From the Classroom to the Workplace: Students Apply STEM Concepts to Beauty and Cosmetics Careers at Intercos
On an enriching day of hands-on learning, students from The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) of Manhattan visited the sales and marketing showroom of Intercos Group. Through a partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies, Student Leadership Network facilitated the second annual visit to Intercos as part of its early career awareness program, TYWLS at the Workplace. The visit provided students with a comprehensive look at how STEM disciplines are fundamental to the beauty industry.
TYWLS at the Workplace: Intercos
Members of the Intercos team welcomed students and provided an overview of the company’s global operations and products. Students were excited to learn that behind every lipstick, foundation, and perfume lies a complex web of scientific research, chemical formulation, design, and engineering. Through a lively discussion and interactive videos, Intercos professionals shared how product development evolves from initial concept to final distribution to store shelves. They also shared their educational backgrounds and career journeys, emphasizing that there are multiple entry points into the beauty industry for those with STEM aptitudes.
The highlight of the visit was a chemistry workshop where students donned lab coats to create their own custom lip glosses – in the very room where several celebrity makeup bestsellers began! Under the guidance of Intercos volunteers, students mixed ingredients, learned about the ethical sourcing of different compounds, and experimented with pigments and textures. Students then toured the company’s facilities, learning about Intercos’ role in the beauty industry and previewing the upcoming season’s products. The event was so well received by the students that at the end of the day, one student asked, “Can we come back tomorrow?”
Women in STEM Careers
Early career exposure is particularly valuable considering that women remain underrepresented in STEM fields, making up less than 30% of the global STEM workforce compared to nearly half of non-STEM occupations, according to the Global Gender Gap Report. In contrast, at Intercos, more than 60% of employees are female, and eight of ten members of the C-suite are women. “Early career awareness experiences like today’s event with Intercos are invaluable for broadening students’ perspectives on potential career paths,” noted Ingrid Selman, Director of Network-Wide Programs & Events at Student Leadership Network. “Some students don’t realize that their passion for beauty can be combined with their interests in science or technology, leading to fulfilling careers in industries like cosmetics.”
We extend our gratitude to The Estée Lauder Companies for facilitating this opportunity and to the Intercos team for crafting such an engaging day for our students! Special thanks to Gisselle Gutierrez, Nerlynda Sutherland, and Lauren Traum from ELC and Ebru Ates, Kate Miller, Marym Mohiby, Jennifer Palmieri, Natalie Rhiel, and Kyle Yoskowitz from Intercos for making this visit possible. Through partnerships like this, Student Leadership Network continues to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world applications, inspiring the next generation of innovators in all industries – even those they might not have previously considered.
If you’d like to bring the TYWLS at the Workplace program to your company, please contact Matt Chacko at [email protected].
