The Basics:
Name: Chahat Chadha
City: New York
Company: L’Oreal USA
Role: Assistant Manager, CRM and Data Analytics
Industry: Beauty
Education: NYU
College Major: Media, Culture and Communication
What drew you to your role in CRM & Data Analytics at L'Oreal?
In the early days of my career, I worked in beauty trend analysis and forecasting. It was fun, but I didn’t feel very fulfilled. I felt that those kinds of marketing roles were more traditional in nature, more focused on art and intuition than on science. I’d recognized the potential of Big Data in beauty and felt that the right place for me to be was a role that stood at the intersection of data, strategy, and beauty. When this opportunity came around, it truly felt like the perfect fit not only because I was doing what I wanted to do, but also working on brands that I felt connected to as a consumer.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you were entering the workforce?
Quality over quantity. NYU was such a rat race - I interned every single semester and summer after freshman year. I look back at some of those internship experiences and ask myself, “why?”. Don’t intern (or work) mindlessly. Have a plan for yourself, set specific goals for what soft and hard skills you want to learn. Be mindful about what you spend your time on. If you’re not learning and growing professionally, it isn’t worth it.
What skills are most important in your field? What do you look for in employees?
Proficiency in programming languages and basic data science concepts is a requirement. But it’s also important for an analyst to be a good team player, be a people’s person, work well under pressure, and have good time management skills.
What do you love most about your job at L’Oreal?
I know this is cliche, but the people. I’ve been lucky to work with some of the smartest and kindest people in the biz. The free makeup is nice too.
What was the best piece of career advice you ever received?
Not to compare your career or professional journey with anyone else’s.
What did you wear to your interview with L’Oreal?
I was so boring! I wore a black pencil skirt, a tucked-in light blue shirt and a black blazer. Way too cookie-cutter for L’Oreal.
What would you normally wear to work at L’Oreal?
In the summer, I normally wear dresses and a light heel. In the winter, my go-to is a short skirt and sweater paired with knee-high boots.
What is your go to outfit for a Zoom call?
My pajamas. Nobody really dresses up while we’re working from home. Thank god.
What’s your go-to power outfit? (i.e., what do you wear when you want to feel confident and powerful at work?)
A Reformation dress with comfy heels and a bold lip. I don’t know what it is about Reformation dresses - nothing looks better on me.
Parting Wisdom:
What was your first job? Beauty Digital Strategist at Trendalytics.
Who is one woman you look up to? Indra Nooyi and (dare I say) Ellen DeGeneres.
What’s the best book you read recently? Invisible Women: Data Bias In A World Designed by Men, by Caroline Criado Perez
What one item should every young professional have in her closet? A comfy but professional pair of black heels and a plaid blazer!