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Class Guests & Industry Experts

Beauty Industry Professionals Inspire Branding & Networking

Beauty Industry Professionals Inspire Branding & Networking

Our guests today were Ellisa Cox and Omi Hopper.  Both women are employed by Sephora,

a French international chain of personal care and beauty stores featuring nearly 300 brands of makeup products.  Sephora offers beauty products including cosmetics, skin care, body fragrance, nail color and haircare.  The company was founded in France in 1969 with its present headquarters in the French city of Paris.

Both women also have personal investments in other activities. 

Besides being a Manager at Sephora, Omi has her own makeup company called Bellisima (Facebook & Instagram: BellisimaMUA).   Ellisa is presently a senior at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).

Today’s host was Hope High School’s own makeup artist extraordinaire, Lydia Watkins.

Lydia Watkins (left) welcomes Omi (center) and Ellisa to the Hope LIfe Skills class prior to the start of today’s class.

Lydia introduces Omi and Ellisa to her classmates at the beginning of today’s class.

Following Lydia’s introductions, students welcome Omi and Elissa to Hope High and the Hope Life Skills class.  Jarlene Carona leads the way by greeting Omi while Kately Taverez welcomes Ellisa in the foreground.

Omi and Ellisa begin to share their personal stories of stepping out of their comfort zone to pursue what they’re passionate about, developing and using their personal brands to build networks of successful people which helped both women create career opportunities.  Omi and Ellisa also shared their aspirations for their future.

At the end of class, Lydia networks showing Ellisa her portfolio of makeup designs.  Ellisa’s reaction “Lydia is amazing!  We can use her at Sephora right now!!!!!”  Lydia ASKS Ellisa if she would help her connect with people she knows in the cosmetics industry.

Mariely Brito networks with Omi by exchanging business cards. In the photo above, Mariely offers her business card to Omi who reciprocates.

Omayra Corporan networks with Omi as Innocent Byiningiro (red sweatshirt) and Elliott Burrell wait to do the same.

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BEHIND THE program

Hi, I'm  Stephen

As an educator and businessman who has spent 23+ years implementing life skills education in Providence public schools, I believe every student possesses untapped intelligence that, when paired with the right skills and mindset, enables them to navigate challenges, create opportunities, and build futures that once seemed out of reach.

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