ELC Celebrates 17 Years of Partnership With HOPE Latina

At The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), supporting and advancing women leaders is part of our DNA—an enduring legacy inspired by our founder, Mrs. Estée Lauder. For the past 17 years, ELC has proudly partnered with Hispanas Organised for Political Equality (HOPE)—a nonprofit, nonpartisan organisation committed to advancing political and economic equity for Latinas through leadership, advocacy, and education—as co-title sponsor of its flagship event, Latina History Day in Los Angeles.

In recent years, ELC has also supported HOPE’s national growth, serving as co-title sponsor of its Latina History Day programming in New York City and hosting convenings that bring together public and private sector leaders to elevate the shared mission of advancing opportunity, equity, and representation for Latinas across the country.

Latina History Day in Los Angeles

In March, ELC supported the 34th annual Latina History Day conference in Los Angeles, hosted by HOPE. As the only conference in the city designed specifically for Latina professionals, the event convened more than 1,300 women for a day of inspiration, skill-building, and connection under the theme “Inspire: Unleash Your Creativity.”

The celebration began with a VIP salon event co-hosted by HOPE and ELC, bringing together alumni of the HOPE Leadership Institute, business leaders, and public sector partners for a conversation on “Catalysts for Change: Inspiring Philanthropy to Build Stronger Communities.” The discussion explored how cross-sector collaboration can fuel sustainable solutions in an effort to strengthen communities.

At the conference held the next day, ELC and HOPE honoured 5 outstanding college students with the Future History Maker awards—recognising Latinas who are making a difference through leadership, academic excellence, and innovation. Each honouree received gift baskets and a glam session with M·A·C artists and Aveda stylists to commemorate the moment.

Later in the programme, Christine Hall, Vice President, R&D, Aveda, joined a panel on “Inspiring Innovation,” where she shared how her career journey has shaped her approach to her work in sustainable innovation for the brand and tips for those in the room to advance in their careers in beauty and beyond.

Throughout the day, guests were gifted hero products from brands across ELC’s portfolio—including TOM FORD, Clinique, M·A·C, The Ordinary, and KILIAN Paris. Origins also hosted a booth at the Comadre Network marketplace, spotlighting its Plantfusion line alongside Latina-owned businesses and artisans.

Expanding the Impact in New York 

In June, ELC continued its coast-to-coast support of HOPE as co-title sponsor of the 4th annual Latina History Day in New York City. The two-day event began with a leadership training for rising Latina changemakers across the city, designed to spark connection and build skills through interactive workshops and networking opportunities. 

The day kicked off with a skin care masterclass led by Sarah Lam, Director, Global Omnichannel Education Development, Clinique, and her education team. Attendees participated in a hands-on skin-typing activity and were introduced to Clinique ’s signature 3-step skin care system. Participants also took part in an interactive session led by Susan Carroll, Executive Director of Education for TOM FORD, Balmain Beauty, Kilian Paris, and Frédéric Malle, focused on understanding and strengthening their leadership styles through guided reflection, peer discussions, and breakout exercises. In the afternoon, Jaime Perez, National Makeup Artist for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, led a confidence-boosting beauty session, sharing pro tips and demonstrating techniques from the brand’s best-selling products. 

That evening, ELC hosted a salon-style reception at our global headquarters to celebrate the trainees and connect leaders from across industries in support of HOPE’s mission. The evening featured remarks from ELC ’s Barma Uruchima, Vice President, Global Value Creation, and co-chair of the Hispanic Connections Employee Resource Group; HOPE CEO Helen Torres; and 2 of the programme’s inspiring trainees, who shared personal reflections on what the leadership training experience meant to them. 

The events culminated in the Latina History Day NYC luncheon, where public and private sector leaders came together to spotlight Latina leadership and advocacy. Kaitesi Rama-Munroe, Director, Global Public Affairs, ELC, delivered sponsorship remarks on behalf of the company, sharing her pride in working for a company that turns its values into action. She highlighted ELC’s role in co-founding the Textured Education Collective—a coalition that includes Aveda and Bumble and bumble and works to make cosmetology education more inclusive—and underscored the power of policy, purpose, and partnership in driving meaningful change. 

HOPE also released its latest Economic Status of Latinas report, which highlighted wage gaps, barriers to representation, and opportunities for investment and reform. 

As part of the experience, attendees received curated gift bags with products from across the ELC portfolio, including TOM FORD, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Estée Lauder, Clinique, and Smashbox. 

ELC remains committed to building a world of limitless possibilities for women and girls. By partnering with organisations like HOPE, we aim to address the barriers that continue to hold Latinas and other women of colour back from opportunity and advancement. Through leadership development, storytelling, and cross-sector collaboration, we’re proud to support efforts that help shape a more equitable future—for our industry and beyond.