Source: Fortune
Summary
Ulta Beauty CEO Kecia Steelman shares her advice on dealing with career setbacks, emphasizing the importance of persistence and choosing to be better rather than bitter. Steelman, who took on the CEO role in January 2025, reflects on her own experiences being passed up for roles and how she prepared herself for her current position. Under her leadership, Ulta’s stock is up 50% year-over-year, and the company has partnered with Beyoncé. Steelman’s path to CEO included starting as an assistant store manager at Target and holding senior management roles at Home Depot and Family Dollar.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Ulta Beauty CEO Kecia Steelman’s advice on career setbacks sounds familiar. Steelman’s own journey to CEO included being passed up for roles, but she chose to be better rather than bitter. Under her leadership, Ulta’s stock is up 50% year-over-year. The company has also partnered with Beyoncé, hosting in-store events and promoting her Cécred hair brand. Steelman’s path to CEO included starting as an assistant store manager at Target and holding senior management roles at Home Depot and Family Dollar. The CEO’s remarks on career resilience come as Ulta executes its turnaround plan, including implementing AI in the shopping experience and building a base of millions of loyalty customers.
Ulta’s swagger is back, according to Steelman.
Author: Evan Null
