Wall Street to Beauty Icons: Amanda Baldwin’s Blueprint for Building Brands That Last

In this episode of The Retail Pilot, we sit down with Amanda Baldwin, the newly appointed CEO of Olaplex and former CEO of Supergoop, for an in-depth conversation about her remarkable career journey—from Wall Street to the heart of the beauty industry. Amanda shares how her early curiosity about brands evolved into a passion for consumer-driven storytelling, innovation, and leadership in some of the world’s most iconic beauty companies.

We explore her pivotal career moments, including her transition from finance to beauty, the foundational experiences she gained at Estée Lauder and LVMH, and how she scaled Supergoop from a small team to a category-defining brand. Now at the helm of Olaplex, Amanda outlines her vision for rebuilding brand strength, deepening pro community relationships, and driving innovation through groundbreaking R&D.

This episode offers a masterclass in brand leadership, navigating industry change, and staying grounded in purpose while scaling globally.

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Show Notes:

• Amanda’s early curiosity about consumer brands and storytelling

• Lessons learned from Wall Street, Estée Lauder, and LVMH

• The early growth story of Supergoop and how innovation drove scale

• Why product quality and emotional connection are non-negotiable for brand longevity

• Olaplex’s patented technology, salon-first strategy, and Amanda’s plans to reinvigorate the brand

• Investing in team, infrastructure, and culture as part of operational excellence

• Navigating the public markets while staying focused on long-term brand value

• Advice for early-career professionals and the role of mentorship in her success

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