Breaking boundaries in beauty with Former Liberty Head of Beauty Buying Rhea Cartwright (Part 1)

In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Rhea Cartwright, a
trailblazer in the beauty industry whose career spans everything
from sales and training roles on the shop floor to becoming the
first—and only—Black Head of Beauty Buying in the UK at Liberty.
Rhea’s career is as diverse as it is impressive. She began
working in beauty during her university days, gaining invaluable
experience on the shop floor before moving into roles at luxury
brands like Oskia and Chantecaille. Later, she became Head of
Operations at a facial clinic, qualified as a facialist, and
worked as a consultant, helping US beauty brands establish
themselves in the UK market.


Her work in new product development and marketing strategy has
further solidified her position as one of the most
forward-thinking voices in beauty. During the pandemic, Rhea
pivoted into beauty journalism, contributing to Vogue, Marie
Claire, Refinery29, The Zoe Report, and becoming Beauty Editor at
The Stack World. It was during this time that Rhea championed my
writing, including a now highly relevant piece on how to smell
expensive—a trend that has since taken the fragrance world by
storm.


In the first of this two-part conversation, we explore Rhea’s
groundbreaking career and discuss the power of building a
personal brand and how it can transform your career trajectory.
Rhea shares her perspective on what it means to be disruptive in
an industry that desperately needs change and how her time as a
beauty buyer at Liberty shaped her approach to the market. We
also delve into the unique challenges and opportunities brands
face when marketing to Millennials, a generation both Rhea and I
belong to—and one that’s often misunderstood by the beauty
industry.


This is an insightful and empowering conversation with one of
beauty’s most dynamic voices. Whether you’re in the industry or
simply curious about the behind-the-scenes world of beauty, this
episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.


@itsrhea


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