Hello! My name is KatieLee Swanson, and yes it is a double name. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been in love with makeup. I remember vividly sitting in on my mom’s Mary Kay selling events and even getting in trouble for playing in her “good” makeup. I was enamored at all the beautiful colors, how makeup never applied the same for two people, and the community these women were building through sharing and speaking on cosmetics, skincare and haircare. I loved the feeling makeup brought to me and I want to find my own community to share that feeling with.

Throughout my career as a student, I find I am most drawn to consumer experience and insights. I love being able to connect and foster relationships with consumers to genuinely understand what they are thinking and most importantly, how they feel. I feel taking those insights and market research and giving consumers what they want, not what I think they need, is crucial to being successful in the beauty industry, to be able to meet consumers where they are at.

This leads me to community. My aspirations for my career in this industry is to finally break down the “invisible curtain” between brands and consumers. I want to create a community where we are face to face with our consumers, where we build each other up and support each other physically, mentally, and emotionally. The beauty industry is the most personal industry to ever exist, it touches everyone no matter our gender, race, age, ethnicity - we can all connect through personal care. And that there, that is where real change for the better can happen, and it would be beneficial for us all.