The Powerhouse Behind MAC, Tom Ford Beauty & More: John Demsey’s Untold Career Lessons | E135

Описание: John Demsey didn’t become a powerhouse in the beauty industry by a mere stroke of luck; he built that influence on retail floors, taking on scrappy roles while learning the business in ways no MBA could ever teach. This helped him scale MAC Cosmetics into a global cultural movement, shape some of the most iconic beauty brands of our time, and ultimately rise to Group President of Estée Lauder Companies. In this episode, John joins Ilana to reveal how to build a career from the ground up, reinvent after setbacks, and lead with the kind of creativity that transforms industries.

John D. Demsey is the former Executive Group President of Estée Lauder Companies, where he helped build and scale iconic brands like MAC Cosmetics, Tom Ford Beauty, and more into a multi-billion-dollar global powerhouse.

In this episode, Ilana and John will discuss👇:
00:00 Introduction and Personal Philosophy
00:23 Early Career and Challenges
01:59 Growing Up in Ohio
06:06 College Years and Discovering Passion
09:40 Entering the Beauty Industry
26:33 Joining Estee Lauder and Moving to LA
30:09 Transforming Mac Cosmetics
41:22 The Rise of MAC Cosmetics
43:26 Reaching Out to Influencers and Celebrities
46:37 The Evolution of Beauty Standards
49:04 Collaborating with Tom Ford
54:23 The Impact of Social Media on Beauty
01:01:08 A Controversial Moment and Its Aftermath
01:07:46 Reinventing and Moving Forward
01:14:51 Current Projects and Future Plans
01:17:11 Final Reflections and Advice

John D. Demsey is the former Executive Group President of Estée Lauder Companies, where he helped build and scale iconic brands like MAC Cosmetics, Tom Ford Beauty, Smashbox, Clinique, and Jo Malone London. Over his 30-year career at Estée Lauder, he played a pivotal role in expanding the company into a multi-billion-dollar business across both established and emerging markets. He is the author of Behind the Blue Door, a visual memoir capturing his bold lifestyle, vibrant career, and personal journey.

Connect with John:
John’s Instagram: instagram.com/jdemsey
John’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/john-demsey

Resources Mentioned:
John’s Book, Behind the Blue Door: A Maximalist Mantra: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0865654344
LEAP E57 with Dan Ariely: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

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Whether you want to land high-level roles, build a portfolio career, or grow your executive presence—Leap Academy with Ilana Golan is where bold professionals come to grow.

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