Beauty Industry Entrepreneur & Investor; Founder of Laura Mercier; Former EVP at Neiman Marcus; Board Member at Olaplex
Janet Gurwitch Biography
Janet Gurwitch is an American businesswoman and investor with a significant presence in the beauty industry. Gurwitch began her career at Foley's department store in Houston, Texas, advancing to senior vice president of merchandising. She later joined Neiman Marcus as executive vice president, where she oversaw merchandising strategy for all 35 stores and managed 80 percent of the company's $2 billion sales volume.
Gurwitch partnered with makeup artist Laura Mercier to launch the beauty brand Laura Mercier, investing her personal savings and leveraging her experience in retail and brand development. The brand grew substantially, ultimately becoming part of a $700 million acquisition deal alongside two other brands.
Gurwitch was named a finalist for Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year Award" for Houston and was included in BusinessWeek's "Top 50 Chief Executive Prospects in the Nation." Houston Woman Magazine recognized her as one of Houston's "50 Most Influential Women." She has contributed to academic institutions, serving on the Jones School Council of Overseers at Rice University, as an adjunct professor in management, and as a lecturer at the University of Texas, Rice University, the University of Houston, and the University of Alabama.
Following the sale of Laura Mercier, Gurwitch transitioned to private equity as an operating partner at Castanea Partners, serving on the boards of consumer brands including Urban Decay Cosmetics, Tatcha, Drybar, and First Aid Beauty. She later joined Advent International, focusing on the beauty and wellness consumer sector and serving on the board of Olaplex. When Advent acquired Laura Mercier, bareMinerals, and Buxom from Shiseido and formed Orveon Global, Gurwitch served as senior advisor.
Gurwitch is also an investor in the Houston Astros and serves on the Astros board as the only woman member. She sits on the board of directors of e-commerce accelerator Front Row. With a career spanning retail leadership, entrepreneurship, private equity, and professional sports ownership, Gurwitch is recognized for her expertise in brand-building, innovation, and identifying emerging trends in the consumer and beauty sectors.
Janet Gurwitch Videos
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Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Janet Gurwitch for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Janet Gurwitch, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Janet Gurwitch or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Janet Gurwitch
Speaking fees for Janet Gurwitch, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Janet Gurwitch are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Janet Gurwitch, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Janet Gurwitch speak about?
Janet Gurwitch is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business, Business Growth, Business Leadership, Corporate Strategy, Digital Transformation, Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, Executive Leadership, Female Leadership, Influential Women, Personal Growth, Retail, Strategic Leadership, Technology, Women in Business, Women's Empowerment -
Where does Janet Gurwitch travel from?
Janet Gurwitch generally travels from Houston, TX, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Janet Gurwitch’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Janet Gurwitch for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Janet Gurwitch for your next private or corporate function. -
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Janet Gurwitch is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Janet Gurwitch for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Janet Gurwitch generally travels from Houston, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Barbara Corcoran, Leah Solivan, Margherita Della Valle, Samia Bouazza and Jennifer Borrero. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Janet Gurwitch for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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