I feel like a lot of us go through those pre teen years where we just feel unattractive and awkward, and I was no stranger to feeling like an ugly duckling myself. Meanwhile, my idols were people like Hilary Duff and Britney Spears, beautiful women who looked nothing like me. Around that time when I was in junior high school, my mom bought me a book that was all about natural beauty. It was written by today’s guest, Bobbi Brown, and I didn’t realize it then but that book was a catalyst that helped me see myself in a whole new light. It celebrated diverse forms of beauty that I had yet to see in the media.

Bobbi Brown is still prolific in the beauty industry, and you’ve probably heard of her makeup company, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. The company was purchased by Estee Lauder in the 1990s, and she served as Chief Creative Officer there for more than 20 years. Now she has moved on to start an all natural supplement brand called Beauty Evolution, as well JustBobbi.com, an editorial and lifestyle platform. Bobbi has been a pioneer in the natural beauty space with a motto that says, “the secret to beauty is simple: be who you are.”

During our inspiring conversation, Bobbi and I chat about what it was like to create a brand that emphasized natural beauty in the late 80s, when the most popular beauty trends involved big, bold and unnatural makeup. We also talk about what it was like to go from being a makeup artist to running an enormous global brand, as well as the decisions she made that helped to set her company apart from all the other beauty brands out there. Whether you’re a makeup fanatic, a champion for helping people feel comfortable in their skin, or an entrepreneur looking for tips from a super-savvy business woman, this interview is for you!