Sephora’s Diversity Success amidst Global DEI Trends

Paris-headquartered cosmetics giant Sephora has seen a significant rise in diverse leadership and sales, with over 500 stores across North America. The company’s Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, George-Axelle Broussillon Matschinga, highlighted the impact of George Floyd‘s murder on their diversity strategy, leading to the implementation of new projects and enhanced recruitment efforts.

Since 2020, Sephora has boosted the representation of leaders of color to 52%, up from 39%, showing an intentional shift towards diversifying its talent pool. The company revamped its recruiting processes, engaging with historically black colleges and participating in events like the National Black MBA Fair to identify diverse candidates.

While steering clear of hiring quotas, Sephora encourages its leaders to interview more BIPOC candidates, noting the positive outcomes from this approach in driving diversity within the organization. Moreover, all employees at Sephora, from store associates to the CEO, have DEI-specific objectives tied to performance reviews, reinforcing the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Responding to critics like Elon Musk and Bill Ackman who question the business benefits of DEI, Sephora asserts that diversity is advantageous for business success. The company has witnessed an increase in employees’ sense of belonging, aligned with their commitment to achieving meaningful diversity goals despite external skepticism.

Artemis Patrick, set to become Sephora North America‘s CEO in April, will work alongside the head of DEI to uphold the company’s dedication to diversity and inclusion initiatives. The strategic partnership between the CEO and the DEI leader is emphasized as crucial for driving continued progress in promoting diversity within Sephora’s operations.