July 2015

July 2015
Siobhan Conroy '11

Q & A:

• What was your favorite class, who was your favorite professor, or what is your fondest memory of Hofstra?
  My fondest memory of Hofstra was the late night studying with my friends in the library and/or dorms. During finals, we would spend so much time together, studying and helping each other with the material. During the studying period, I would have not considered it a fun time, but looking back, it was the best time I had in college. I developed such close bonds with my classmates that will last a lifetime.
• What was your first job after graduating Hofstra, and what was the most valuable thing you learned there?
  My first job was a temporary lab technician for Estée Lauder. The most valuable thing I learned – on a personal level – is that consistent hard work and perseverance pay off. In addition, I realized you truly have to enjoy your job because it gives you the passion to excel and makes you an overall happier person. If you love what you do, then it is not work, and that makes it a whole lot easier to get up every day and get yourself there. On a professional level, I learned how much work it takes to launch a product. The women in my family always used Estée Lauder products, so it was very intriguing to witness the “behind the scenes.”
• What is your field of specialty, and how did you come to work in the industry?
  My field of specialty is color development and makeup formulations. I came to work in this industry because I love chemistry. When I decided to major in chemistry, I knew I either wanted to go into medicine or do something in cosmetics. When I graduated from Hofstra, I started my master’s in biochemistry with the intention of applying to medical school. Before I applied, I knew I wanted to work in the field just to gain experience and explore my options. After my first semester, I applied to a temporary lab technician position at Estée Lauder, and I fell in love with this career.
• What advice would you give Hofstra students?
  Deal with the task at hand. Sometimes life can be overwhelming, but focus on one thing at a time and you will get through it all.
• In one word, how would you describe Hofstra?
  Versatile.
• What advice would you give to other women pursuing careers in chemistry?
  You go girl! There is always a need for more women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These fields continue to grow, so the need will continue to grow. There are so many careers in chemistry, other than medicine, that many students are not aware of, such as food and cosmetics.
• When you were pursuing your degree in chemistry, did you have an idea that you wanted to be a formulator for high end makeup like Bobbi Brown/Smashbox?
  When I was pursuing chemistry, I was not sure what my career path would be. I knew I loved science, but continuously flip-flopped on the profession I was going to pursue. I absolutely love makeup and fashion, so I considered cosmetic chemistry, but then I also was interested in medicine. When I started graduate school, I realized I had a more natural inclination toward innovation and, not to sound cheeky, toward more of a fun and “glamorous” career.
• How do you see this career changing over the next few years? Are there any major advancements in makeup formulas that we should expect?
  This career has so many paths that I am not sure exactly where it will take me, but as of right now, I would love to be very involved with innovation and product development. As for makeup formulas, there is advancement constantly happening. We have to keep up with technology and emerging trends, just like in fashion. For the future, expect to see different industries being applied to our makeup formulations and more personalized products that cater to the individual consumer. New technologies, such as 3-D printers, enable us to launch newer and better products more quickly. They allow our packaging groups to bring to life an idea for a package in a short amount of time.