Elana Drell-Szyfer, CEO, Ahava North America

The Innovator

By Brittani Banks

Elana Drell-Szyfer is a beauty business veteran – she’s worked for Avon, Lancôme Paris and was senior vice president of Global Marketing at Esteé Lauder. Today, as CEO of Ahava North America, one of the greatest obstacles she’s faced has been recreating her definition of success.

“I love to work and I love the cosmetics industry,” Drell-Szyfer tells PINK. Though she left a company whose brand is a household name, taking the helm at Ahava, a cosmetic line made of minerals from the Dead Sea, is sold in more than 30 countries, has proved to allow her better work-life balance.

How did she find the balance? “I’ve had to overcome my own preconceived notions about success and status to continue to do what I love. Success is one of those things that changes throughout your life.” At first she measured success by “the title, the salary, and the biggest office.” But not anymore.

Now, Drell-Szyfer says, “Success for me means having a job that fulfills my intellectual curiosity and creativity while allowing me the flexibility and freedom to have a family.” She gets inspiration from her mother, who “finished graduate school and went back to class six weeks after I was born.” Her mother has continuously worked since the ‘60s and today, at 71, is executive director of a nonprofit.

Drell-Szyfer says her husband of 17 years and her three daughters keep her motivated. During New York Fashion Week this year, her 10-year-old opted not to attend a show with her mother and sister because she wanted to finish homework. Drell-Szyfer says her children “have such integrity, morality and intelligence that they inspire me to work on being a better person.”