Our awards elevate visionary brands, disruptors, and sustainability heroes, hosting a celebration that empowers the entire beauty community.
Awards Committee:
Akshay Talati
Carla Ruiz
Carla Ruiz, SVP of Global M&A at Shiseido, brilliantly merges financial expertise with her passion for beauty. With an MBA from Columbia and a background in investment banking and global business development at Johnson & Johnson, she brings deep industry insight.
At Shiseido, Carla has spearheaded pivotal deals like the Drunk Elephant acquisition and the Tory Burch beauty license partnership. She leads her M&A team with a collaborative, founder-centric approach, seeing the industry's rapid change as an opportunity for respectful, accelerated growth. Beyond deals, Carla champions mentorship at Shiseido and supports first-generation college students through America Needs You.
Malena Higuera
Malena Higuera is a recognized leader in product innovation, culture and community-first marketing, and digitally-forward strategic vision, blending creative brand development, operational excellence with a passion for fostering diverse and inclusive cultures. With 25 years of experience on multiple brands at L’Oréal across all channels, key markets and categories, Higuera has built a reputation for fostering strong connections with consumers, retailers, and stakeholders, while always keeping a pulse on fast-paced business needs.