Overview

The Madam C.J. Walker Award for Excellence was launched in 2021 to recognize individuals in the beauty and personal care products industry who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to inclusivity through strong leadership and sustained efforts with a focus on workplace culture, program and policies, or through external engagement with consumers and communities.

The Award honors industry pioneer Madam C.J. Walker, who started her hair care business at the turn of the century, during a time when women of color had few rights and little opportunity.

Nominated individuals may be retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors or relevant partners. The nominated individuals are broadly recognized and respected across the industry as corporate leaders and/or entrepreneurs, and embody the award criteria:

• Champion programs within the industry that create sustained, consistent, significant and measurable impact
• Serve as a catalyst for change within the industry
• Lead by example, serving as a corporate role model for other companies to emulate
• Raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities within the industry to advance inclusivity
• May represent any area of their company’s structure (administration, communications, executive, human resources, sales, science, etc.)

2025 Recipient

Heela Yang | Co-Founder and CEO of Sol de Janeiro 

Heela Yang has built more than a beauty brand – she’s created a global movement in body care and fragrance. Before launching Sol de Janeiro, Heela spent over 12 years shaping the beauty industry at Lancôme (L’Oréal) and Clinique (Estée Lauder Companies), honing the expertise that would later fuel the brand’s explosive growth. Heela’s leadership and innovation have redefined the rapidly growing body care industry. She has earned prestigious recognition, including the CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) UK Achiever Award (2024) and a spot on Glossy’s 50 Top Changemakers (2023). Under her leadership, Sol de Janeiro has become an industry standout, receiving top accolades such as WWD Beauty Inc’s Prestige Brand of the Year (2023), TIME100 Most Influential Companies (2024), and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies (2024)—all celebrating the brand’s rapid category innovation and cultural impact.

Past Recipients

2024 Winners:
Monique Rodriguez, Founder and CEO of Mielle Organics
Michelle Wang Goodridge, U.S. President of Brand Growth of Kenvue

2022 Winner:
Esi Eggleston Bracey, President of Unilever U.S. & CEO of Unilever Personal Care North America

2021 Winner:
Latriece Watkins, EVP, Walmart

Nomination Form

Submissions for the 2025 award nominations are closed. Recipients of the award will be recognized during a ceremony by Madam Walker’s great-great granddaughter, A’Lelia Bundles at PCPC’s 2025 Beauty Collective Summit.

Please direct questions to [email protected].