What advice does Ulta CEO Kecia Steelman give for career setbacks?

Kecia Steelman advises facing career setbacks with grace and persistence, suggesting individuals choose to become 'better' rather than 'bitter'.

How did Kecia Steelman prepare for her role as Ulta CEO?

Steelman prepared for years under the previous CEO, learning as much as she could to be ready for the chief executive role.

What are Ulta's current business strategies under CEO Steelman?

Ulta Beauty is implementing a turnaround plan that includes integrating agentic AI into the shopping experience and strengthening its customer loyalty program.

Home / Business and Economy / Ulta CEO: Turn Setbacks into Strengths

Ulta CEO: Turn Setbacks into Strengths

15 Mar

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Summary

Resilience is key when facing career setbacks, says Ulta CEO.
Steelman embraced growth opportunities over leaving.
Ulta focuses on customer experience and AI integration.

Kecia Steelman, CEO of Ulta Beauty, shared insights at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Conference regarding navigating career disappointments. She advocates for resilience, stating, "You can either choose to be bitter or you can be better." Steelman demonstrated this philosophy by remaining with Ulta, where she had spent 11 years, including as chief operating officer, preparing for her eventual CEO role. This strategic patience allowed her to "hit the ground running" when she took the helm in January 2025.

Steelman's tenure has focused on Ulta's turnaround plan, including integrating agentic AI into the shopping journey and nurturing its extensive loyalty program. Despite economic headwinds, customers continue to purchase non-essential beauty items. The company also recently ended a shop-in-shop partnership with Target, a decision Steelman described as mutual and a natural business evolution. She expressed that Ulta has successfully regained its "swagger."

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