Event report
Meet The CEO with L'Oréal East Africa
Mehmet Karamollaoglu - Country Managing Director for L'Oréal East Africa
Today's "Meet the CEO" breakfast meeting, in partnership with our Founding Member L'OrĂ©al East Africa, was a morning of insightful discussions on the future of beauty and social responsibility. Mehmet Karamollaoglu, Country Managing Director for L'OrĂ©al East Africa, gave us a glimpse into L'OrĂ©alâs dedication to ethical beauty, womenâs empowerment, and sustainability.
With over 1.2 billion users in Africa, L'OrĂ©alâs initiatives, such as the Empower Mama project and Lintons Academy, are creating pathways to economic independence for women in Kenya. As Mehmet emphasized, L'OrĂ©al is committed to âbeauty with purposeââtransforming lives while respecting the planet.
Here are some key takeaways from Mehmetâs vibrant presentation:
1. Beauty with Purpose: With a mission to create beauty that moves the world, L'OrĂ©alâs approach centers on responsibility and ethics, whether through sustainable product development, ethical sourcing, or impactful community programs.
2. Innovative Testing Technologies: L'OrĂ©al has moved away from animal testing, using groundbreaking artificial human skin to ensure safe, precise resultsâan innovation that reinforces their commitment to ethical science.
3. Empowering Local Communities: Programs like Empower Mama are transforming lives by training young single mothers as makeup artists and creating job opportunities for them at Maybelline New York stores across Kenya. Additionally, the recently launched Lintons Academy and Pro Hair School empower local women by offering professional training in hairstyling and beauty.
4. Strong Sustainability Commitments: Under the LâOrĂ©al for the Future program, the company has ambitious targets like reaching carbon neutrality across all sites by 2025, reducing plastic usage, and supporting climate-friendly practices. Their CSR efforts also focus on empowering women in science and creating sustainable job opportunities for underprivileged communities.
5. Broad Market Reach: With four distinct divisionsâConsumer Products, L'OrĂ©al Luxe, Professional Products, and Active CosmeticsâL'OrĂ©al caters to a wide range of beauty needs, reflecting the brand's dedication to inclusivity and diversity in East Africa.
6. Battling Counterfeit Products: Recognizing the prevalence of fake products, Mehmet Karamollaoglu emphasized the need to purchase your L'Oréal products from trusted sources like pharmacies to ensure access to genuine products, with legal measures in place to protect brand integrity.
Thank you to everyone who attended and to Mehmet for leading such an engaging session! L'OrĂ©alâs dedication to social impact, innovation, and ethical beauty is a testament to whatâs possible when purpose meets business.