“Teach the leaders of tomorrow,” Tara Loftis from Galderma

Meet Tara Loftis, Global President, Skincare Brands at Galderma, where she oversees the day-to-day operations of all skincare brands and develops strategies to drive each brand’s growth. Tara is a seasoned executive whose career in marketing is characterized by innovation, strategic vision, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Her background in marketing and passion for forging meaningful connections has helped her play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of brands in the digital space. Her leadership is marked by a unique ability to blend creativity with data-driven insights, ensuring that every campaign not only captivates audiences but also delivers measurable results and equitable access. Tara champions transparency and authenticity, setting industry standards for ethical practices and products.

Tara sat down with Deirdre Locksley, Associate Director, Content Marketing, to discuss how strong leadership results in big wins, the power of trusting your gut, and the importance of teaching the leaders of tomorrow. 

Hit play on the full interview below, then check out some highlights from the conversation. 

Teach the leaders of tomorrow.

Highlight: “At this point in my career, I am just so in love with what I do. I am passionate about it. It's my purpose, and I feel really grateful to be at this point because I know how to do my job well. This has allowed me to enter into an entirely new season where it's less about what I can create, and it's more about teaching the leaders of tomorrow… So I spent probably 60 to 70% of my time every day coaching and inspiring the teams. It wasn't just about me building my PowerPoint presentations. It was teaching a super bright and talented 24/25-year-old Parisian born skin care marketer how to be one of the best beauty marketers in the world and to watch their eyes light up when those campaigns came to life was one of the most valuable things I could have ever experienced.” - Tara Loftis

Find your balance.

Highlight: “I think the most wonderful thing that has happened to me was the fact that my leaders trusted me and encouraged me to move to Europe at a time where I was working 24 hours a day. And when I moved to Europe, I found personal balance. I found balance between my work, my personal well-being, my faith. I found the person that I hoped to be when I was in Paris. And the most beautiful thing about that is that I found more professional success. The results were even better because my cup was full. So that's the learning that I'm unwilling to part with ever. And if I can shout that from the rooftops, I will. It is so important as women that we do not abandon our own needs and that we continue our programs of self-care and that we're really honest with ourselves about what we need to take care of our hearts and our minds.” - Tara Loftis

Trust your instincts.

Highlight: “With leading a brand that's as iconic as Cetaphil comes with great responsibility to deliver great products that serve an unmet need to the consumer and at the same time be true to your brand DNA. And without a founder, it's a little more challenging. You don't have a founder to call and say, ‘Hey, what do you think about the celebrity?’ So that's an opportunity to brand build. And this is the ultimate achievement for me is to be at this brand, Cetaphil, and to to guide it into the future. So, what was unexpected was losing my job in 2009. But ultimately the big win was where it led me, which was down a path of learning how to trust my instincts and being rewarded with great sales and building iconic brands.” - Tara Loftis

Seek out purpose.

Highlight: “The other thing that I became passionate about was seeking out purpose in someone and a special skill. And maybe that's not aligned to the job that they have. But you can only know that by getting to know each person on a very personal level. And that person that is a finance manager might actually be obsessed with beauty influencers and you might have a role open for an influencer manager and that might be that finance manager's whole dream. And so, the opportunity to match people and with a new role that ultimately is more fulfilling for them is really awesome.” - Tara Loftis

Lead by the opportunity to win.

Highlight: “I've learned I've had the pleasure of being at different companies that have always promoted that mindset. The most successful brands that I have worked for have shared that as a common denominator. The idea that a good idea can come from anyone in the office, and what an incredible opportunity to boost morale, too. At the end of the day, I am not led by ego. I am led by the opportunity to win. And when your team is happy, you're going to win more, too.” - Tara Loftis

Leaders like Tara who foster innovation, compassion, and support in the workplace are winners in our book. For more inspirational content like this, check out the Pass the Mic page.