Source: Step Up
What’s a good way to start the day? How about joining a group of philanthropic women for a power breakfast with Step Up? As a non-profit with the inspiring mission to help girls from under-resourced communities realize their potential by empowering them to become college-bound and career-focused, Step Up regularly hosts breakfast events to connect professional women with each other, as well as create a platform to inspire and grow its membership.
Held at the chic and modern American restaurant Paley, the power breakfast featured President of Dermstore Beauty Group Cathy Beaupain, who as an e-commerce expert was invited to lead a conversation on “Digital Storytelling: From Games to Beauty.” It was moderated by her friend Remi Sklar, Vice President of Worldwide Communications and Public Relations at Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment.
Photo Credit: Lindy Huang Werges
Since Dermstore was launched in 1999 by a dermatologist with the vision of building a trusted online store, and acquired by Target in 2013, it has grown to become the leading skin care e-commerce site in the U.S. As an eight-time Bizrate Platinum Circle of Excellence Award Winner, Dermstore now offers a variety of skin care and cosmetic brands, including exclusive spa care lines, salon-grade brands, and unique niche brands from around the world.
When asked what makes Dermstore such a successful industry leader, Cathy emphasized the importance of storytelling and presentation. The mission of the company is to help women feel beautiful and confident through helping them achieve their complexion goals, and over the years, they have striven continuously to deliver on this. All their employees truly believe in the mission and as a result, the company as a whole has excelled not only in providing credible information to equip consumers with the knowledge to make the best decision for their skin and health, but also in understanding women’s needs and the beauty products that fulfil their desires.
Citing her previous work experiences as an example, Cathy continued to point out the relevance of storytelling and presentation to any type of business in today’s increasingly digitized world. At Princess Cruises, it was all about delivering a luxurious lifestyle to the customers and conveying the message that Princess Cruises is a pioneer in the cruise industry; at Zynga, the mission is “connecting the world through games” and to create a seamless digital experience for all its users.
Photo Credit: Lindy Huang Werges
In addition to professional experience, Cathy shared her personal advice on what motivates her, and what drives her to be such a strong supporter of Step Up. As a Vietnamese refugee who fled to the States when she was only three years old, she and her family were very lucky to be sponsored. It was the support of their family and friends that enabled her success today, and that keeps her grounded, grateful, and deeply passionate about giving back to the community. And it is through Step Up that she could inspire other girls and help them realize their dreams and potentials. Having a mentor to lead you into the right path and pursuing higher education, she added, are the foundations to successful personal and professional growth.