and Abandon, the first book in a new paranormal series for young adult readers (the sequel, Underworld, will be in US stores in spring 2012). Insatiable, Cabot’s first paranormal romance for adult readers, was followed by a sequel, Overbite, in July 2011. Meg Cabot (her last name rhymes with habit, as in “her books can be habit forming”) currently lives in Key West with her husband and two cats.
“My advice to young writers is: Write the kinds of stories you like to read. If you don’t love what you’re writing, no one else will, either. Don’t tell people you want to be a writer. Everyone will try to talk of you out of choosing a job with so little security, so it is better just to keep it to yourself, and prove them all wrong later. You are not a hundred dollar bill. Not everyone is going to like you...or your story. Do not take rejection personally. If you are blocked on a story, there is probably something wrong with it. Take a few days off and put the story on a back burner for a while. Eventually, it will come to you. Read—and write—all the time. Never stop sending out your stuff. Don’t wait for a response after sending a story out... start a new story right away, and then send that one out! If you are constantly writing and sending stuff out (don’t forget to live your life, too, while you are doing this) eventually somebody will bite!”
Sandra Rodriguez Barron Sandra Rodriguez Barron is the author of The Heiress of Water, winner of the International Latino Book Award for debut fiction. The recipient of a Bread Loaf Fellowship and a National Association of Latino Arts and Culture Grant, she was born in Puerto Rico, lived in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador, and now lives with her family in Connecticut.
“A novel allows you to get to know characters in the most intimate way, to hear their private thoughts, to witness their joys, fears, shames. Unless you’re eavesdropping, reading a novel is the only time you get to know what other people talk about behind closed doors. It provides a way to view another mind, and therefore, another world.” Adeline Yen Mah is the author of Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter, an ALA Best Book for Young Readers and a Publishers Weekly Best Book. Her other books include the New York Times best-seller Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter; A Thousand Pieces of Gold: A Memoir of China’s Past Through Its Proverbs; and Watching the Tree: A Chinese Daughter Reflects on Happiness, Traditions, and Spiritual Wisdom. Millions of readers worldwide celebrate the way Yen Mah conveys the power of the human spirit in her writings. Yen Mah was born in Tianjin, China. When she won a writing competition at the age of fourteen, she convinced her father to send her to school in England, where she later received a medical degree. Following the success of falling leaves, she has pursued her lifelong dream of being a fulltime writer.
“I started writing when I was seven years old. When I wrote, I forgot that I was an unwanted daughter who had caused her mother’s death. Instead, I could be anybody I wished to be. It thrilled me to be able to escape the horrors of my home life in such a simple way. I used to dream of running away from home and finding a great kung fu teacher like Grandma Wu. Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society is very similar to the stories I wrote as a child. My classmates used to fight over my manuscript and gather around me at recess to discuss the characters in my ‘books’.”
Candace Bushnell
Adeline Yen Mah
Candace Bushnell is the critically acclaimed, international bestselling author of Sex and the City, The Carrie Diaries, One Fifth Avenue, Lipstick Jungle, Trading Up, Four Blondes, and the upcoming Summer and the City —the coming-of-age story of one her most famous creations, Carrie Bradshaw. Sex and the City, published in 1996, was the basis for the HBO hit series and two subsequent blockbuster movies. Lipstick Jungle became a popular television series on NBC. From Sex and the City through six successive novels, Bushnell has revealed a gift for tapping into the zeitgeist of any New York minute. With each book, she has deepened her range, but with a light touch that makes her complex literary accomplishments look easy. The Guardian sums up Bushnell’s work this way: “She caustically addresses the conditions of materialism, cramped urban life, and metropolitan speed, where fame and wealth are all around, but never in one’s grasp.…Bushnell is courageous in bringing this to the fore, and she is blessed with an Austen-like mastery in doing so. She cuts through the lies that women tell themselves about the surface equality of Western society. As such, she has much more in common with Edith Wharton, Dorothy Parker and early Bret Easton Ellis.” Bushnell grew up in Glastonbury, Connecticut, and moved to New York City at age 19. She attended Rice University and New York University, and began her professional career at 19 when she wrote a children’s book for Simon & Schuster. Throughout her 20s, Bushnell developed her trademark style as a freelancer, writing darkly humorous pieces about women, relationships and dating for Mademoiselle, Self, and Esquire. In 1990, she wrote a column that would become a precursor for Sex and the City called “The Human Cartoon,” a fictional serial published in Hamptons magazine. She began writing for the New York Observer in 1993; in November of 1994, she created the column “Sex and the City,” which ran in the New York Observer for two years. The column was bought as a book in 1995, and sold to HBO as a series in 1996. Bushnell hosted a radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio called “Sex, Success, and Sensibility,” which aired from October 2006 to October 2008. She also wrote and created a web seriesin 2009 called The Broadroom which starred Jennie Garth. Candace Bushnell has currently finished her work on The Two Mrs. Stones, which will be in bookstores in April 2012. Through her books and television series, Bushnell’s work has influenced and defined two generations of women. She is the winner of the 2006 Matrix Award for books (other winners include Joan Didion and Amy Tan), and a recipient of the Albert Einstein Spirit of Achievement Award. In 2002, she married NYC Ballet Principal Dancer Charles Askegard.
“In terms of the time period, I’m 52 years old. Obviously, I was around in 1980. I drew a lot from real life experiences of myself and people I knew. You don’t draw directly, though. You take that inspiration and in the process of writing and you come up with something that is new that has its own energy and its own truth. A lot of Carrie’s clothes, I realized, those were my own clothes, and that’s the one thing that I did take directly from my own life and I had the scrubs [she wears in the book].” strategymagazine.com
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FEATURE
In the Business of Helping Others
THE LEGACY OF ASTUTE BUSINESSWOMAN, EVELYN H. LAUDER, LIVES IN THE HEARTS OF MANY. AS THE FOUNDER OF THE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION, LAUDER LITERALLY PLACED BREAST CANCER AWARENESS AND EARLY DETECTION ON THE MAP. NOT ONLY A PHILANTHROPIST, BUT MOST OF ALL, A GUIDING SPIRIT—AS MANY NAMED CELEBRITIES REMEMBER, “HER HEAD WAS CLEARLY IN THE BUSINESS, BUT HER HEART WAS IN HELPING OTHERS.” SHE REINVENTED THE SPHERE OF FUND-RAISING, AS WELL AS PATIENT CARE AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. SHE SURELY ENDURED COMPREHENSIVENESS AS THE WORK OF A TRUE VISIONARY. IN OUR NOT SO TYPICAL BEAUTY ISSUE, WE HONOR LAUDER’S BUSINESS OF HELPING OTHERS, RECOUNT NOTABLE STEPS WITH ELIZABETH HURLEY, ESTÉE LAUDER AND THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES’ BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN SPOKESMODEL, AND SERVE TO KEEP LAUDER’S GIFTED MESSAGE ALIVE, DESPITE THE MONTH ON THE CALENDAR. 24 /
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Evelyn H. Lauder and Elizabeth Hurley at The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s Hot Pink Party in 2011.
he Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products. The Company’s products are sold in over 150 countries and territories under the following brand names: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, M•A•C, Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, Kiton, La Mer, Donna Karan, Aveda, Jo Malone, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Michael Kors, American Beauty, Flirt!, GoodSkin Labs, Grassroots Research Labs, Sean John, Missoni, Daisy Fuentes, Tom Ford, Coach, Ojon, and Smashbox.
One of the most recognized elements of The Estée Lauder Companies is not a brand itself; instead, their much acclaimed Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Campaign, which has made worldwide headlines for the past 20 years. Since its inception, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) has raised over $315 million —approximately $36 million in fiscal year 2011 alone.
The BCA Campaign and BCRF may seem as though they are one and the same. However, BCA Campaign and The BCRF are two separate entities. The common thread, of course, is Evelyn H. Lauder (19362011), who was the Senior Corporate Vice President of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and the Founder and Chairman of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. BCRF is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) orga-
brand training programs. When the Company began creative work on what would become Clinique in 1968, Lauder created the name Clinique. In 1989, she assumed the role of Senior Corporate Vice President and Head of Fragrance Development Worldwide. Her personal experience with early stage breast cancer in 1987 led her, in 1992, to co-create with Alexandra Penney, then Editor-in-Chief of SELF Magazine, the Pink Ribbon, which today has become the ubiquitous symbol for breast health. The mission of The BCA Campaign is to spread awareness about the importance of breast health and the message that early detection saves lives, as well as to raise funds to directly benefit breast cancer research. During the month of October (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month), many of the Company’s brands sell Pink Ribbon products to raise awareness and raise funds to support BCRF, and distribute Pink Ribbons and other materials at counters. Every year, Evelyn Lauder and Elizabeth Hurley, Spokesperson for Estée Lauder and The BCA Campaign, traveled around the world raising awareness and funds for research at personal appearance events. The Company also hosts bake sales, golf tournaments, and other special employee-driven fundraising events. An additional element of The Estée Lauder
around the world raising awareness for breast health and funds for breast cancer research. We visited many U.S. cities, as well as the U.K., Australia, France, Holland, India, Italy, Scotland and South Africa, reaching many millions of people each year with our awareness message. We spent time at numerous retailers, meeting as many people as possible and telling them that in women, whose breast cancer is diagnosed at an early stage and is localized, 90 percent survive more than five years. The BCA Campaign gives away millions of Pink Ribbons each year as a reminder about the importance of breast health. By the end of October 2011, The Estée Lauder Companies gave away close to 115 million Pink Ribbons worldwide. We also sell our Pink Ribbon products, which are all wonderful products, and the best part is that they benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation to help find a cure. Q:WHEN AND WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN? Just after I started as an Estée Lauder model 16 years ago, Evelyn Lauder asked me to help her with The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. My grandmother had recently died of breast cancer, so it was a cause very close to my heart. This is a disease that knows no boundaries and does not discriminate,
Despite her wealth and prestige, Lauder remained down-to-earth and approachable, serving as a mentor for many within the company.” nization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research. The Estée Lauder Companies’ BCA Campaign is a corporate campaign committed to raising awareness for breast health and raising funds for research supported by BCRF. And, the Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is BCRF’s largest corporate donor. In November 12, 2011, surrounded by her family in New York City, BCA and BCRF founder Evelyn H. Lauder passed away due to complications of ovarian cancer. She was an articulate, outspoken dynamo. An astute businesswoman, skilled sportswoman and talented photographer, she was also an ardent activist and philanthropist, and a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. After her death, Women’s Wear Daily published, “Despite her wealth and prestige, Lauder remained down-to-earth and approachable, serving as a mentor for many within the company. She recalled that her mother-in-law had done the same for her, passing on valuable business advice while they worked together. “The most important lesson I learned was to do whatever you need to do yesterday,” she recalled in 2002. “Having been in academic, that was not my speed. But it became my speed—quickly.” Lauder also refused to rest on her laurels. “You always have to be dissatisfied. If you are completely happy, you’re complacent, and that’s not good.”” Born in Vienna, Austria, her parents rescued her when they fled the Nazi annexation, first by living in Belgium for 3 months and then in England during the Blitz. When the ship bringing them to the United States arrived in New York Harbor, Lauder’s mother woke Evelyn to see the Statue of Liberty, so she would remember the sight for the rest of her life. Evelyn Lauder’s remarkable life is an American success story. Evelyn Lauder attended New York City public schools. As a college freshman, she was introduced to Leonard A. Lauder, the son of Estée and Joseph Lauder, owners of a then little-known cosmetics startup company. Following her attendance at Hunter College in New York City, Lauder taught public school. In 1959, shortly after her marriage to Leonard Lauder, now Chairman Emeritus of the Estée Lauder Companies, Evelyn Lauder was persuaded to join the family business by her mother-in-law, Mrs. Estée Lauder. Her teaching background was an excellent springboard for one of her earliest projects, the creation of the Company’s
Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign is the highly successful Global Landmark Illuminations Initiative, where major landmarks are bathed in pink light to serve as symbols of hope and awareness. Since the initiative began in 2000, more than 600 unique buildings, monuments, and landmarks around the world have been illuminated, inspiring, and motivating people year after year to get a mammogram or seek information about breast health. Today, Elizabeth Hurley is in her 18th year of representing Estée Lauder as a spokesmodel, making it one of the world’s longest running beauty contracts. Before becoming a mom, Hurley made more than two dozen movies. Her personal favorites are Austin Powers with Mike Myers, Bedazzled with Brendan Fraser, and The Weight of Water with Sean Penn. She also produced several movies starring her former boyfriend, Hugh Grant - Extreme Measures and Mickey Blue Eyes, under their jointly owned Simian Films production company. Hurley toured the United States and other parts of the world with Evelyn Lauder, raising funds and awareness for BCRF. She has illuminated many worldwide Landmark buildings pink and was honored in October 2009 by the Foundation and was awarded the Humanitarian Award for her fund raising efforts. Two research scientists at the Royal Marsden hospital in the UK have grants in her name. Estée Lauder has named several special limited-edition pink lipsticks after her, Elizabeth Pink and Elizabeth Shimmer Pink. Interestingly enough, she owns a 400-acre organic farm in Gloucestershire and sells her rare breed meat to top London restaurants and local Farmer’s Markets. She launched her range of low calorie, organic snack bars in Harrods, London, in November 2009 and they are now sold in numerous health stores and resorts. Q&A WITH ELIZABETH HURLEY, ESTÉE LAUDER AND THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES’ BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN SPOKESMODEL Q: WHAT IS YOUR ROLE WITH THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES’ BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN? Each October, I joined Evelyn Lauder and travel
touching everyone in every country. We all know someone—a grandmother, friend, mother, aunt, sister, cousin or co-worker—who has battled cancer. Now more than ever, it is important to join together to get the message out: to tell everyone we know to see their doctors regularly and get a mammogram every year if over the age of 40 because in women, whose breast cancer is diagnosed at an early stage and is localized, 90 percent survive more than five years. Survival rates are rising and each year we get closer and closer to finding a cure for this disease. Evelyn and I traveled to many countries, meeting wonderful people, handing out Pink Ribbons, selling Pink Ribbon products, and bathing gorgeous landmarks in pink lights to raise awareness for breast health. It’s extremely rewarding to work on this campaign and I know that my grandmother would be very proud to see that the information available today about breast health is much more prevalent than ever. Q: WHAT MADE LAST YEAR’S CAMPAIGN DIFFERENT FROM PAST YEARS? Two years ago, The BCA Campaign took their “Connect. Communicate. Conquer.” theme to the next level by emphasizing strength in numbers and the collective power of working together toward a common goal. Last year’s theme, “TOGETHER. Connect. Communicate. Conquer. For A Future Free of Breast Cancer.” implored everyone across the globe to join Together to Connect and Communicate with everyone they know—men and women—about the importance of breast health and early detection in order to Conquer this disease once and for all. We cannot underestimate that knowledge is power and we must continue to make a difference by spreading this message. Q: DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PRODUCT THAT IS SOLD DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER TO BENEFIT BCRF? All of the Pink Ribbon products are really special, but if I had to choose my favorite, it would be the Estée Lauder’s Elizabeth Hurley Pink Ribbon Collection. It features a Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Lavish Pink, along with a beautiful accessory bag. It looks and feels so incredible and leaves your lips wanting more. I wear it all the time and the best part is that a percentage of the suggested retail price goes to The Breast Cancer strategymagazine.com
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FEATURE
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Research Foundation. Another fabulous product is Estée Lauder’s newly designed Jeweled Pink Ribbon Pin. Since we know that breast cancer doesn’t only affect women, a blue stone was added to our pin last year to represent the approximately 1 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States that are diagnosed in men. Q: MAKES YOU PROUD OF BEING A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES’ BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN? It’s very moving for us when we visit different cities around the world and meet so many people who have been affected by breast cancer in one way or another. Often it will be women who have breast cancer, or have had breast cancer, or have family members who have either survived breast cancer or sadly have not survived breast cancer. Sometimes men are also in line, and when this happens, there is a very good chance that their mother, wife, girlfriend or even they themselves have been stricken by the disease. It is very powerful to meet these people and see firsthand their inner strength. It makes us realize over and over again that our goal for reaching as many people with our awareness message and raising as much money as possible to find a cure is helping, and at some point this will be a thing of the past.
According to the World Health Organization, in 2008 breast cancer was cited as one of the top five causes for cancer related deaths worldwide. Q: WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH EVELYN LAUDER? After working with Evelyn Lauder for over sixteen years, I was amazed at her unparalleled drive and devotion to this cause. She was extremely passionate about everything she dis—from her family, photography, philanthropy, raising awareness for breast cancer awareness, and more. Above all, her kindness and sincerity were the traits that inspired me to be a better woman. In 1992, Evelyn co-created the Pink Ribbon with SELF Magazine, and year after year, we traveled the world giving away Pink Ribbons and promoting breast health awareness. No matter where we are, Evelyn seemed to know all of the Estée Lauder Companies’ employees and loved talking to each of them! This kind of warmth is an indication of the kind of person she was and I am honored to have had the opportunity of working so closely with her. She was truly tireless and fearless in her fight to eradicate this disease. Q: WHAT IS YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION? Every spring, there is an annual Gala in New York City for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a notfor-profit organization that Evelyn founded in 1993 to fund innovative clinical and translational research. At the Gala, I serve as Mistress of Ceremonies, and Sir Elton John is always involved with the event. The theme of last year’s Hot Pink Party was “Tickled Pink” and featured a special concert performance by Sir Elton John and Sting, celebrating their incredible support of BCRF. It was a beautiful evening that raised significant funds for BCRF. I was incredibly honored and humbled to receive BCRF’s Humanitarian Award, two years ago. BCRF is an organization that is truly making a difference through the strong commitment of their 185 dedicated researchers around the world who are determined to find a cure for this disease in the not too distant future. 26 /
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(top) La Moneda Government House, Chile (left) Tokyo Tower, Japan (right) Rockefeller Center, USA (bottom) Niagara Falls, Canada
Q: WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GLOBAL LANDMARK ILLUMINATIONS INITIATIVE THAT THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES DOES EACH YEAR? In October 2010, to commemorate the 11th Anniversary of The BCA Campaign’s Global Landmark Illuminations Initiative, the Company set a first-time Guinness World Record entitled “Most Landmarks Illuminated for a Cause in 24 Hours.” We illuminated 38 historic landmarks in a 24-hour time period. Since 2000, we have lit over 600 unique landmarks, including: the Tower of London, John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower, and Los Angeles International Airport; the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel in India; the Concert Hall in Amsterdam; and the Tokyo Tower in Japan, among many others. My favorite illumination has been the Empire State Building, as this historic landmark was the first New York City landmark that I illuminated in 2000, and it was so exciting to return last year to set the Guinness World Record. Our main goal in this initiative is to inspire and remind women all over the world with the flip of a switch to have their breasts checked regularly and to get a mammogram every year if over the age of 40. It’s wonderful to see that an idea that started with a handful of illuminations in 2000 has now grown to approximately 200 illuminations around the world each year.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS; THE FACTS
Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women, excluding skin cancer. Worldwide 1 approximately 1.3 million cases of breast cancer will be detected each year. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is a little less than 1 in 8. ¹2 According to the World Health Organization, in 2008 breast cancer was cited as one of the top five causes for cancer related deaths worldwide. The organization estimated that out of approximately 7.6 million deaths, 460,000 were caused by breast cancer.3 In 2010, the American Cancer Society estimated that 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer (Stages I-IV) were diagnosed among women in the United States, with 39,840 deaths. ² 4 Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should keep on doing so for as long as they are in good health. While mammograms can miss some cancers, they are still a very effective way to find breast cancer. ³ Women should begin breast self-exams in their 20’s. 6 Approximately 5 percent to 10 percent 5 of breast cancers can be attributed to genetic predisposition: 20 percent to 30 percent of women with breast cancer have a family member with the disease. 7 Overall breast cancer incidence rates are lower in African-American women than in Caucasian women. However, African-American women are more likely to die from breast cancer. 8 As of 2010 there are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. 9 Being a woman is the main risk for breast cancer, while approximately 1 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States are diagnosed in men.10 Breast 4
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Cancer is about 100 times more common in women than in men. For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000. 8
*1, 2-8 American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), Facts/Figures: 2009/2010 For more information about BCRF, visit bcrfcure.org. You can follow Elizabeth Hurley on Twitter @Elizabethhurley.
Q: WHY IS SOCIAL MEDIA SUCH AN IMPORTANT MEDIUM IN THIS DAY AND AGE? Social media is a very powerful tool for sharing information. I use my Twitter account to connect with my fans on a personal level and to talk about issues that are important to me such as breast cancer health and how each of us can make a difference. I enjoy having the ability to connect with millions of people instantly. strategymagazine.com
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FEATURE
HOW A WORKING VISA TURNED INTO ANOTHER WORKING VISA, WHICH LATER TURNED INTO A LIFE OF FREEDOM TO WORK IN, AND REAP FROM WHAT IS LOVED. FAMED JEWELRY DESIGNER SPEAKS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS ETHICS AND FAITH.
Astrid Poletti for All
She always wanted to be an entrepreneur; in fact, she comes from a family of entrepreneurs, and when the opportunity presented itself, she grabbed onto it. Astrid Poletti believes in dreams and true passion. “For those who have a hobby, but cannot leave their full-time job, yet, should research and know their niche market,” says Poletti with a smile. She pleads for entrepreneurs to think big, look at all the details: branding and quality. “And, invest little by little, so when the opportunity comes along, you have a strong base to jumpstart a new business and a whole new life,” she adds. This is easy to see at, Astrid Poletti, the brand, where they believe in superior craftsmanship and provide innovative design with a timeless sophistication. Their materials are chosen from the most exotic countries around the world leading to collectible pieces that can be enjoyed forever. Poletti’s designs are dedicated to those who distinguish themselves through personal style and exude a transmittable vibrant energy. Each piece has a spirit of absolute freedom which results in infinite beauty and innovation. Due to the natural variations of gemstones and beads, each piece of our handmade jewelry is unique. Q. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF YOUR DAY TO DAY BUSINESS AND WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS’ VISION? My company specializes in creating and innovating accessories with a theory and philosophy of positive
attended college after work, for almost eight years, but still with a working visa. As the last option in our conversation I mention my hobby of creating jewelry. The lawyer asked me to bring him my designs, my jewelry, packaging, publications, and everything I had to represent my work so he could evaluate my possibilities. It was 2007, a very difficult year especially in private banking, and very hard to find a visa sponsor in the banking industry. A few days after, I returned to my lawyer’s office and presented my website, products, etc., and to my surprise he absolutely loved my work and said, “You have a case.” After five months from submitting my application, I received another working visa, where I worked the last months of that year in the bank until I got laid off. Right then, I decided, to go home to my parents in Paraguay and evaluate my life. The following month I received my Green Card; that was enough to get me started on my dream. I felt God saying: Go ahead; do what you love freely and in legal terms. And so I did… My parents were skeptical and asked me a few times if was truly set on leaving my profession as a private banker. I assured them on my plan, explained my market research, competition, and niche. I felt secure of my vision and did not doubt my future success. I would have to say it hasn’t been easy, taking into account that 2008 was the worst economic time to start a business, but I never allowed that
...I would also consider myself a creative business professional because art needs to be structured and organized to become a business... values, behind each piece. Our mission is to establish a brand worldwide recognized by the quality and innovation of its products. Q. ARE YOU AN ARTIST OR CREATIVE BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL? I would consider myself a mix, because I love art, as history, architecture, music, just about anything that I could find beauty in it, and inspires me to create, and as an artist not working to get rewarded by my art, it is a driving force, that I need to deliver to express myself. On the other hand, I would also consider myself a creative business professional because art needs to be structured and organized to become a business, innovating is the key to be recognized and to find the uniqueness needed to survive in the competitive world that we live in. Q. HOW DIFFICULT WAS YOUR JOURNEY ON GETTING YOUR BUSINESS STARTED? My background is in private banking. The bank where I was working promoted me to go and work for them in Geneva, but I did not want to move to Geneva at that moment in my life. I declined the offer and they said they weren’t going to renew my working visa in Miami. I found myself visiting a lawyer and talked about my possibilities; under a working visa, I had 11 years living in Miami. I
to stop me. I concentrated on creating a beautiful product that resembled diamond jewelry, yet under tenth of its price. It has been the hardest, but best ride of my life. Q. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE THE RISK OF BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR OPPOSED TO GIVING IN TO THE 9-5 DAILY GRIND? I live my life to the fullest; I love challenges. In fact, challenges are my driving force—I think it is the way to keep learning and growing as a human being, therefore, I look for them and embrace them. Since I found what I love to do, I work 24/7 and I don’t feel I am working. I believe that is the secret: to love what you do is the key and do not fear to take risks and follow your passion, as opposed to have the “security” and work for someone else. Nobody is irreplaceable at a company. Q. WHERE CAN WE SEE YOUR WORK? At astridpoletti.com, Metta boutique in Key Biscayne, Kite Shop, and other boutiques in Miami. Q. WHAT IS YOUR DRIVING FORCE IN LIFE? Challenges, to look for them every day and surprise myself! My emphasis is to keep learning and to leave a LEGACY. I enjoy keeping my eyes open, strategymagazine.com
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admiring details in the most simple things and never thinking that creativity has a limit. Keeping my inner child alive is also key. Q. HOW MANY HOURS A WEEK DO YOU WORK AND HOW DO YOU DIVIDE YOUR TIME? I work usually approximately 80 hours per week (or more). In the mornings, I dedicate myself to the marketing side, and in the afternoons, production time. The order of priorities would change if I have an important event where I need to deliver a larger production, or if I have a specific project where I dedicate the majority of my time until I finish it.
Q. IN BUSINESS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY? Hire the best people in each area for my business, that is the way I want to grow my company—I am in the process… Q. WHAT WOULD YOU NEVER WISH TO CHANGE? My faith to know that I can do good and inspire others. Q. WHEN YOU WIN AN AWARD WHO WOULD YOU THANK AND WHY? GOD. I feel very blessed for absolutely everything He gives me. Each day is a new opportunity that is
In the mornings, I dedicate myself to the marketing side, and in the afternoons, production time. Q. HOW MANY HOURS A WEEK DO YOU PLAY? AND HOW HARD DO YOU PLAY? Since my work is to create, I could be at a party and could draw a whole collection on a napkin when I least expect it, inspiration comes whenever she wants, lol! It is a blessing when I see something so clear in my head that I cannot stop sketching! As Pablo Picasso would say, “Inspiration exists, but has to find you working...” Q. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR STRESS RELIEF? Dance, read a book, surround myself with my friends so I can laugh! Watch a good movie. Q. HAS THERE BEEN A MENTOR IN YOUR LIFE? IF SO, TELL US ABOUT HIM/HER. My family; they always trusted gave me the confidence to follow my dreams Q. WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FROM OTHERS IN THIS WORLD? My uniqueness. I believe we all have our special, unique gift. I work every day to make it better and give the extra attention to details in order for my clientele to feel the special treatment and the quality control in each piece. Q. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A YOUNG CHILD WITH DREAMS AND AMBITION? “To keep hungry and stay foolish…”as Steve Jobs would say. To look and investigate what you love, to find and enjoy your hobbies, to master them—that is where and how you will find what you are really good at and one day make the difference. It will come, believe it with your heart! Q. IF YOU COULD SUM UP ALL OF YOUR EXPERIENCES IN TO ONE WORD THAT BEST DESCRIBES WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE NOW¬ WHAT WOULD THAT BE? PERSEVERANCE! 30 /
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up to us to do good, and to achieve our dreams. Q. IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD THAT BE? Paris! And many other more places because I love to travel! Q. WHERE DO YOU ENJOY SPENDING TIME? I enjoy spending time at home; with friends Q. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR BUSINESS IN 20 YEARS? Making a difference in our world, and giving back to others… TEXT BY ISIS PARDO
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FASHION
FORESHADOWING ONTO THE NEXT SEASON WITH LUXURY SCARVES WELCOMING
DESIGNERS OF WEARABLE ART: THE NORMA ISHAK COLLECTION IS TO BE WORN WITH CONFIDENCE BY WOMEN WHO EXPECT TO BE NOTICED OR TO BE DISPLAYED AS GALLERY OR WITHIN SHOWCASE PIECES. 32 /
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Hauti Collection: Super Baby Kid Mohair, Silk, Cashmere, Antique French Lace.
LIFE
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Crowns of Light Collection: Fox Fur, Crystal Neckline; With Satin Ribbon That Ties In The Back.
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his past February, there was a lot of talk at the end of New York Fashion Week about how derivative some of the New York collections were. It’s true that many of the runway shows were reminiscent of what was shown on the European runways in the recent past, which raises the question: Where was the newness? When it comes to fashion innovation, the Norma Ishak Fall/ Winter 2012 collection, with its outsized proportions and unique fabrications, was a thrill ride. In their recent photo shoot, featuring models Shaun Ross and Diandra Forrest, they were geared with crazy bleached wigs and spray painted colors on their faces. “We love using unexpected materials in our designs,” says Creative Director Valerie Mouwad. Co-founded by Valerie Mouawad, Norma Ishak is a luxury accessory line that celebrates the individual style and personality of the contemporary woman. Collecting rare and luxurious yarn from around the world is a passion that Mouawad acquired from her mother Norma Ishak. Together, the mother and daughter duo transform the yarn into unique pieces of wearable art. They present eye-catching ranges of truly unique handmade luxury knitwear made with only the finest fabrics, beads , and feathers in the world. And when you wear a Norma Ishak creation you sense a strong, confident statement from the designers. For more information, please call, 786.325.9553 or email, sales@normaishak.com for pre-order and pricing as new Fall/Winter 2012 Collection is not yet available in stores.
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Hauti Collection: Super Baby Kid Mohair, Silk, Antique French Lace.
LIFE
Crowns of Light Collection: Fox Fur, Silver Japanese Beads AppliquĂŠ, Silver Metallic Cord; Satin Ribbon That Ties In The Back.
Hauti Collection: Super Baby Kid Mohair, Silk And French Lace.
Crowns of Light Collection: Japanese Pearls And Beads Hand Stitched In Shapes Of Flowers, On French Chantilly Lace; Satin Ribbon That Ties In The Back.
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FASHION
Shining Silk Passion, for Men THE ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA SPRING SUMMER 2012 COLLECTION UNVEILED DURING THE BREAK OF THE DAWN: A BEACH SETTING COVERED BY A DAZZLING LIGHT TO SUGGEST PASSION AND LOVE. IMAGINE HIM AWAKE AND LYING ON THE SAND NEXT TO HER STILL ASLEEP; HE IS WEARING DELICATE KNITTED GARMENTS FROM ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA’S NEXT SUMMER WARDROBE. COLORS WASHED BY THE SEA AND FABRICS BLEACHED BY THE SUN, POWDERY WHITES THAT TURN PROGRESSIVELY TO SUBTLE ECRUS TO MATCH VARIOUS PALE SKY BLUES, A MAUVE THAT BECOMES PURPLE AND A GREY THAT FADES INTO A SAGE GREEN.
This
romantic, cinematographic appeal is not only to be found in original color contrasts but also in soft silhouettes revealed by fitted light suits and jacket-trousers elegant combinations. Such is the natural, nonchalant attitude that characterizes the entire collection, in which fabrics play an even more important role than ever. Above all, pure silk, a natural, classic fabric has been developed by Zegna to produce extraordinarily high performing finishes. Technological silk -Microsilka resin silk creased for suits, trench coats and safari jackets, or mixed with cotton -Silkco- smoothed and waxed for raincoats and jackets. Or again, the soft silk of knitwear and jerseys, blended with cashmere and linen, featuring prints that appear to be bleached by the sun. The collection isn’t only plentiful in color but also filled with tactile contrasts. Fabrics are shiny and matte, ironed and creased, organic and supertechnical, formal and casual. The new “jacket-set” 36 /
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is made of a jacket and a matching overcoat in the same material, worn over “sharp jogging pants” in wrinkled suede. New this season and very much wearable is the crispy perfectly proportioned unlined double-breasted blazer recalling the Spencer jacket. Double-sided lined raincoats in coated cotton alongside duster coats seem to have been just pulled out of a suitcase; to be paired with ultra-light chenille polos and Duo ties on striped silk-cotton shirts, these cover-ups are the ultimate staples for a masculine casual summer wardrobe. As if wishing to offset the fabulous utility of suiting, accessories are solid and down to earth starting with sandals and two-tone lace-ups with robust, clear natural rubber soles. Bags have clean lines and are made of leather with metal finishes. Also strong in character is the deconstructed suede version with contrasting colors. Lightweight, colorful frameless sunglasses and airy silk jacquard scarves with tiny geometrical patterns are all a part of an accessories collection that is indispensable for escaping to one’s private paradise in style. For more information, visit www.zegna.com.
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BEAUTY
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, IN K S , IR A H G STRIKIN POUT
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Keratin is in the Hair
Chic, straight, shiny hair is en vogue right now. For most, achieving this look is a taxing process that takes a toll on the strength and integrity of the hair. Adding heat, such as blow drying and flat ironing, causes hair to become dry, brittle, and eventually, unmanageable. Recently, a process known as a “Brazilian Blowout” or “Keratin Hair Treatment” became popular for achieving this look quickly and with lasting results. Unfortunately, a key ingredient in this treatment is formaldehyde. Chemicals are needed to alter the structure of your hair for an extended period of time, so with disputing evidence as to whether formaldehyde is damaging to your health, many people continue to opt-in for this quick fix to beautiful hair. But with this trend, hair care manufacturers are continuing to develop products that create sleek-looking hair sans harmful chemicals. nuNAAT, a Brazil-based manufacturer, recently launched a product called Ultra Keratin Touch. UKT is touted as “a revolutionary, new volume reducing and smoothing treatment that works with the natural textures of your hair, producing smooth, healthy results.” It is not a straightener, it is a volume reducer that gives the desired look by utilizing the power of a unique Green Keratin Formula—derived from soybean, corn and wheat—that are bio-compatible with hair fibers. The hair structure is temporarily changed (lasting up to 30 days) for smoother, straighter hair with greater results after each application. For more information, visit ultrakeratintouch.com.
Glowing Skin, Sparkling Eyes and Lush Lips
Bobbi Brown’s new Brightening Nudes Collection creates an effect that’s sheer and luminous—as if you’re naturally lit-from-within. Sheer and silky, Brightening Finishing Powder features six luminous shades that blend together and illuminate the skin for a beautifully natural, healthy finish. Formulated with Mulberry, Grape, Scutelleria, and Gentian Root Extracts, this innovative formula instantly brightens the skin with a wash of skin-tone correct color, while the soft texture perfectly sets makeup without feeling heavy or weighed down. To instantly brighten the complexion, blend all the shades together with a
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c. Face Blender or Powder Brush and apply to cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. Encased in a stunning square portable compact for easy on-the-go application.
c.
Brightening Lip Gloss has a sheer, reflective formula that wakes up the face and instantly helps create the illusion of fuller lips. Three new soft and ethereal shades leave lips looking perfectly pearlescent. Wear alone or on top of your favorite Bobbi Brown lipstick; Lilac Pearl; Pink Opal; Pink Lilac. For more information, visit bobbibrown.com.
d.
Men Upgrade Their Shave
Moisturizing After-Shave Soothing Spray by Lab Series Skincare for Men is designed to be misted onto the face and neck to help reduce the look of redness as well as leave the skin feeling replenished and hydrated. This antioxidant-rich spray soothes and calms freshly shaven skin while eliminating feelings of tightness or dryness. Continued use increases skin’s barrier strength to help prevent future irritation. For more information, visit labseries.com. PRODUCED BY MIA GUERRA
d. TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR BEAUTY REGIME, DON’T WEIGH HAIR DOWN OR PLASTER ON MAKEUP OR AFTERSHAVE; INSTEAD, BECOME ENHANCED WITH LIGHT, SMOOTH, AND SILKY PRODUCTS THAT PROMOTE YOUR ORIGINALITY.
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LIFESTYLE
Stale Air Making You Sick?
AIRPLANES RECIRCULATE CABIN AIR AND ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THE AIR IN AN AIRPLANE CABIN AT ANY ONE TIME IS RECIRCULATED. DID YOU KNOW FRESH AIR IS MIXED WITH RECIRCULATED AIR, PARTICULATES, AND MICROBES ARE FILTERED AND THE AIR QUALITY IS TYPICALLY RATHER GOOD WHEN YOU FLY? AND, THE LOW HUMIDITY OF CABIN AIR CAN BE ESPECIALLY HARD ON YOUR LUNGS… DOES ANYONE SENSE A “PROBLEM” HERE?
Our lungs, in order to optimally function, require about 40-50 percent humidity. Cabin air is often 10-20 percent and for good reason. It is believed that higher humidity would result in excessive microbial growth and infection would pervade trips. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences of such low humidity. Mucosal irritation remains a common complaint among travelers and flight attendants in aircraft cabins. Most flights that are less than three hours long do not cause much irritation to most flyers. Yet, some symptoms experienced by passengers, especially on flights lasting three hours or longer, may stem from low humidity. Luckily, there are not extensive testing procedures required to know if you have a dry throat. While airplane cabins are an easy target for questions of air quality, most of us are sentenced to spend a fair amount of time, if not almost all of our time, indoors. Office buildings, homes, and any other structure that shelters us from the elements must dance the fine line between low-humidity, low-microbe environments that dry out lungs and bronchial tracts and higherhumidity, higher-microbe environments that predispose us to infections. In practical terms, the difference between the two environments is comparable to U.S. southwestern deserts versus southern Florida. For years, doctors have suggested that aging adults with pulmonary dysfunction reside in dry locales rather than humid climates because of the consequences of infection for these individuals. So how can you make the best of indoor living without constantly fighting infection? In the last several years, dry salt inhalation has gained popularity either through spa-like recreations of salt caves or home use of handheld dry salt inhalers or pipes. Studied in conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and cystic fibrosis, salt inhalation this non-drug therapy is gaining medical acceptance. The layer of salt and water that coats airways in the lung is only about a millionth of an inch thick. When it becomes irritated, mucus also thickens here and can be difficult to clear. The only method we have to improve this layer is salt inhalation. But salt inhalation is not new or new age. Over 2000 years ago Hippocrates spoke about the anti-inflammatory effect of inhaled salt particles, administered to ameliorate respiratory symptoms. Variations of applications have developed throughout the years with the dry salt inhaler being the convenient latest iteration. Several minutes per day of use after excessive indoor air or long flights seems to be a prudent approach to the low-humidity atmospheres we find ourselves in. TEXT BY COREY SCHULER, MS, DC, CNS
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CONFERENCE CONCIERGE
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Mandarin Bar
andarin Oriental, Las Vegas’ new world-class function facilities redefine Las Vegas events, whether for a highlevel business conference or social soirée. Featuring more than 12,000 square feet of space with floor-to-ceiling windows and the most technologically advanced amenities, the hotel can accommodate gatherings as intimate as 20 guests or as grand as 400 attendees. Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service ensures that every event detail is executed beautifully.
where to:
LAS VEGAS SEEKING A FIVE STAR EXPERIENCE IN HOTEL, SPA, AND DINING, PLUS NEED AN IDEAL LOCALE FOR CONFERENCING? MANDARIN ORIENTAL FEATURES LAS VEGAS’ MOST SOPHISTICATED EVENT AND MEETING FACILITIES, AND WAS RECENTLY NAMED THE CITY’S ONLY FORBES TRIPLE FIVE STAR RESORT FOR THEIR HOTEL, SPA, AND RESTAURANT.
Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas
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(left) Executive Boardroom (top) Swimming Pool
With its ideal location at the gateway of CityCenter, the dazzling new urban resort destination, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas is a sophisticated sanctuary of modern elegance in the midst of the glittering city. The chic 47-story, non-gaming hotel and residential property offers indulgent experiences in dining, relaxation and accommodations, and is easily accessible from McCarran International Airport, a quick 10 minutes away. Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas has 392 luxurious guestrooms and suites, all with state-of-the-art, environmentally conscious technology, in addition to work desk auxiliary panels that allow business travelers to easily connect devices to audio, USB, VGA cable, and HDMI outlets. The rooms also feature cutting-edge entertainment systems, including 42” flat screen TVs and flat screens in each bathroom mirror. The hotel boasts a 27,000-square-foot Spa at Mandarin Oriental, which has 17 treatment rooms over two floors. The signature Sky Lobby, located on the 23rd floor, is home to Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, the first U.S. restaurant of the Michelin-starred chef, an intimate Tea Lounge and the energetic Mandarin Bar—all with unparalleled views of The Strip. Mandarin Oriental is Las Vegas’ only Forbes Triple Five Star Resort for the hotel, spa, and restaurant (Twist by Pierre Gagnaire) and among only four other resorts in the United States to have received this prestigious designation for 2012. Thoughtfully designed, all of the hotel’s function space is conveniently situated on the third level, with a separate entrance from the main porte cochère. Floorto-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light and dramatic views of the energetic lights of Las Vegas Boulevard. The 7,650-square-foot Oriental Ballroom can accommodate up to 400 guests and can also be divided into three private areas based on guests’ needs. The only event space in the center of Las Vegas to feature views of The Strip, the Oriental Ballroom is complemented by a 3,000-square-foot pre-function area with views of CityCenter. Additional event facilities include three private meeting rooms: the custom-designed Mandarin Boardroom, the Lotus Room and Jade Rooms, all of which seat 20 to 40 guests, to provide more intimate spaces for smaller functions. Each of Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas’ function rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including live broadcast capabilities, built-in LCD projectors and drop-down screens in the Ballroom. There is high-speed wireless and wired Internet access and broadcast-quality fiber optic cabling supported by the highest metro-Ethernet bandwidth available. Up-to-the-minute audiovisual systems and computerized temperature controls allow meeting and event planners to make simple adjustments. For easy communication, planners can program personalized messages and displays on flat-panel screens outside each function room or in each guestroom. Attendees can also view a tape of the day’s session or hear from their chairman via a secure channel in their guestroom. Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas provides a comprehensive Business Center, efficient administrative services, and translation services. “The banqueting program at the hotel is essential in placing a Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas event a substantial notch above the rest,” says Cynthia Boyett, Director of Business Development. “Individually designed menus, creative presentations, and unparalleled service combine to create a show-stopping effect. We have a dedicated event concierge on-hand to manage all details. And with so many attractions at our property, we offer the perfect venue for guests who wish to mingle before or after their event or meeting.”
Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light and dramatic views of the energetic lights of Las Vegas Boulevard.
For more information, visit mandarinoriental.com.
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(left) Twist by Pierre Gagnaire (below) Mandarin Premier Suite (bottom) Sky Lobby
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ELEVATOR PITCH HIS PITCH IS FOCUSED AND SHARP; HIS PERSONA GOES BEYOND ARTISTIC; HE IS ONE HAUTE ENTREPRENEUR. LENNY KRAVITZ CONTINUES TO MOVE OUTSIDE THE WORLD OF MUSIC ONE BEAT AT A TIME.
LENNY LEARNING MORE ABOUT
Lenny Kravitz, musician, actor, artist in its entire sense of the word, founded Kravitz Design Inc, his eponymous design firm in 2003. Focusing on residential, commercial, product conception and design, the Kravitz’s team encompasses a diverse group of creative professionals that have executed a variety of projects throughout the world. They tout a portfolio of noteworthy ventures, with a range that includes chandeliers for Swarovski Crystal Palace Collection, suites at the SLS Hotel, and the two-story penthouse recording studio at the Setai Hotel and Residences. Most recently Kravitz Design Inc. has undertaken the creative vision for the Downtown Miami 47-story bay front tower condominium project, Paramount Bay.
“Kravitz Design doesn’t have a signature style in the sense that you can look at different projects that we’ve done and it might not look like the same firm did them, which I think is one of our strengths. But there is definitely a sensibility that runs through them all that gives each project the Kravitz Design feel. I am inspired by everywhere that I 46 /
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Photos courtesy of The Hunger Games
go. My repertoire is built on my travels and experiences. I can draw inspiration from the Opera in Paris to a shack in a favela in Rio. Style is style. I’ve obviously been to Toronto many times but I will be observing it with new eyes for this project. My first priority is to understand my client and their vision. Then I create my world within that concept. It’s like producing someone else’s music. It is my job to bring out what they are looking for in a new and exciting way that they might not have realized.” Although he loves investing his time in designing spaces, he considers himself an actor for noteworthy films, and music remains his top concern. Soon Kravitz will be seen on the big screens as he plays the key role in this month’s The Hunger Games. Based on the hugely popular novel of the same name, Kravitz took the role after meeting with director Gary Ross and reading the first book of the best-selling trilogy by Suzanne Collins. “I thought it was really good storytelling,” Kravitz said to Rolling Stone. “I’m very much into stories. The character was interesting. I like Gary’s previous work. And I said, yeah, let’s go.” Music? Kravitz is still working on Negrophilia, the funk album he interrupted to record last year’s Black and White America. For more information, on his design firm, visit www.kravitzdesign.com.