Mandy Fields
Chief Financial Officer at e.l.f. Cosmetics

Published on June 8, 2020

This past week the dialogue on anti-black racism and social justice began within many companies and in personal circles, across social media and in the news. Protests calling for justice for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor brought these issues to the forefront.

Without the heightened media focus on these protests, or “riots” as they’ve been characterized, I wonder if we’d be having any of these conversations at all?

Early last week, I brought this perspective to our company-wide town hall. I anchored on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King. In April of 1967, Dr. King delivered his “The Other America” speech at Stanford University, it was also one of the last speeches he gave in 1968 before he was assassinated. Dr. King’s words provide insight into why we cry out in times such as these:

“I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis,   a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? … It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity.”

At this moment, the unheard have been heard. The tranquility of the status quo has been stirred. The conversations around social justice and racial equality have amplified. This inflection point, I hope, has sustained momentum and does not disappear when all the social media posts transition to the next topic. The conversations, education, donations and support need to continue. This requires personal commitment. Don’t be silent on the issue. Black lives matter; don’t be afraid to say it. Your company will not have all the answers, your black friends won’t have all the answers. We need you, our allies, to dig deep to figure out how you will stand for change as we move forward.

As a black woman with a black husband and sons, and as an executive in corporate America my experience is unique, especially as the two of these worlds collide in this moment. I am tired and my heart hurts for my people. At the same time, I have put on a strong face as we address these issues at a corporate level. Someone told me this past week that they know I’m carrying a heavy burden right now. But to that I responded, “It’s not a burden to me – it’s my responsibility.” If my ancestors would have thought fighting for freedom and equality was a burden, I would not be in this position today. I am exactly where I need to be…providing a safe place for our Black employees and allies to speak freely, ensuring our voices are heard, and partnering with my peers on the e.l.f. Executive Team to drive change internally. I can’t do it all, no one person can – but I can influence the circles that I’m in and so can you. Take the first step, have a conversation, educate yourself on these issues, exercise your right to vote, and we’ll start to see the change we’re fighting for in this country.

If you want more information on how to start, below are some resources that could be helpful:

Tarang Amin
Chairman and CEO at e.l.f. Cosmetics

Published on February 13, 2021

I am deeply saddened by the rising hate crimes against Asian Americans. It is heartbreaking that in a span of one week there have been five violent attacks mostly in our community in San Francisco and Oakland’s Chinatown. This should be a time of celebration, in Chinatown, on the Lunar New Year, connecting with family and welcoming the new year.

Collectively we must rise up against racial injustice. As a company, e.l.f. is over 40% diverse. We stand with EVERY eye, lip and face. It’s in our name and it inspires us as a company. We are deeply committed to diversity, equality and inclusion, and we want to support marginalized communities and take action. We will use our voice and our platform to lift up the Asian community.

This week, I wrote a note to commend our team in Shanghai, who have stayed positive even as recent COVID cases have disrupted their Spring Festival. I am so impressed by their spirit, energy and connectedness even while apart. They work hard to raise the bar on what’s possible – and this past year they showed such resilience and determination, starting with the pandemic and being the first beauty company to return and be fully operational. Our One Team, One Dream culture has never been stronger, and we will work together to combat hate and rise up against racial injustice.

My priority is to ensure that our Asian employees, partners and extended e.l.f. family feel supported. We will always stand in solidarity against racial injustice and take actions to make a positive difference in people’s lives. At e.l.f., we will take action in the following ways:

Sharing Asian stories

We will share stories of our teammates and the community. Their strength, courage and bravery. Raising visibility and vulnerability across our social platforms.

Checking in on the community

I will continue to regularly check in on our Asian teammates to make sure they feel safe, supported, and encourage open on-going dialogue.

Allyship & Raise our voices

We will speak up, take action and show our support. Stop AAPI Hate is an incredible resource. It was created as a result of the rising incidences of hate against Asian American Pacific Islander communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and to stand united against racism. Formed by the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University, together they have developed a tool that tracks hate incidents against AAPI communities called the, “Stop AAPI Hate tracker.”

Driving greater inclusion and racial justice

We will continue to lead unconscious bias sessions inside e.l.f. to recognize blind spots and biased language and drive change. We are launching Employee Resource Groups, and we will provide facilitated open discussions where teammates can share what’s on their minds in a safe space.

We will speak up and continue to take action to support the Asian community and drive positive change. We encourage others to do the same.