Stepping Up at Step Up’s Power Breakfast with Jouer Cosmetics Founder, Christina Zilber

“I hate the word No.”

Jouer Cosmetics Founder & Creative Director, Christina Zilber, explained that when she first developed Jouer Cosmetics, she repeatedly heard the word “No.”

“No, it’s too difficult.”

“No, you have to have this background to make it work.”

Her advice to the female executives at Step Up’s Power Breakfast on April 8th? “Don’t let people tell you no. You will hear no all the time. No is actually a maybe. If you really want something, be persistent and determined. You will find a way to get it.” 

Step Up’s Beauty Biz Power Breakfast featuring Christina Zilber (Founder of Jouer Cosmetics), and moderated by Louise Roe (TV host and fashion journalist).
(Photo credit: Amy Tierney/Thrive Images)

Along with Angeleno magazine, we were honored to sponsor this Step Up beauty biz Power Breakfast featuring Jouer Cosmetics Founder, Christina Zilber, and moderated by TV host and fashion journalist, Louise Roe. Female executives from a wide range of companies like Neutrogena, Living Proof, Nielson Entertainment, and Warner TV, all enjoyed networking with each other over an intimate breakfast at the gorgeous Skirball Center in West L.A.

Step Up is a national, non-profit membership organization whose mission is to propel girls from under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to be confident, college-bound, career-focused, and ready to join the next generation of professional women.

“Step Up inspires women to inspire girls and our Power Breakfast series is one of our most impactful sources of inspiration,” Step Up CEO Jenni Luke said. “The executives who join us for breakfast to share their time and talent truly motivate Step Up members and girls to fulfill their potential. It’s a powerful way to start the morning!”

Step Up’s previous Power Breakfasts have included beauty industry leaders like Susan Sweet Bloomfield (former GM of Neutrogena), Jane Wurwand (Founder and Owner of Dermalogica), and Julia Goldin (former Global Chief Marketing Officer and EVP for Revlon).

Step Up Alumna, Yessenia Hernandez, shares her Step Up experience with moderator, Louise Roe.
( Photo credit: Amy Tierney/Thrive Images)

An inspiring and tear-jerking moment occurred when Step Up alumna, Yessenia Hernandez, shared how grateful she was for her Step Up experience. “I realized that Step Up was not going to let me fail; that with their help, I would have the chance to go to college. As a young Latina, the deck was stacked against me. But I knew that what was most important was that I believe in myself, and surround myself with people who believe in me, too. All I needed was to be shown the way from the strong women leaders in Step Up.” Yessenia is currently a junior at Loyola Marymount University, and we wish this strong, intelligent young woman the very best.

And as if we weren’t inspired enough, we had a blast listening to Christina Zilber of Jouer Cosmetics!

Zilber revealed Jouer Cosmetics was” full of obstacles” from the beginning.  Key highlights from her moderated interview include:

• Find a Mentor: Even though Zilber didn’t seek out mentors at the beginning stages of Jouer Cosmetics, she emphasized the importance of finding a mentor early on in your career. Reach out to everyone whether it’s your friends, family, business contacts, or someone in an unrelated field, so that you can pick their brain.
• Create a Niche: Obsessed with makeup as a child, it was Zilber’s dream to “be professionally involved in beauty.” She loved creating makeup palettes as child and found her niche when she couldn’t find the perfect makeup palette in the market. Jouer Cosmetic’s unique selling point lies in their “smart” packaging which offers customers the ability to create their own makeup palettes of powder, shadow, concealer, blush, and gloss that attaches to each other into one compact palette.
• Success is not a Straight Line: Whether you work for a company or are an entrepreneur, there will always be obstacles to overcome. Zilber confessed that to this day, she still comes across stumbling blocks. She emphasized the importance of not giving in when people tell you “No.” Remember that “No is actually a maybe.”
• Have Persistence & Determination: Zilber’s strong focus led her to win Allure  magazine’s “Best of Beauty Award”  in 2011 for her popular Luminizing Moisture Tint. Acknowledging  that it was her proudest achievement since Allure was her “bible” and the ultimate stamp in beauty brand credibility, Zilber revealed that “if you are persistent and determined, you will figure it all out.”
• Maximize Efficiency: Zilber is a big delegator at Jouer. She strongly believes in empowering everyone at Jouer to take their job and to just “run with it.” Instead of micro-managing your team, let them do their job and grow.
• Fake It ’till You Make It: Both Zilber and Roe admitted that they adopt a  “fake it ’till you make it” attitude in order to succeed. Zilber acknowledged that “you have to put the armor on no matter who you are,” and Roe added that “it’s not about pretending to be someone you’re not.  If you act the part and convey to others that you believe it, they will too.”

(left) Beauty & the Biz: Step Up members enjoy networking moments over breakfast at the Herscher Hall foyer at the Skirball Center. 
(right): (l to r) Romina Aquino (Mazur Group), Jenn Harrison (Mazur Group), Kate Scherer (Product360) and Frances Mazur (Mazur Group). (Photo credit: Amy Tierney/Thrive Images)

If you’ve ever wondered about Jouer’s lipstick names, Zilber often names them after women who have inspired her. We were thrilled to find out that the lovely “Kate” poppy pink  lipstick was named after our dear friend,  Kate Scherer, the Co-Founder and Creative Director of lifestyle branding agency, Product 360.

Christina Zilber named the Jouer “Kate” creamy poppy pink hydrating lipstick after Kate Scherer, Co-Founder & Creative Director of Product 360. Kate likes to layer her namesake lipstick with Jouer Cosmetic’s hydrating lipgloss in “Mirage.”

At the end of this truly powerful breakfast, Step Up members and attendees walked away with anecdotes and advice that they can reflect on and apply to their own careers. It felt wonderful to have a mix of both concrete skill building advice and  inspirational motivation to be the best we could be in both our career and personal lives. More importantly, we recognize and applaud the efforts of organizations like Step Up, to empower and educate young girls.

In 2010, Step Up honored Mazur Group’s Jenn Harrison (left), for her philanthropic commitment to Step Up’s efforts. Way to go, Jenn!

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 About Step Up
Step Up propels girls from under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become confident, college-bound, career-focused and ready to join the next generation of professional women. Connect at suwn.org.