We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lizbeth Zuniga. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lizbeth below.
Hi Lizbeth, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic comes from my personal upbringing that began when I immigrated to the US at six years old, raised in a single-parent household. Overcoming a language barrier, learning to speak English, and almost failing the 4th grade, a defining conversation with my mother set the stage for my perspective. My mom pulled me aside and said to me, “What you do in your life will impact you, and only you. If you decide to fail out of school, if you decide to be successful, it will always be an impact to your life and not mine. I won’t tell you to get good grades, and put in the effort at school, because what I say will not matter. Anything you do in life has to be for you.” She emphasized that the choices I make in life will ultimately shape my destiny, serving as a powerful motivator for me to take control of my circumstances. Initially driven by a determination to break the cycle of poverty, finish school, and have personal success, my motivation gradually evolved. I wanted to be better, not only for myself, but also for my family. I wanted a better life for all of us. Encounters with teachers, college advisors, and supportive managers played a crucial role in shaping my outlook. Their belief in my potential became a driving force in my journey.
A significant influence on my character came from my grandfather, who imparted invaluable life lessons, emphasizing the importance of helping others and giving back. While I’ve worked hard for every dollar I’ve earned, I realized that money is transient, and it’s important to extend support to those around you while you can. My work ethic started with a desire to provide for myself and then for my family and reciprocate the support they provided me. Later, my success in the corporate world evolved into a commitment to positively impact the lives of those I manage, influence, and collaborate with. Today, my dedication extends beyond personal success; it encompasses the success of my team. The core value of “People First” within our company reflects a commitment to prioritize the well-being of employees, clients, and all stakeholders. Our wins are celebrated together and shared with everyone.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am the CEO and Founder of Acquire Beauty, a Supply Chain and Operations consulting firm dedicated to helping brands get started and launch their first products all the way to helping established brands outsource their supply chain operations or create and execute a plan to fix issues they might not even know exist. We offer fully customized solutions tailored to their needs with the ultimate goal being to empower our clients, guide them towards a self-sufficient and successful future. My journey in the beauty industry began at 18 years old when I got my first internship at L’Oreal while starting my Indsutrial Engineering Education. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with brands such as SkinCeuticals, Dermablend, Vichy, La Roche Possay, Garnier, Tarte, Shiseido, Pat McGrath Labs, YSL Beauty, Armani Beauty, Lancome, and many more. Throughout my career, I’ve gained extensive experience in multiple acquisitions, domestic and international expansions, and working with both small and large brands, enabling me to envision the future state of companies and advise on how to get there.
Our main focus is creating less risk, being more reactive, and providing problem-solving solutions. We take pride in our approach of offering audits with a clear roadmap to address any issues. Unlike traditional consulting models, our aim is to build long-term relationships and empower our clients, making them self-sufficient. We offer workshops specifically targeting key scenarios we commonly encounter, giving our clients the knowledge needed to start and grow their brands, turning their dreams into visions.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Resilience was key, the ability to persevere, no matter how tough it got. This came by nature of my story, my immigrant background, looking to create the American Dream. I was motivated to get an education, establish myself professionally, and stop the cycle of poverty from repeating.
Emotional Intelligence was something I truly had to work on. My career moved fast but I had many eyes on me. I was young, outspoken, and a minority in ethnicity and gender. I had many people supporting me, but just as many, if not more, rooting for me to fail. Judgments about my demeanor and communication style led me to take a coaching program, in which I learned that “I was a diamond that simply needed polishing”. This program not only polished my professional skills but also empowered me to control and channel my emotions strategically. Now when I get passionate, my words are intentional and planned. The coaching I received transformed me as a person and my career path.
Lastly, Networking. All relationships matter. The world is a small place, and the Beauty industry is even smaller. Recognizing the significance of relationships, I’ve actively built and maintained a strong network. The success of Acquire Beauty owes much to the strength of our connections. When I first started the company, the first 5 contracts were all a result of our network and the reputation I had fostered. Upholding the principle of never burning bridges, I always aimed to give the highest quality work, even when I was leaving a position and/or a company .Put yourself out there, try to connect with people, and be genuine.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Supply Chain Operations is often viewed as a bottleneck, preventing brands from progressing due to rules, processes, and procedures that need to be followed. Acquire Beauty was created with the goal of transforming the perceptions within Supply Chain Operations. Our aim is to educate the industry, prepare for the unknown and identify faster and cost-effective paths to growth and market entry. Understanding the broader context, including finance, Marketing, Sales, and Product Development, is important in making an impact. Acquire Beauty serves to connect us all together, facilitating the realization of shared goals.
Consultants have a reputation of prioritizing billable hours over providing genuine value, often offering advice without action. Acquire Beauty is committed to changing this norm. we will work with any budget and scope, keeping in mind no contract or client is too small. We want to build long-standing relationships, recognizing our clients can evolve significantly over time. Upholding a “People First” approach means we don’t take advantage of being a consultant to charge a premium. Clients pay for the quality of our work and the efficiency with which we deliver results compared to other consulting groups.
Its not an easy movement to change the reputation of Supply Chain Operations and Consultants, but we are on a mission to make Acquire Beauty stand out.
Contact Info:
- Website: acquirebeauty.com
- Instagram: acquirebeauty
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lizbeth-zuniga
- Other: Personal Instagram: @lzuni
