In episode 484 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Leslie Marino, U.S. president, professional products division at L'Oreal, the world leader in cosmetics with a portfolio of 37 brands and a mission to offer the best of beauty to everyone, everywhere. Listen in as Marino provides an overview of her journey to becoming the first woman to lead L'Oreal's Professional Product Division (1:50), how mentors played a significant role in her career growth (5:25), and how she balances L'Oreal's legacy with innovation and change (8:35). She touches on the product feedback loop between professional hair stylists and consumers (12:10) as well as how to ensure each brand within her division maintains its unique voice while aligning to L’Oréal’s broader mission (14:55).
In addition, Marino discusses how L’Oréal is evolving the way it educates its professional stylists online and offline (17:35), how digital transformation is reshaping how the company engages with salons and consumers (21:47), and its focus on storytelling to bring products to life for shoppers (25:00). Lastly, she shares advice to aspiring leaders, especially women, on finding confidence to share their point of view at work (26:20).
Leslie Marino oversees the extensive portfolio of brands within the L’Oréal Professional Products Division, including Biolage, Kérastase, L’Oréal Professionnel, L’Oréal Technique, Matrix, Mizani, Pulp Riot, Pureology, Redken, and Shu Uemura Art of Hair, as well as the commercial, digital, education and business development activities that are critical to drive business in the U.S. and growth worldwide.
After 20 years in the L’Oréal USA Luxe division, Marino assumed the role of general manager of Kérastase, Shu Uemura Art of Hair, and essie, where she successfully accelerated the brands to a state of growth and, ultimately, took the helm of Redken and Pureology. For more than a decade, she led Redken to become the No. 1 brand in the U.S. professional market, building a business model that led to years of remarkable sales growth. Marino has also served as president of PPD American Brands, bringing her leadership to accelerate those businesses to record performances.
