As Carlotta Jacobson transitions to a new role as executive chair of the board of Cosmetic Executive Women, her passion for championing women burns as bright as it did over two decades ago when she became the organization’s president. Since then, she has transformed CEW into a leading voice championing gender equality in the beauty industry and beyond, and improved the lives of countless people with the founding of Cancer & Careers. This year, CEW will honor Jacobson with the Catalyst Award as part of its 2026 Achiever Awards program. On the eve of the program, Jacobson talked to WWD about her life, legacy and what the future holds in store.
Congratulations on receiving the Catalyst Award. What does being a catalyst mean to you?
Carlotta Jacobson: Throughout my career, I’m someone who has always looked at change. I drive everyone in my office crazy, because even as we are planning something, I always ask, what else can we do? I believe in any business, you have to change. You have a responsibility to stay elevated and relevant, which at CEW means both to our members and to the companies.
As you reflect on all of the changes that you’ve seen in the beauty industry over the last 25 years, what are some of the big inflection points?
C.J.: There has been so much change. But at the same time, women are getting almost to the top, but they’re not there. That’s what hasn’t changed. I was talking to a headhunter and asked her why she was only placing men, and she said because men are looked at as excelling at business and women are creatives. That is not true. It’s a misperception.
What will it take to change that? Is it incumbent upon women to think about their career path in a different way?
C.J.: I think it’s about mentors, and you can’t assume that a mentor should be a female. When you have a male as your mentor, and he’s in a meeting where the discussion is happening about who’s going to get a promotion or be awarded a certain project, you want someone in there who is going to be heard and who will bring up your name. Early on you need to think about who sees your potential and do things that are very visible.
The other aspect is global experience. Most companies are international, and you need more than one perspective to lead.
Jill Scalamandre and Carlotta Jacobson
John Aquino
In your career, you took a risk by changing careers — from being an editor to becoming president of CEW. What gave you the confidence to take the leap?
C.J.: Robin Burns was chair of the CEW board, and asked me to join. There were a lot of things that I didn’t know. As an editor, you do things that are instinctive. Robin had me work with Jill Granoff for a year, who was wonderful. She worked with me in the evenings to develop strategic plans, and that was one of the things that made me feel very comfortable with the transition.
At the same time, as with being an editor, a lot of it is intuition. If you talk to people and members, you understand what they want. You have to look at the companies and understand what’s going to make the organization relevant to them.
As the beauty editor at Harper’s Bazaar, I had a lot of access. When I became chairman, I decided I would use that access, because the one thing I was focused on was promoting women, and having the ability to reach people who were leaders was one of the things that helped me.
That reach has become extensive — over 1,000 people are expected at the upcoming Achiever Awards. How does that make you feel?
C.J.: It’s very emotional. I grew up in Camden, New Jersey. I did not go to college. I’m still very much in awe that I’m there, and the amount of people who are there. For me, the most emotional event is Achiever Awards. I get so nervous when I call the honorees. I’ll never forget calling Jeanette Wagner, the former vice chairman of the Estée Lauder Cos. I was nervous, because she was so formidable, and when I called her, she cried. It was a big deal for her to be recognized outside of the company. I didn’t realize how important it was to be.
How did you first get to Harper’s Bazaar? What got you into editorial?
C.J.: My first husband was a photographer, and I met him because a friend of mine was having a baby, and she asked if I [could] take her place as a stylist. When I was young, I would say yes to everything, and then I would figure it out. We got married and lived in Paris, and started a store together, Country Floors. When we divorced, I had to start all over. I was introduced to someone at Seventeen magazine, who needed an assistant. She said, “I can’t hire you — you’re too old and you have a child.” I convinced her that I would do anything. I had to start somewhere. Then I was introduced to the fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar, Carrie Donovan, who became my mentor. She hired me, and within a year, the beauty editor was let go, and she made me the beauty editor.
That was also an incredible time in beauty, with some amazing women like Estée Lauder.
C.J.: What a character! I can remember having lunch with her at Swifty’s. She always wanted to be sure they had the cheesecake that she liked, so she would order that first. The waiters were so snobby, they’d say, “Of course we have it. You can order it later.” Oh, no! She had to have it first!
We would go to the office, where she would present the new products, mostly color, because that’s what she liked. Then, when we were leaving, she would tell us to bring everything home, the cookies, the flowers.
Evelyn [Lauder] was wonderful, too. When I first went to talk to her about Cancer & Careers, she immediately said that they would support it, and she gave us $25,000. She believed in it, and was very supportive year in and year out.
Carlotta Jacobson in the CEW offices.
David Turner
An important part of your legacy will be the establishment of Cancer & Careers. How do you think about the impact of that?
C.J.: It’s the most significant thing I’ve done, and it really came from talking to people. It was the women who had cancer, and had no place to go. A lot of people were afraid they would not have a job if their illness became known.
As you look at this year’s class of Achievers, how does it feel to be part of them?
C.J.: It’s really an unbelievable group. I keep thinking about how I got here and how we grew this membership. It’s very overwhelming. I have a lot to look back on and forward to.
