This International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting the career journeys, expertise and impact of just some of the women leading the way across our business.

Emma Payne
Sales Director, THG LABS

Was there a defining moment early in your career that shaped who you are today?

One moment I clearly recall was when I was in my early 20s – where I was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity to lead a small team on a high profile project (a beauty retailer’s Christmas catalogue). I had just joined the company, and while I was excited about the opportunity, I also felt very inexperienced, underprepared and unsure of myself. However, I took the leap, sought advice from experienced colleagues, and focused on ensuring the team worked collaboratively with transparency and respect for each other. We successfully completed the project, and the experience taught me the importance of leadership, teamwork, and not being afraid to step out of my comfort zone. Since then, I've approached my career with a mindset that embraces challenges and seeks out learning opportunities… growth often happens when you push yourself beyond your limits.

 If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

The one piece of advice I’d give my younger self is to trust in my own abilities more. I often second-guessed myself, thinking I needed others' approval or validation to succeed. As I’ve grown (and got older), I’ve realised the ability to believe and trust in yourself and your decisions are crucial to personal and professional success. If I had embraced this mindset sooner, I would have spent less time worrying about not being good enough.

 What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received was to 'stay flexible and be open to change.' Managing product development projects in the beauty industry means things can evolve and shift daily. Striving to keep projects on track, meet deadlines, and ensure satisfaction for all involved can be both rewarding and challenging. An experienced colleague once told me that opportunities often arise from unexpected places, and adaptability is one of the most valuable skills you can cultivate. Embracing this mindset has allowed me to pivot when needed and uncover new avenues for growth—even when things didn’t go as planned.

Lisa Tucker 
Product Development Director, THG LABS

How has your leadership style evolved over time? 

In the early stages of my career, I was deeply involved in the details – driving projects to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery. As I transitioned into leadership, I had to evolve my approach, learning (sometimes the hard way) that micromanagement wasn’t the answer. Over time, I’ve appreciated that true leadership is about empowerment – providing knowledge, context, and trust so my team can develop their own approaches while achieving the same results efficiently. One of the most rewarding parts of my role today is seeing my team grow, progress, and succeed in their own careers.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

You can’t control everything, and sometimes, you have to play the long game. Early in my career, I wanted everything to happen at my pace and on my terms. But I’ve learned that challenges, even the ones that feel insurmountable, always lead to resolution – often in ways you don’t expect. Trust the process, stay adaptable, and know that some of the best outcomes come from letting things evolve.

How do you continue to evolve and grow in your role? 

After 31 years in the beauty industry, one thing remains constant… change. From product innovation to evolving business models, staying competitive means continuous growth. I keep an open and inquisitive mindset, always learning from industry experts, suppliers, customers, and colleagues. Understanding the forces shaping our industry – whether it's global socio-economic shifts, scientific advancements, or changing consumer behaviours – helps me stay informed and adaptable. Growth isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity in an industry that’s as fast-moving as beauty

Alice Yates 
Head of Account Management, THG LABS 

What inspired you to work in beauty?

 I always loved using make up & cosmetics, asking my parents, as a little girl, if we could have makeup classes as my birthday party activity! I was also on the books as a user trialler for skincare & bodycare products and it was a real treat to trial & feedback on all these mysterious new products not yet launched into the market! When an opportunity arose that I could enter the world of Beauty professionally it definitely was a product category that I knew I would have an added enthusiasm behind!

 Can you tell us about your career journey and how you got where you are today?

Leaving school, I wouldn’t exactly say that I had a super clear vision of what industry or career path I had wanted to take and left with a varying interest across event planning, business and property..

I took an undergraduate degree in Business and Management as a continuation of my Business & Economics A-Levels to help create a good business foundation that could be applied to many roles & opportunities later on; I focused on the modules around people management, leadership and project management.

Whilst starting off my career actually working in Property Lettings, I was fortune enough to quickly secure an entry level role into a more established business, developing and manufacturing beauty & cosmetics and started working on one of the larger premium global skincare accounts. Whilst I had no office experience or background in product development, varying opportunities got thrown my way which really stretched me and fast tracked my understanding and exposure of developing FMCG and although it was challenging I would say that committing to being conscientious and hard working will springboard you onto even bigger and better prospects. I was lucky enough to be selected to work on some new business and thereafter was moved around many different skincare, bodycare and haircare brands with every experience providing new insights to innovation & solutions to creative project management which unlocked my quick progression to Head of Account Management.  

Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do! It’s all become clear over time with a bit of hard work!

 What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

 "Don’t get stressed, everything you make gets washed off and goes down the shower drain"

 Sometimes, the nature of product development, testing and manufacturing means that not everything always goes according to plan and unforeseen circumstances and outcomes occasionally trip us up despite all the expertise and skill in the room and every process followed correctly. Sometimes how we manage the recovery is a truer reflection of your ability and resilience and oftens showcases the best innovation, creativity and growth

Clarissa Barber
Finance Director, THG LABS

Can you tell us about your career journey and how you got where you are today?

I was fortunate enough to secure a graduate scheme in a food manufacturing company after university. The graduate scheme required us to be flexible in terms of role and location, this meant throughout the scheme I worked in various cities across the country. In 7 years, I worked in over 10 factories, most of which had a different finance team and a different manager. I had to learn to adapt communication styles, how to make new connections and how to adapt to a new management style, consistently.

I strongly believe this exposure to change made me to be resilient, confident and also gave me a huge opportunity to learn from so many people, which developed my leadership style today.

How do you continue to evolve and grow in your role?

Outside of work, I love listening to podcasts, most are ‘self-help‘ type, or business related ones who have inspiring talent, business owners, CEOs etc. like the ‘Diary of a CEO‘. Listening to other people’s stories and paths is really inspiring.

Inside work, I like to understand other parts of the business, processes or tasks – it really helps my knowledge, how finance can support others, how we could improve and be best in class. I find it fascinating listening to what the other departments are working on, especially those areas I don’t work so often with. In addition, just last year I completed a continuous improvements Green Belt course and I will continue to attend other courses and qualifications when it works for me. 

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

I would say ‘just go for it, just say yes!‘ I have been very privileged in the opportunities I have been given, but it took me a while to realise that if someone is giving you an opportunity it's because they believe in you.

Imposter syndrome often got the better of me when I was in new situations, but remembering why you are there is so important. What‘s the worst that can happen? We don't grow through tasks which are easy, we learn through finding something difficult and having to work through it, seeking the solutions. Have the confidence to say “yes“ and ask for more challenges. Don’t fear the if, buts or maybes.