Emily Weiss is a prominent American businesswoman known for her innovative contributions to the beauty industry as the founder and former CEO of Glossier and the beauty blog Into the Gloss. After graduating from New York University in 2007, Weiss began her career in fashion, working as a fashion assistant at W magazine and as an on-set styling assistant for Vogue. Her passion for beauty led her to launch Into the Gloss in 2010, where she created a platform that showcased interviews with influential women, quickly gaining traction and attracting over 200,000 unique visitors per month by early 2012.
In 2014, leveraging the success of her blog, Weiss transitioned into entrepreneurship by founding Glossier, a direct-to-consumer beauty brand. With an initial investment of $2 million in seed funding, she launched Glossier.com with four core products that emphasized a philosophy of “skin first, makeup second.” Under her leadership, Glossier became a disruptive force in the beauty market, raising significant funding rounds and achieving a valuation of $1.2 billion by 2019. The brand is celebrated for its inclusive marketing and innovative approach to customer engagement, fostering a community-driven model that resonates with millennials.
Weiss’s vision for Glossier was to democratize beauty, creating products that enhance natural beauty while building a strong connection with consumers. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed; she was featured in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2015 and Time magazine’s “Next 100” in 2019. Despite stepping down as CEO in 2022, she continues to influence the brand as executive chairwoman, ensuring Glossier remains at the forefront of the beauty industry.
Throughout her career, Weiss has exemplified the spirit of entrepreneurship, combining her background in fashion with a keen understanding of consumer needs. Her journey from a fashion intern to a millennial icon and successful CEO showcases her dedication to innovation and her ability to adapt to the evolving landscape of beauty. Emily Weiss’s impact on the industry is profound, inspiring a new generation of beauty enthusiasts and entrepreneurs alike.