What was once a tiny and mighty beauty blog called Into The Gloss has become a bona fide NYC startup: Glossier, with a ragtag team of 35+ jogging up and down the stairwell of our Soho office building, spread out across three floors. Why are we here? We're creating a new kind of beauty company from the ground up—one that acknowledges the hopes, dreams, and desires of women today, and gives them the tools (both digitally and physically) to take ownership over their beauty routines. Who are we? Well, a lot of us began like you: as readers. And we'd like for you to get to know us a little better—what we each do, where we come from, and what we're excited about. Meet two of our department heads, Ali and Umaimah:
Do you think working at a startup suits you two?
Umaimah Sharwani, Director of Operations : I think so—I like working on new, different types of products and how you get them to the customer is really important. At a startup, you have a really close touch point with the customer, whereas in a bigger company, you work in smaller teams and don't have that relationship with who's buying your products. And you learn a lot by launching a company.
Ali Weiss, Director of Marketing : For me, it’s all about the actual work I’m doing and the people I’m working with that matters most. I've worked at large companies with thousands of people and other startups with fewer than 100 people, so I don't think it's about what kind of company I'm with or the size. For me, it's about the goal. What am I working toward? Every day I come here and I can see my direct impact on the whole puzzle.
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Umaimah Sharwani Where are you from?
Dallas, TX
What do you do at Glossier?
I manage our supply chain process, our warehouse relationship, and also our Customer Service team. Sometimes I do other odd jobs like make a seating chart for the new office or manage the Glossier Pop-Up. I'm really the person who goes around the office eavesdropping on everything everyone is doing and says, “Wait guys, before you do anything, can we talk about some of it?” I'm the reality check.
Recent splurge?
I just moved to Fort Greene and finally have great sunlight, so I've been buying tons of plants. My favorite is this big rubber tree I got from Natty Garden. Now I'm shifting my focus to hanging plants.
Best piece of professional advice:
Don't say “sorry' unless you really mean it (especially if you're a woman).
Which five products can you not live without?
Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer SPF 15, Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint, any Nars lipstick, Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes, and It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In. In that order.
First thing you do in the morning?
Check Slack and my work email and then go to the Crunch in Fort Greene. Except on Mondays. On Mondays, I make very strong chai with loose tea leaves.
Usual Seamless order?
Cheeseless, thin-crust pizza from Domino's with peppers and onions.
What’s always in your kitchen?
Tons of fruit.
Last lesson you learned?
How to swim!
Ali Weiss
Where are you from?
Boston, MA
What do you do at Glossier?
Everything I do is focused on getting our messages about who we are, what we do, and why we do it out into the world. This includes planning campaigns, promotions, advertising, website features, partnerships, social media, press, and more. My end goal is getting people to like what we do so much that they choose to include Glossier—our products, our editorial content, and our community—into their beauty routines.
Recent splurge?
Rag & Bone skinnies in washed black leather.
Best piece of professional advice:
From a previous boss and lifetime mentor: “Choose what you LOVE to do and where you will LEARN the most?”
Which five products can you not live without?
Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Pure Castile Soap, Diorshow Waterproof Mascara in Black, Boy Brow in Black, Bumble and bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish (recently I discovered my hair can have volume—thanks, Linda Bui). And, though I rarely do a lip color, Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella.
First thing you do in the morning?
1. Tell my boyfriend (who always sets the alarm) that I don't want to get up that early, no matter what time it is
2. Spend 10 minutes laying there with my eyes closed and convincing myself I'm a morning person
3. Magically become a morning person and hop out of bed
Usual Seamless order?
I'm honestly not a Seamless person...or an 'order-in' person in general. However, on the rare occasion that I'm compelled to get food delivered, I have this weird old-fashioned obsession with ordering directly from the restaurant, over the phone.
What’s always in your kitchen?
Bread, eggs, real butter and black pepper & sea salt grinders—I put salt & pepper on everything.
Last lesson you learned?
How to small dice an onion and medium dice a mango.
Ali Weiss and Umaimah Sharwani photographed by Tom Newton.
Say hello to Digital Product superstars Jan Kokott & Jessica Sheft-Ason—and get acquainted with the rest of the Glossier team over here.
