This month we focus on Hilarie Murad, the vice-president of creative and marketing services for Murad, the skincare
giant.

"FIDM taught me to work hard and stay focused on my goals," explains Hilarie Murad, the vice-president of creative and marketing services for skin care giant Murad. Based in El Segundo, California, Hilarie is responsible for the Murad brand. "I make sure that anything with the Murad name on it accurately represents who we are," she says. This includes providing visual and written direction for the website, catalog and product packaging. "I am also involved in product development, helping to decide which new products to develop and how to make them unique in the marketplace."

The Murad brand includes a skincare line, spa and dermatology practice. Their products, which include anti-aging, body care, sun protection and men’s skincare, are carried at stores like Sephora and Pure Beauty. "What I love most about my job is that I am able to make things happen and to see the results of hard work," Hilarie says. As an example, she discusses the catalog that Murad puts out four times a year. "Each one requires significant time and energy from a team of people. It’s great to see first hand results when the orders come in and we have once again exceeded our projections."

Hilarie first learned about FIDM from a former co-worker. After graduating from college, she wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to do for a career. "My father (Dr. Howard Murad) offered me a job at Murad, which at the time was rapidly growing, but it was still very new company," she says. "Not knowing what direction to take, I visited FIDM and realized it was an opportunity to explore one of my passions, and learn about an entirely new industry." Hilarie explains that FIDM helped to teach her discipline, which is part of what makes her successful today.

While at FIDM, Hilarie worked in quality assurance for the Warner Bros. clothing line, but wanted to head straight to Murad after graduating to apply what she had learned. "FIDM gave me a good gauge for what people were doing in other industries. The industry is so fascinating to me and I love being on the cutting-edge," Hilarie explains. "I love being responsible for how we are perceived." Hilarie recently oversaw the revamp of the Murad.com website and pays close attention to the projects that the company gets involved in.

If you’re looking to break into the Beauty Industry, Hilarie has one piece of advice: take initiative. "Be willing to make the most of any opportunity even if it’s not exactly what you want to be doing. The more you know about the industry as a whole, the more effective you’ll be."

Please Note: The information contained herein was confirmed at the time of original publication