John Demsey didn’t become a powerhouse in the beauty industry by a mere stroke of luck; he built that influence on retail floors, taking on scrappy roles while learning the business in ways no MBA could ever teach. This helped him scale MAC Cosmetics into a global cultural movement, shape some of the most iconic beauty brands of our time, and ultimately rise to Group President of Estée Lauder Companies. In this episode, John joins Ilana to reveal how to build a career from the ground up, reinvent after setbacks, and lead with the kind of creativity that transforms industries.

John D. Demsey is the former Executive Group President of Estée Lauder Companies, where he helped build and scale iconic brands like MAC Cosmetics, Tom Ford Beauty, and more into a multi-billion-dollar global powerhouse.

In this episode, Ilana and John will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction 

(02:38) His Early Exposure to Fashion and Design

(06:36) Choosing Stanford Over the Ivy Leagues

(09:26) Getting Started in the Beauty Industry

(15:35) The Power of Learning Every Role in the Business

(24:11) Joining Estee Lauder and Moving to LA

(28:42) Building MAC Cosmetics into a Global Powerhouse 

(36:02) How John Landed Celebrity Endorsements

(42:56) Working with Tom Ford and Revolutionizing Fragrances

(52:58) Navigating Controversy and Reinventing Himself

(1:01:17) His New Ventures and Future Plans

John D. Demsey is the former Executive Group President of Estée Lauder Companies, where he helped build and scale iconic brands like MAC Cosmetics, Tom Ford Beauty, Smashbox, Clinique, and Jo Malone London. Over his 30-year career at Estée Lauder, he played a pivotal role in expanding the company into a multi-billion-dollar business across both established and emerging markets. He is the author of Behind the Blue Door, a visual memoir capturing his bold lifestyle, vibrant career, and personal journey.

Connect with John:

John’s Instagram: instagram.com/jdemsey 

John’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/john-demsey 

Resources Mentioned:

John’s Book, Behind the Blue Door: A Maximalist Mantra: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0865654344 

LEAP E57 with Dan Ariely: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/surviving-lies-rumors-and-digital-hate-dan-arielys/id1701718200?i=1000678512628