Celia Tombalakian is a seasoned magnificence and private care government based mostly in New York Metropolis.
With roots in Northern Ontario, Canada, she was raised in a family that balanced mental rigor with compassion—her father was a PhD in chemical engineering, and her mom was a devoted nurse educator. These early influences instilled in her a lifelong dedication to curiosity, resilience, and empathy.
Celia holds an Honors Bachelor of Commerce and a Grasp of Science in Client Conduct and Advertising Administration from the College of Guelph, alongside certifications in Six Sigma Black Belt, Digital Transformation, and AI for Enterprise Necessities from Harvard Enterprise College On-line. Her skilled journey spans industries like healthcare, shopper packaged items, and sweetness. Most just lately, she served as World Vice President of Advertising for Sally Hansen, the place she championed transformative initiatives rooted in innovation and world technique.
Identified for her ardour for mentorship, amplifying the patron voice, making use of AI instruments, and fostering real connections. Celia shares her insights on management, creativity, and the evolving position of know-how in shaping the patron expertise.
How do you outline success in management, particularly in a aggressive business like magnificence?
For me, success in management goes past assembly monetary targets or delivering profitable campaigns. It’s about making a holistic influence—empowering your crew, cultivating a tradition of collaboration, and leaving a legacy of significant work.
I’ve at all times believed that management is rooted in incomes belief, which includes asking the precise questions and fostering an setting the place everybody feels assured sharing their concepts. Within the magnificence business, the place developments and alternatives can emerge shortly, it’s important to nurture agility, curiosity, and a “let’s make it happen” mentality inside your crew.
How has your expertise working throughout industries formed your strategy to innovation?
Working in healthcare offered invaluable coaching in understanding research, product claims growth, and navigating a posh community of stakeholders. My expertise in shopper packaged items bolstered the significance of operational effectivity and scalability. Once I transitioned to the sweetness business, I found the emotional depth of shopper connections and their sturdy need for product discovery.
These various experiences taught me that innovation isn’t nearly groundbreaking concepts—it’s about discovering new methods to please customers, create comfort, ship outcomes, or resolve actual issues. In magnificence, this implies understanding the emotional and cultural components behind shopper habits. Drawing from my background in varied industries, I strategy innovation with a mix of creativity and practicality.
What position does AI play in your imaginative and prescient for the way forward for advertising and marketing?
AI is an unbelievable software for entrepreneurs, however I at all times emphasize that it’s simply that—a software. It may possibly’t change the human contact, however it could possibly amplify it. AI helps us perceive shopper habits at a granular degree, enabling personalization at a scale we couldn’t think about even a decade in the past.
That mentioned, I’m cautious about utilizing AI responsibly. Transparency and ethics are non-negotiable. Shoppers must really feel that their information is getting used to reinforce their expertise, not exploit it.
What excites me most about AI is its potential to streamline duties like segmentation and pattern evaluation, releasing up artistic groups to give attention to storytelling and innovation.
How do you keep authenticity in management whereas navigating robust choices?
Authenticity in management comes from figuring out your values and staying true to them, even when the selections are robust. For me, it’s about balancing empathy with readability. I consider in being clear with my crew—sharing the “why” behind choices helps construct belief, even when the information isn’t what they wish to hear.
Kindness is usually underestimated in management, however I see it as a energy. It’s not about avoiding exhausting choices; it’s about dealing with them with integrity and respect.
What recommendation would you give to somebody stepping right into a management position for the primary time?
Pay attention greater than you communicate. Once you’re new to a management position, it’s tempting to leap in and attempt to show your self, however your first job is to know your crew and their wants.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask questions or admit what you don’t know. Management isn’t about having all of the solutions; it’s about guiding your crew to seek out the very best options collectively.
What’s a profession lesson you realized the exhausting means, and the way has it formed you?
Early in my profession, I labored on a product launch that didn’t carry out as anticipated. I had been so targeted on assembly timelines, managing deliverables, and aligning with inside preferences that I missed the significance of deeply understanding and incorporating shopper suggestions.
This expertise was humbling and underscored the significance of prioritizing the patron’s voice. It taught me that their insights should at all times be central to decision-making. This lesson has profoundly influenced my strategy, emphasizing the necessity to hear, be taught, and stay attuned to the wants and preferences of finish customers in each mission. Whether or not it’s a marketing campaign, a product, or a technique, success begins with a deep understanding of the folks you serve.
What conjures up your strategy to mentorship?
Mentorship is rooted in reciprocity. Whereas I’ve been lucky to be taught from unbelievable mentors all through my profession, I’ve typically realized simply as a lot from these I’ve mentored and the junior members of my groups. Mentorship isn’t about making a “mini-me”; it’s about serving to somebody uncover their strengths, chart their very own path, and providing steering from a extra skilled perspective.
I additionally consider mentorship is efficacious at each stage of 1’s profession, not simply at first. Sadly, it’s typically missed as folks climb the company ladder, however the necessity to develop, be taught, and adapt by no means stops. Organizations like CHIEF have been transformative for me, offering alternatives to attach with friends and be taught from their various experiences.
What’s one pattern within the magnificence business that you simply assume has endurance?
Personalization and sustainability are two developments within the magnificence business which have plain endurance. Shoppers more and more search merchandise that replicate their individuality and align with their values, and types that ship on these fronts will proceed to thrive.
At present, providing a one-size-fits-all resolution is now not adequate. Manufacturers must show authenticity, have a transparent goal, and meet customers the place they’re in significant methods.
How do you keep targeted and inventive when the tempo of labor feels overwhelming?
I take transient pauses to reset—whether or not it’s a fast stroll or jotting down my ideas in a journal. These moments of reflection assist me regain focus and readability.
Creativity typically sparks from sudden locations, so I additionally find time for actions outdoors of labor, like spending time in nature or exploring New York Metropolis’s limitless occasions and exhibitions. These experiences preserve my perspective recent and encourage new concepts.
Key Takeaways from Celia Tombalakian’s Perspective
- Empathy in Management: Authenticity and kindness are usually not weaknesses; they’re strengths that construct belief and collaboration.
- AI as a Software: Whereas AI enhances effectivity and personalization, the human aspect stays important to connecting with customers.
- Innovation Throughout Industries: Drawing classes from various sectors creates a balanced strategy to problem-solving and inventive breakthroughs.
