Estée Lauder: Cultivating STEM Talent through Science and Technology Events on Long Island

Estée Lauder is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of professionals in the consumer goods industry. In Long Island, New York, the company hosts STEM-related events for local children and teens to provide an exclusive look at its science and technology initiatives. These events aim to showcase the technology behind Estée Lauder’s beauty products and ignite interest in potential STEM careers through engaging hands-on activities focused on natural ingredients, product formulation, package design, sustainability, and 3D design. Additionally, the company utilizes these events to gather valuable insights from consumers by recruiting participants for its clinical study panels.

Simona Sitarus, director of R&D product formulation at Estée Lauder, expressed the company’s passion for educating the youth in the local community about the science involved in beauty products. She emphasized the importance of chemistry, biology, and engineering in the production of their products and aims to spark excitement for science and educate future STEM talent in Long Island.

Furthermore, Estée Lauder offers networking and growth opportunities for the next generation workforce through its applied learning program at Farmingdale State College and its partnership with the Girl Scouts of Nassau County STEM Conference. Professionals from the company highlighted at the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.’s Women and Girls Conference that many of them began their full-time careers at Estée Lauder through the completion of the company’s R&D summer internship program.

Sharon Mesfen, an Estée Lauder fellow in advanced technology pioneering, expressed the company’s desire to inspire students to consider and pursue careers in STEM fields. The goal is to encourage young individuals to explore opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Estée Lauder’s commitment to innovation extends across various aspects of its business operations. The company has embraced Google Cloud early on to enhance its AI-powered tech strategy, which has improved digital experiences and supported R&D efforts. Additionally, Estée Lauder has been an early partner of OpenAI’s generative AI platform