MY JOURNEY
Nica Marcello
National Education Manager for Revlon & Elizabeth Arden
Passionate educator As National Education Manager for Revlon & Elizabeth Arden, no two days are the same for Nica Marcello. The qualified makeup artist, national trainer in cosmetics and corporate MC shares with Michelle Ruzzene her secrets to a successful career in beauty. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? WHAT LESSONS DID YOU LEARN? My first job was in hospitality as a waitress. I learnt about resilience and the ability to think on my feet. I also learned that most of my skills came from an act of doing and learning from others.
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN WHEN YOU BEGAN YOUR CAREER? I wish I knew that there was always someone who had done what you do before you. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect from the start. Part of growing professionally and personally is about being humble and not afraid of asking for help.
IF YOU COULD TURN BACK THE TIME AND TALK TO YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HER? I would tell her that there is always a reason for moments to happen in your life Although it sounds cliché each event is there to teach you something either about yourself, others and/or the world around you. To always look for the opportunities in what life presents you.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL WEEKDAY LOOK LIKE TO YOU? I have a ritual of always having a cup of tea first thing in the morning, it sets the tone for the day. It is a time that I cherish and use to reflect. My day can differ from one to the next, I could be conducting virtual trainings, attending a press event or sitting in on meetings. When I get home, I always get out of my work clothes and into comfortable attire, I wash my face chat to girlfriends and my partner and then make time for the lounge and a series on Netflix. 74| RETAIL BEAUTY WINTER 2022
WHAT DO YOU DO ON THE WEEKENDS? When the opportunity arises, I do makeup artist jobs, mainly for weddings. It is my creative outlet and I love it. Spending time in nature, whether that is long walks or just catching up with friends, I love to be outdoors
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST ROLE AS NATIONAL EDUCATION MANAGER, REVLON & ELIZABETH ARDEN? Being involved with two iconic brands is such an honour. I love empowering our consultants with knowledge not just on products but on delivering exceptional customer experiences. I love that no two days are the same and I get to work with amazingly talented individuals.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHTS? When I was working for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics I was invited to attend a Makeup Artist Bootcamp at her studio in New Jersey. I got to meet her and work alongside her where she shared her knowledge and the ethos behind her brand. It was very inspiring.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER CHALLENGES? The quick transition into the virtual learning space. I wouldn’t exactly call it a challenge, but it was a learning curve. Beauty is a soft skill that often lends itself to face to face training with skill sets being taught in the form of demonstrations. Transferring that content to a screen prompts you to be more creative which is great.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ‘FAILURE’, AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT? There was a point in my career that I nearly got to burn out mode. I learnt that I cannot do absolutely everything and that is ok. I learnt to delegate more and focus more on the big picture.
