Owl Have You Know
Swapping Lab Coats for Lip Gloss feat. Ashley Henry ’22
Episode notes
From an early age, Ashley Henry was interested in beauty. Despite getting her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and working for the CDC in epidemiology, her childhood dreams never faded.
After her stint in public health, Ashley went on to work as a hairstylist before getting her MBA and fully committing to beauty and luxury goods.
Ashley is now the global product development manager at Fresh (an LVMH brand) in New York City. She accomplished her goal post-graduation from Rice in 2022, becoming one of the first alums to enter the luxury goods space.
Ashley joins host Maya Pomroy ’22 to share her journey from a science-focused career path to the beauty industry. She talks about pursuing an MBA to pivot careers, encourages others to pursue unconventional paths with their MBAs, and imparts an important lesson: closed mouths don’t get fed.
Episode Guide:
00:41 Ashley's Unique Background and Pivot Story
01:55 Family Background and Early Interest in Beauty and Fashion
04:40 The Journey to Medical School and a Shift in Direction
06:27 Career Options with a Chemistry Major and a Passion for Beauty
07:49 A Career in Public Health: From CDC to Quarantine Officer
12:31 The Pivot to Beauty Industry: A Journey of Entrepreneurship
14:49 The Decision to Pursue an MBA at Rice Business
18:04 Reflecting on the Impact of Rice Business School
18:31 Finding Her Role in the Beauty Industry
19:57 The Journey to LVMH and Fresh Beauty
27:16 The Power of Storytelling and Networking
31:49 Future Aspirations and Advice for Aspiring Professionals
Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
The power of storytelling in business school and beyond
Closed mouth don’t get fed
How Rice helped Ashley in embracing authentic networking
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