Beauty may be L'Oréal’s business, but innovation is what powers it.
Behind the company’s globally recognized brands are scientists developing new formulas, engineers optimizing manufacturing processes, analysts interpreting consumer trends, and marketers bringing products to life. Helping drive that work is a growing network of Lehigh alumni shaping the future of one of the world’s largest beauty companies.
For many, L'Oréal wasn’t an obvious destination after graduation. But once they arrived, they discovered opportunities well beyond what they imagined.
Different Paths, Shared Mindset
Just ask Rae Ricciardi ’16.
Over the past decade, the former lacrosse player and engineering graduate has grown from an operations intern into director of product development for Maybelline and Essie. Along the way, she’s held roles in engineering, planning, and management — experiences that gave her a broad understanding of how products move from concept to consumer.
“I tell everyone I know to look into L'Oréal,” says Ricciardi. “It’s a place a lot of alumni don’t realize is an option, but there really is a role for every specialty.”
It's a sentiment shared across L'Oréal's growing network of Lehigh alumni, who have built not only successful careers but also a culture of mentorship and support.
Lindsay Atha ’02 joined the company more than 20 years ago after beginning her finance career through a connection with current Lehigh Trustee Kendall O'Brien ’84. Today, she serves as vice president of North American finance transformation, helping modernize financial operations across the business.
For Kent Weiss ’97, a materials science and engineering graduate, innovation has meant leading emerging technology. After more than two decades with the company, he now heads up NEO, a multi-year global business and IT project working to modernize L’Oréal's operations.
Elizabeth Tong ’96’s path illustrates just how many different backgrounds can thrive within the company. A former Lehigh swimmer who studied French and political science, she now serves as senior vice president of tax for L'Oréal North America.
Engineering grads Rodney Hough ’96 and Andy Knerr ’09 have built careers reimagining product packaging. Hough oversees packaging engineering across skincare and transversal teams, while Knerr helps develop innovative packaging solutions for skincare brands. He credits the discipline required to balance Division I athletics and engineering with preparing him for the fast-paced environment at L'Oréal.
Meanwhile, finance graduate Naiya Patel ’17 helps guide strategic decision-making as a senior finance manager, demonstrating that successful product launches rely on more than scientists and marketers alone.
Their careers couldn’t look more different, but they share the same qualities: curiosity, resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace challenges.
Leading by Example
They also have a common longtime mentor and leader in David Greenberg ’84 P’17.
“When you have someone who believes in you, it changes everything,” says Atha. “David has always encouraged people to grow.”
Lehigh has shaped the Greenberg family for generations. David followed in the footsteps of his father, Kenneth Joseph Greenberg ’58, by attending the university. He met his wife, Kyle Greenberg ’85, on campus and, years later, their son, Henry Greenberg ’17, continued that familial legacy.
Today, as chairman of L'Oréal USA, Greenberg says the most rewarding moment of his career wasn’t simply reaching the company’s highest leadership position, but rather gaining the opportunity to influence the organization’s culture and leave a lasting legacy through the people around him.
Greenberg credits his Lehigh education with shaping his people-first philosophy. An economics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, he embraced an interdisciplinary education that exposed him to a wide range of subjects and perspectives. That experience — coupled with the demanding academic environment, campus culture, and even the daily walk up the hill — prepared him for a career at L'Oréal.
“Lehigh is a humbling place,” Greenberg says. “It puts a lot on you. L'Oréal is the same way. We dream big, we expect a lot, and you’re challenged from day one.”
Creating Beauty That Moves the World
When Greenberg helped launch L'Oréal’s business in Mexico, he pushed himself to learn the language before taking on the role — not because he had to, but because he believed it would make him a better leader.
Last October, Greenberg, Atha, and Patel welcomed 42 students from the College of Business, as well as Soaring Together scholars, to L'Oréal headquarters during the annual Career Trek. The visit gave students an inside look at the company, a glimpse of possible career paths, and the opportunity to connect with alumni who once stood where they are today.
“You never know what you’re capable of until you’re given the opportunity to prove yourself,” Greenberg says. “I love helping people reach their full potential. Not to tell them what they could do, but to help them see it for themselves.”
