On this episode, we're joined by Valerie Lawson, a multiple award-winning makeup artist, educator, and entrepreneur pushing the boundaries of beauty globally and merging raw talent, business skills, and professionalism. Known for her simple yet sophisticated timeless looks, she has beautiful brides and loyal clients from various fields and countries – H.E. Erna Solberg, Mrs. Reeta Roy, Maria Borges, H.E. Mrs. Samira Bawumia, Ms. Bozoma St. John and Mrs. Nicole Ari Parker among other great and beautiful women.
Valerie is also the CEO and Founding Director of Ghanian beauty brand @cvlbeautyofficial and served as Artistic Director for @maybelline Ghana (2020/2021) as the first artist to be assigned that position in Ghana, Africa. We talk about her journey to (unintentionally) becoming a makeup artist and how she perfected the essence of her artistry--her love for undertones & flawless complexions. She shares how she leveraged social media as her portfolio to showcase her work and build her professional brand as a beauty educator. Maintaining a strong professional brand and raw talent, Valerie shares how she has landed coveted opportunities and roles at MAC Cosmetics and Maybelline Ghana. We also discuss what led her to build CVL Beauty, an artistry brand that equips makeup artists with quality and affordable makeup tools and accessories that are functional, multi-purpose, and precise.
We talk about unbalanced power dynamics that sometimes occur when brands neglect the importance of the right hires for global activations, especially for the African beauty ecosystem. Leveraging her voice of influence, Valerie advocates for pay transparency and equality for Black and African artists globally and encourages other artists to know their value and amplify their brand accordingly. Valerie shares how times of transition in her career path have been fueled by faith, bold courage, and intentionality-- all of which have been instrumental in her most recent appointment and position as Associate Lecturer of Beauty at the London College of Fashion.
Tune in for a fun, insightful, and inspiring conversation with Valerie!
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