NY-ESTÉE-LAUDER
The Estée Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL) announced today that it has established a new Equity and Engagement Center of Excellence (COE). The creation of this new capability underscores The Estée Lauder Companies’ (ELC) core values and commitments to build greater equity and representation within every aspect of its business, from its employees to its consumers.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005218/en/
The Equity and Engagement COE will be led by Nicole Monson , who has been appointed Senior Vice President, Equity and Engagement. Nicole will report directly to Michael O’Hare, Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources.
The events of 2020 and the movement around racial equality have placed a necessary spotlight on every company’s responsibility to take action to advance equal representation, advocacy and inclusion across their organizations. From examining and evolving how the company engages with employees around the world, to enabling greater collaboration across its brands, regions and functions, ELC remains dedicated to purposeful, strategic and accelerated action to drive lasting change.
Building upon ELC’s existing Commitment to Act on Racial Equity , actions on pay equity and other activities to date, the creation of the Equity and Engagement COE signals ELC’s investment in a focused and holistic approach to drive sustainable progress and advance the company’s diverse talent through deep engagement, career advancement, development programs, hiring practices and beyond.
“Our collective vision is to be the most inclusive, equitable and diverse global prestige beauty company for our employees and consumers alike. This important new capability will enhance employee engagement and build greater equity across the business today, while also providing a strategic platform to expand and scale this work into the future,” said Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer . “We know that authentic change takes time, dedication and a clear strategy, and we will continue to devote focused and meaningful resources toward accelerating this goal.”
“Since our company’s founding, our talented employees have been at the center of our business and the most important driver of our success. While we are proud of the progress we have made as a company thus far, we are committed to driving equity and engagement for the long-term,” said William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman . “Nicole’s deep experience and extensive knowledge of Human Resources and the global legal environment, combined with her demonstrated ability to positively influence ELC’s culture, have been invaluable to the company. I look forward to her continued leadership at the helm of this new Center of Excellence.”
As Senior Vice President, Equity and Engagement, Nicole will be an important member of ELC’s Senior Leadership Team and she will work across all areas of the business to develop the company’s long-term Equity and employee Engagement strategy and enterprise-wide capabilities. She will lead the development and implementation of proactive Equity and Engagement initiatives to create a workforce that is more representative and responsive to people of all backgrounds, where all have an opportunity to succeed.
The Equity and Engagement COE was designed to be a strategic and complementary enterprise-wide partner to ELC’s other leaders and business units focused on ESG-related matters, including Human Resources, the Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (IDE) COE, Global Communications, Global Citizenship and Sustainability (GCCS), Global Public Affairs, and beyond. In this spirit, Nicole will collaborate closely with Human Resources leaders and the IDE COE to develop programs designed to ensure fair, inclusive, and equitable treatment of employees around the world with emphasis on addressing conflict and implementing support systems for employees of color, ensuring equitable compensation, application of policies and access to career paths and ensuring the execution of ELC’s equity and engagement vision and strategy. Additionally, Nicole will lead the company’s Racial Equity Initiative, which includes finalizing and implementing a strategy to ensure ELC achieves its Racial Equity Commitments.
Nicole has an extensive proven track record of providing business partners with strategic legal counsel on a wide range of employment and compliance topics, a background that will serve her well in her new role. In her most recent position as Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Global Employment, Ethics and Legal Privacy, Nicole oversaw the Employment Law, Ethics and Legal Privacy teams and worked to advance the Legal strategy for employment, ethics and privacy globally to protect the company’s interests and mitigate risks associated with new laws and regulations, growth of digital platforms, new global acquisitions and an increased regulatory environment. Since joining the company in 2014 as Vice President, Employment Counsel, her role has continuously expanded and evolved with new responsibilities.
Nicole’s influence on ELC’s organizational culture has extended far beyond her official role and responsibilities. As a member of ELC’s Diversity Council, as well as ELC’s ‘Network of Black Leaders & Executives’ and ‘Women’s Leadership Network’ Employee Resource Groups, Nicole has long been passionate about promoting a culture of respect, inclusivity and belonging. Recently, she became Executive Sponsor of She’s Howard: Own Your Power , ELC’s partnership with Howard University to support the success of the University’s alumnae through experiential learning, career coaching, professional training and self-empowering mentorship opportunities.
In addition to her many contributions to ELC, Nicole is a highly regarded expert and thought leader. She has been a guest speaker for numerous local and national organizations. Notably, Nicole was also selected for inclusion into the National Black Lawyers Top 100 , an elite network of successful and influential lawyers with reputations for providing excellent legal representation in their respective practice areas.
Nicole has more than 20 years of relevant experience across labor and employment law and compliance. She earned her J.D. from Howard University School of Law and her B.A. from Spelman College.
About The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, M·A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan New York, DKNY, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Michael Kors, Darphin, TOM FORD BEAUTY, Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, AERIN, RODIN olio lusso, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, BECCA, Too Faced and Dr. Jart+.
ELC-C
ELC-L
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210304005218/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Royal Decree Establishes the International Financial Centre of Oman13.1.2026 10:15:00 CET | Press release
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, may God protect and preserve him, has issued a Royal Decree establishing the International Financial Centre of Oman (IFC Oman) and enacting its own dedicated law. The establishment of the International Financial Centre of Oman aligns with the Sultanate of Oman’s strategic directions aimed at diversifying the national economy, strengthening Oman’s position as a global hub for financial services, attracting capital, and supporting innovation. The creation of the Centre also reflects Oman’s commitment to building a trusted and effective ecosystem for delivering advanced financial services that meet the needs of investors and global institutions. Under the Law of the International Financial Centre of Oman, issued by Royal Decree No. (8/2026), the Centre shall have administrative, financial, and legislative independence. It will develop a regulatory, legal, and judicial framework aligned with international standards and based on English Common Law. The
Forrester: AI-Led Job Disruption Will Escalate, While Fears Of A Job Apocalypse Are Overstated13.1.2026 10:00:00 CET | Press release
Only 6% Of Jobs In The US Will Be Automated By 2030 Forrester (Nasdaq: FORR) forecasts that automation and AI will have a real but modest impact on jobs through 2030. While AI could account for 6% of total US job losses, equating to 10.4 million roles, widespread AI-driven job replacement remains unlikely, as labor productivity would need to accelerate significantly for AI to replace human talent at scale. Rather than eliminating roles, Forrester forecasts that AI will augment 20% of jobs over the next five years, making it essential for businesses to invest in employee training and upskilling. According to the new report, The Forrester AI Job Impact Forecast, US, 2025–2030, over-automating roles due to the hype surrounding AI can lead to costly pullbacks, damaged reputations, and weakened employee experiences. Forrester’s 2026 future-of-work predictions further reveal that over half of layoffs attributed to AI will be quietly reversed as companies realize the operational challenges of
AI EdgeLabs Adds Advanced Risk and Compliance Center with Linux Audit Capabilities to Its AI Runtime Platform13.1.2026 10:00:00 CET | Press release
AI EdgeLabs, the pioneer in autonomous AI runtime platform, today announced the launch of Compliance Center and Linux Audit. Purpose-built for organizations facing NIS2, CRA, and global critical-infrastructure mandates, the new capabilities replace manual reporting and scan-based compliance with continuous visibility, automated control coverage, and real-time posture insights. Key capabilities include: A single Risk Score representing their current posture Real-time compliance visibility for CRA and NIS2 Prioritized assets based on impact and criticality Extended support for firmware, custom OS, and RTOS Linux audit and configuration hardening insights Automated, framework-specific checklists Incident Reporting and Automated Response “As NIS2 and the Cyber Resilience Act come into force, companies need continuous proof of compliance, not manual mapping or siloed visibility,” said Inna Ushakova, CEO of AI EdgeLabs. “This release provides real-time compliance posture, instant detection o
KAYTUS Introduces One-Stop End-to-End Liquid-Cooled Datacenter Solution Targeting AI Market13.1.2026 09:02:00 CET | Press release
- Enhances competitiveness with 30% reduction in cooling energy consumption - Supports high-density, high-efficiency, and eco-friendly data center construction through 4D differentiation strategy KAYTUS, a leading provider of end-to-end AI and liquid cooling solutions, has introduced its One-Stop End-to-End Liquid-Cooled Data Center Solution in response to the surging demand for AI adoption and energy efficiency. The solution is designed with the concepts of modularization, prefabrication, and safety, supporting up to 15 kW per node and 130 kW per cabinet, with a PUE below 1.1. It provides an end-to-end liquid cooling solution covering design, development, deployment, and operation, addressing the complexity and high entry barriers of large-scale liquid-cooled deployment while supporting eco-friendly data center operations aligned with the government’s carbon neutrality initiatives. Rapid Growth of Domestic AI Market Highlights Urgent Need for Energy Efficiency The AI industry is rapid
The Blind Sailor Takes the Stage at WEF: "HIRO’s CHOICE" Project to Set Sail13.1.2026 05:00:00 CET | Press release
A Solo, Non-Stop Crossing of the Pacific Ocean “Blind Sailor Single-Handed Pacific Crossing Project 2027” is a world-first initiative in which Mitsuhiro Iwamoto, a completely blind Japanese yachtsman (blind sailor) based in San Diego, will attempt a solo, non-stop trans-Pacific crossing in the spring of 2027. Sailing a 28-foot yacht single-handedly, he aims to cross the Pacific Ocean from San Diego on the U.S. West Coast to Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, without making port. Iwamoto will speak about this project at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, to be held in January 2026. Project URL: https://hiros-choice.com/ This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260108087321/en/ Hiro Iwamoto / Global Keynote Speaker, First Totally Blind Sailor to Cross the Pacific The message he most wishes to convey at the WEF is the power of choice. He lost his sight at the age of sixteen—a moment when he nearly gave up on
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
