We had a chance to ask Marla a few questions so you could get to know her better. Here's what she had to say.
Marla Beck | Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder | Bluemercury, Inc.
Washington Business Hall of Fame (WBHOF): Did you have a mentor or a role model over the course of your career?
Marla: "Leonard Lauder has been an amazing champion of mine. We met when he visited one of our first store locations 19 years ago after hearing about a small DC boutique that was transforming the way consumers shopped for beauty. It was during our first interaction that I asked to carry his brands and lean on him for advice. While we did not become business partners until years later, he became an amazing confidante and mentor. His guidance and friendship has had a profound impact on the CEO and Leader I am today.”
WBHOF: What’s the one thing you want the Greater Washington business community to know about your company this year?
Marla: “As Bluemercury celebrates our 20th anniversary, we are thankful to have Washington, DC as our home. In 1999, we founded Bluemercury from our townhouse in Georgetown, opened our first store on M Street shortly thereafter, and have continued to innovate the beauty and retail industry from our headquarters right on the waterfront in Georgetown. As we open our 200th store this year – we are lucky to have had the support of the Greater Washington community to be the first to believe in our mission and support us through the next chapter.”
WBHOF: If you were to create a slogan or a theme song for your life, what would it be?
Marla: “We have a family motto: ‘If it feels terrifying, you should pursue it.’ We believe that in order to have true personal growth, you have to go outside your comfort zone.”
WBHOF: If you could choose one person, living or dead, to have dinner with, who would it be? Why?
Marla: “Bill Gates. He’s one of the best future thinkers on the planet. But he doesn’t just think, he takes massive, radical action. I would want his opinion on everything – future innovation opportunities, climate change, how to tackle the higher education cost problem, how to create more opportunities for female leadership, what skills the future workforce will need, how to raise great kids…. I love creative, analytical thinkers and he’s at the top of my list!”
WBHOF : If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
Marla: “I really need two superpowers, replication and teleportation. Every day, I receive calls for career advice from young women in their twenties. There’s not enough time in the day to give one on one personalized advice to everyone who asks. I would love to replicate myself for advising young women on how to achieve their goals and have their big ideas become a reality. Teleportation would allow me to attend every soccer, lacrosse, football, and science fair event for our three children.”
Join us December 4, 2019 as we honor Marla and three other outstanding Washingtonian business leaders at our 32nd Annual Washington Business Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala!