Confidence Is Your Competitive Advantage: Career Lessons from Wella Company Leaders

Attendees toured Wella’s office in Midtown, NYC (left and lower center) participated in a leadership panel Q&A, and completed an interview skills workshop.

What makes someone stand out in an interview? Turns out, it's not having the perfect resume, checking every box on a job description, or having your entire career mapped out before you graduate.

Girls With Impact participants explored these ideas during the our Summer of Success event at Wella Company, where they gained an inside look at one of the world's leading beauty companies while building practical career skills they can use immediately.

The day included an executive leadership panel, a behind-the-scenes tour of Wella's offices, and one of the program's most impactful experiences: an interview skills workshop where each participant met one-on-one with a Wella professional, practiced interviewing, and received personalized feedback to help them prepare for future internships and careers.

Throughout the day, one message became clear: confidence isn't something you're born with, it's something you build.

Great Careers Rarely Follow a Straight Line

One of the strongest themes of the day was that successful careers are rarely linear.

Several Wella leaders shared stories about changing industries, taking unexpected opportunities, and discovering new passions along the way.

Katrina Gentile, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Insights, encouraged participants to embrace those twists and turns.

"What you think you want to do may not be what you do, and that's okay."

She explained that some of the experiences that challenged her the most ultimately became the most valuable.

"Where I've learned the most is where I took a risk. The linear career is not always the most interesting career."

The lesson for participants was reassuring: you don't have to have your entire future planned today. Being open to new experiences often leads to opportunities you never expected.

Curiosity Helps You Stand Out

When asked what separates exceptional candidates from everyone else, Wella's leaders didn't talk first about technical skills.

They talked about curiosity. Chief Legal Officer Krista Kubida reflected on her own career and shared advice she wishes she had learned much earlier.

"Even if you're the most junior person in the room, ask the question. Ask, be curious, give an idea or opinion. Curiosity and speaking up go a long way."

Frank Smalla, Wella's Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, agreed.

"Nobody expects you to know it all, but to bring your skillset and your personality. Show passion, ask questions, and show your interest. That's how you learn."

Rather than waiting until they felt like experts, participants were encouraged to contribute, stay engaged, and view every experience as an opportunity to learn.

Your Mindset Matters More Than Perfection

The panelists also challenged participants to let go of the idea that they needed to be perfectly qualified before pursuing opportunities.

Smalla encouraged attendees not to let fear of making mistakes hold them back.

"The biggest mistake you can make is sitting on the sidelines because you're too afraid to make a mistake. Just try things."

He also encouraged participants to be honest when applying for roles where they may not meet every qualification.

"Share why you're passionate, ask good questions, try things, and show that you can learn quickly."

Kristen Blandon, Global Head of Prestige Care Brands, echoed that advice.

"Don't expect your career to go in a straight line. It's going to take zigs and zags, and that's where the best lessons come from."

Together, their advice reinforced an important message: employers aren't looking for perfection. They're looking for people with curiosity, initiative, and the willingness to grow.

Practice Builds Confidence

One of the highlights of the afternoon was a hands-on interview workshop that gave participants the opportunity to put these lessons into practice.

Each participant was paired one-on-one with a Wella professional for a mock interview, receiving individualized coaching and constructive feedback on everything from answering questions to communicating with confidence.

The exercise transformed interview preparation from something intimidating into a valuable learning experience.

By practicing in a supportive environment with experienced professionals, participants gained practical skills they can carry into future internship and job interviews.

Relationships Open Doors

Throughout the day, Wella leaders emphasized that building a successful career isn't just about developing skills, it's also about building relationships.

Kubida encouraged participants to invest in their professional networks early.

"Networking is important. Form those relationships, leverage them throughout your career, maintain them, and don't let them fizzle out."

That lesson came to life as participants connected with executives, professionals, and even current Wella interns who offered relatable advice and firsthand perspectives about launching a career.

For GWI Marketing Intern Suraiya Munroe, those conversations were among the most meaningful parts of the experience.

"My experience at the Wella event was really positive. It was inspiring to hear from people working in the beauty industry."

She especially appreciated connecting with a Wella intern who was close to her own age.

"She was able to relate to my experiences and gave me helpful advice."

Reflecting on the day, Suraiya summed up one of the event's biggest lessons.

"My biggest takeaway was that building connections is just as important as building your skills. Talking with professionals and other interns showed me how valuable it is to ask questions."

Attendee Savanna St. Aimee agreed: “I learned the importance of putting yourself out there and not being afraid to ask questions. Even if you’re not the most experienced person in the room, being curious, using your network and resources, and taking advantage of opportunities can open so many doors.”

Building the Confidence to Lead

The Wella experience demonstrated that career readiness is about much more than preparing for your first job. It's about learning to speak up, stay curious, embrace challenges, and build meaningful relationships.

Through Girls With Impact's live, online programs, young women ages 14–24 continue developing the business, leadership, and career readiness skills employers value most, from communication and networking to entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and confidence.

Whether they're preparing for college, interviewing for an internship, or launching their first career, Girls With Impact helps participants build the skills, and the confidence, to stand out.

Learn more about Girls With Impact's Innovation Academy, Career Accelerator, and other online programs by clicking here.