Bobbi Brown: Overcoming Challenges and Finding Success After Estée Lauder

In 2016, Bobbi Brown faced a significant career setback when Estée Lauder decided to cut her creative contract at her namesake brand. While she wasn’t technically fired, Brown equated the company’s decision with a termination, prompting her to feel as though she had no choice but to leave her own brand.

Reflecting on that experience, Brown shared her feelings of defeat in an interview with Business Insider. “I felt like such a loser,” she admitted. Although few experience such a dramatic exit, her story offers valuable lessons for anyone grappling with job loss or career transitions.

Embracing Emotions and Moving Forward

Brown emphasizes that it is completely normal to experience a range of emotions following a job loss. “Realize it’s normal to feel these things,” she advises, pointing out that acceptance is a necessary step in the healing process. However, she cautions against lingering in a period of sadness. “It’s up to you if you want to spend six months in bed being sad — or you want to try to feel better,” she said.

In the months after her departure, Brown worked hard to stay productive and focus on her mental well-being. “Standing still is not an option,” she stated firmly. To aid her recovery, she sought help from a “spiritual chiropractor” to release negative energy and a business coach to help redefine her goals.

Building Resilience Through Adversity

In her memoir, Still Bobbi, Brown recounts her journey of resilience fostered during her teenage years amidst family challenges. Despite sometimes feeling the weight of past pain, she refuses to allow it to dictate her future. “I’m not someone that likes to stay sad or mad,” Brown emphasized, focusing instead on self-improvement and growth.

Rediscovering Passion and Purpose

Initially, Brown never envisioned herself working in her 60s, which influenced her decision to accept a 25-year non-compete agreement with Estée Lauder. However, her subsequent experiences infuse her with renewed energy and creativity, making her feel rejuvenated as she engaged with younger generations. Promoting her book, Beauty From the Inside Out, became a pivotal project shortly after her exit, serving as a “rebirth” for her career.

Entrepreneurial Ventures Lead to Success

As she navigated her post-Estée Lauder journey, Brown experimented with various ventures, including a short-lived supplement brand and a curated shop at Lord & Taylor called “JustBobbi.” This shop combined her passion for content creation with product innovation, providing a unique platform for her to reach consumers. These experiences eventually culminated in the launch of her clean beauty brand, Jones Road Beauty.

Achievements Beyond Expectations

When Brown launched Jones Road Beauty in October 2020, she envisioned it as a small, fun creative outlet with a goal of reaching $1 million in revenues during the first year. Surpassing her own expectations, the brand achieved nearly $160 million in revenue by 2024. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Brown described her departure from Estée Lauder as “the best thing” that ever happened to her.

The Importance of Embracing Change

“I’m doing something that I should be doing, and that I love,” Brown remarked, reflecting on her journey in a conversation with Business Insider. “If I didn’t go through the bad stuff, I wouldn’t be able to come out on this end.” Her story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of positive change in the face of adversity.