Dermalogica, a leading professional skincare brand around the world, recently hosted a graduation event to honor the first class to graduate from its FITE (Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship) Future Entrepreneur program. This nonprofit program combines the mission of Dermalogica, which is to help bring success to the professional skin therapist, with FITE’s philanthropic commitment to advance women and girl’s economic empowerment. The graduation event, held at the brand’s flagship store in SoHo, welcomed more than 50 guests including friends, family members, program partners, and media. Dermalogica cofounder and chief visionary, Jane Wurwand was also in attendance, and shared her own personal journey within the industry to the program participants. “For nearly 30 years, Dermalogica has empowered women in the salon industry,” says Wurwand. “The FITE Future Entrepreneurs program is an opportunity to bring a new group of extraordinary young women into the Dermalogica tribe and train them not just for a job, but for a career.”
This year’s graduates included 10 young women between the ages 18 to 26 who were out-of-work and out-of-school, and were given the opportunity to receive industry education and on-the-job training program over the next year. The scholarship also provides vocational education, resources and supplies including a laptop computer, mentorship and business management training, childcare assistance, advanced course study, shadowing and job placement within a salon at the conclusion of the program.
FITE Future Entrepreneurs will be expanded to other cities across the U.S. next year to support young women in developing the skills needed to achieve financial independence and in turn reach their full potential. The global expansion of the program has begun with partnerships supporting under-resourced women in emerging markets such as Cambodia and India, as well as in the UK and Australia.