I’m honored to be recognized by PRWeek as part of their Women of Distinction 2026! Moments like this are incredibly meaningful for me. Not just personally, but because they shine a light on the power of purpose-driven brands. From building Tarte Cosmetics in my one-bedroom NYC apartment to partnering with creators and communities (since day 1) to make real impact, this journey has always been about more than beauty. One example I’m especially proud of is our eyeshadow palette partnership with influencer Aspyn Ovard, which helped raise $600,000 for cancer research - proof that when brands lead with heart, they can create meaningful change. Thank you to the PRWeek team for this honor, and to our community + creators who continue to inspire me every day. 💜
Sakib Mia
2mo
Maureen, congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! It's inspiring to see your dedication to empowering women. In my experience, building a strong online presence is crucial for amplifying impact. What strategies have you found most effective in leveraging digital platforms to reach and engage with aspiring women leaders? I'm always looking for new insights in the online marketing space.
Noah Social
2mo
Recognition like this feels especially earned when it’s backed by real impact.
Hammad Saeed
2mo
The emphasis on community and creators from the very beginning is what really sets this approach apart.
Pang Yick Ho
2mo
Always love seeing someone go from humble beginnings to building something this big — and even more so when it ends up helping people along the way. Congrats on the recognition！
What a huge accomplishment, congratulations! Not only is Tarte laser-focused on driving real impact, you've also built a fervent cult following for formulations that DELIVER (written as someone who ran out of ShapeTape once upon a time and waited for a restock!)
Well deserved. Building with community at the center from day one always shows.
Sean Wendt
2mo
congrats
Ben Wunderman
2mo
Good to see PRWeek recognizing that leadership. Congrats to you and the whole Tarte team
Yemi Ajibade
2mo
Seems like bedrooms are the secret headquarters for beauty empires! Maybe IKEA should start adding 'CEO starter kit' to their bedroom furniture 😆 Congratulations Maureen 👏
From a one-bedroom apartment to $600,000 raised for cancer research through a single palette partnership... that's not just a brand success story, that's a proof that when purpose is built into the foundation from day one it compounds into something far bigger than the product itself. What amazed me most is that the creator partnerships weren't a pivot or a strategy added later, they were there from the beginning. And that consistency of values is exactly what makes a community trust a brand enough to buy, advocate and give. Congratulations on this well deserved recognition Maureen Kelly!