January 11: Opening Party
January 12–14: Conference & Expo
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center | NYC
Award-winning Actress, Producer and CEO/Founder of Pattern Beauty
PATTERN Beauty
Tracee Ellis Ross is an award-winning actress, producer, founder, and CEO. For eight seasons, Ross starred in ABC’s award-winning comedy series “black-ish.” Ross has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including a Golden Globe Award, nine NAACP Image Awards, and the 2020 E! People’s Choice Awards “Fashion Icon Award.” She was also named a Disney Legend for making an extraordinary contribution to The Walt Disney Company.
Ross is the owner, founder, and co-CEO of PATTERN Beauty, the global multimillion-dollar brand she created for the curly, coily & tight-textured community in 2019. PATTERN is the #1 BIPOC brand and #2 curl brand sold at ULTA Beauty. PATTERN is also sold at Sephora, Nordstrom, ULTA Beauty at Target, Macy’s, Amazon, and Thirteen Lune in the US.
Ross was last seen opposite Jeffrey Wright in the Oscar-winning drama “American Fiction,” directed by Cord Jefferson. Last December, Ross starred with Eddie Murphy in Amazon’s holiday film, “Candy Cane Lane,” the most-watched Amazon movie debut in the U.S. and among the top 10 worldwide film debuts ever on the service. Ross will next be seen in Netflix’s “Black Mirror.”
Ross advocates for joy, self-acceptance, inclusivity, and equity. In 2017, Ross gave a powerful viral speech about claiming your life at Glamour’s Women of the Year Summit. In 2018, Ross opened the TED Conference, the first Black woman to do so, with a speech about the wisdom of women’s fury. She was given a Webby Special Achievement Award for her ingenious use of the Internet to share multidimensional stories of belonging, increasing Black representation in the beauty industry, and serving as a constant, positive force on the Internet, and was named a 2023 Cosmetic Executive Women Female Founder honoree. She was recently honored with the Trailblazer Award by 15 Percent Pledge and as a 2024 CNBC Changemaker. Ross received honorary Doctorate degrees from Spelman College in 2023 and Brown University, her alma mater, in 2015.
8:15am - 9:00am
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
In this inspiring fireside chat, Tracee Ellis Ross, award-winning actress, producer, and CEO/founder of PATTERN Beauty, shares stories about how she created a multimillion-dollar global beauty brand that celebrates the richness of textured hair. Tracee will discuss her journey from Hollywood to entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of representation and inclusivity in the beauty industry. Learn how she built PATTERN Beauty to empower individuals to embrace their natural hair with pride, while also fostering a deeper conversation about identity and self-acceptance. Tracee will offer insights on navigating the challenges of launching a brand, balancing creativity with business acumen, staying authentic in a crowded marketplace, and dispelling the myth that Black haircare is a niche market. This session will provide a unique perspective on what it means to redefine beauty standards and create a meaningful impact through purpose-driven leadership.
Attention Press & Media: No audio or video recording, or photography will be allowed in this session. Only note taking is permitted.
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