Carlotta Jacobson to Receive 2026 CEW Catalyst Award
On April 30th, Carlotta Jacobson, Executive Director of Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW), will receive the Catalyst Award at the 2026 CEW Achiever Awards at the Hilton Midtown Hotel in NYC.
IN addition to Jacobson, Jo Horgan will receive the Corporate Empowerment for Women Award on behalf of Mecca M-Power, and Kecia Steelman, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ulta Beauty, the nation’s largest beauty retailer, will receive the Retail Leadership Award.
Honoring women leaders in beauty, CEW’s Achiever Awards is where beauty’s iconic leaders take center stage, an event that is central to CEW’s brand and mission. While the event centers on a moment to stand together to applaud the changemakers who continue to lead with purpose and impact it also provides the venue to spark meaningful connections.
To amplify women’s leadership in the beauty industry, CEW will publish a 2026 Women’s Leadership Awards Digital Journal, featuring data from McKinsey & Company’s Women in the Workplace study. The journal will also spotlight this year’s Achiever Awards and Visionary Honorees, sharing insights on their career journeys, pivotal inflection points, and advice for navigating workplace challenges.
Carlotta Jacobson is a leader in the beauty industry. She has held a series of key positions, including beauty editor of Harper’s Bazaar, and President of the beauty industry’s foremost association, Cosmetic Executive Women. CEW is an international organization of 9,000 individual members representing a cross section of beauty and related businesses. CEW’s primary purpose is to support the advancement of women in the beauty industry.
During her 20+ year tenure at CEW, Carlotta Jacobson led the organization through tremendous growth – from fewer than 400 to over 9,000 members, creating unique programming, industry awards, and developing a prestigious board of governors—establishing CEW as the industry authority it is today.
A dedicated supporter of philanthropic activities, Ms. Jacobson is also former president of the CEW Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CEW, founded in 1993. She founded the foundation’s first independent initiative, Cancer and Careers, a resource for people working with cancer.
Ms. Jacobson was honored by the American Cancer Society for her commitment.
She is the recipient of the CEW UK Achiever Awards Special Industry Award, Traditional Home Classic Woman Awards Editor & Publisher Award, and the John Mack Carter Founders Award, presented at Komen Greater NYC’s annual Impact Awards.
She was named in WWD Beauty Inc.’s first-ever list of the 50 most influential people in the beauty industry.
She has served as chairwoman of Women In Need (WIN), a nonprofit charitable organization that provides housing and other vital services to homeless women and their children in NYC.
