Beauty hunks on their favorite college classes – WWD

“My favorite class didn’t start well because the teacher literally asked me three times if I was in the right place. It was Chemical Engineering 301. I guess he didn’t expect there to be women since there were only two of us in the class. It ended in a fabulous way: I made the final when very few of my classmates did, and he apologized for underestimating me. I think he probably never did that to another student again. – Alex Keith, CEO, P&G Beauty

Graduated from the University of Arizona

“Although I majored in chemistry and biology, my favorite course was sociology. Sociology is the study of society, human social behavior, relationships and the culture that surrounds everyday life. This course has helped me understand and appreciate the similarities and differences of all types of people. I had no idea that my studies would later help me navigate better in working in large companies as well as help me run my own beauty brand. – Ron Robinson, Founder and CEO, BeautyStat.com

Graduated from Adelphi University

“My favorite class was textile design. I loved learning to dye and weave, decode the tactile elements of fabrics, create beautiful colors and patterns, and see how texture plays into the touch and appearance. Doing things has always been my passion. And today I’m still serious about developing colors and textures… I just do it with makeup and skin care formulas instead of fabrics. – Jenn Kapahi, co-founder and CEO, Trestique

Graduated from Skidmore College

“For me, it’s a link between psychology and branding. I loved psychology more than I could describe – people are the most fascinating subject of study. I really liked the depth of psychoanalysis, the specificity of Myers-Briggs and I often found myself immersed in the results of new longitudinal research with very unexpected results. Branding, which was part of the marketing component, was another favorite. I loved learning how brands come together and all the hard work that goes into building the brand’s voice, pillars and mission in a way that tells a cohesive story and resonates with the consumer. We had the chance to take a look at some of the most popular brand campaigns in history and get a behind-the-scenes look at their creation. Since then, I have loved the magic and the science of building a brand. – Mariya Nurislamova, CEO and Co-Founder, Scentbird

Graduated from Baruch College

“At first glance,“ Corporate culture and organizational climate ” It doesn’t sound very exciting, but it was easily my favorite and most inspiring class. What I’ve learned about culture as the foundation for creating an environment where teams can perform at their best, individually and collectively, has been transformational. I return to the fundamentals of this course in my work every day. – Kecia Steelman, COO, Ulta Beauty

Kennedy Western University graduate

“My favorite class has always been chemistry. I’ve always been fascinated by science – while my friends read comics, I read science journals. There was an article that I read that I found so amazing – I called the author until I got a response and applied for a job. I had no idea I was calling Memorial President Sloan Kettering. Long story short, he gave me a job and that’s how I got started in skin cancer research. I am continually inspired by the science and the breakthroughs we have made as a community in dermatology and beyond. – Dr Dennis Gross, Dr Dennis Gross Skincare

Graduated from Wesleyan University and New York University School of Medicine

“Social anthropology immediately springs to mind –– I loved learning more about people and their behaviors. It also proves that everything in life really comes full circle, because people – along with the product, the passion, the purpose and our planet – are at the heart of my Supergoop journey. – Holly Thaggard, Founder, Supergoop

Louisiana State University graduate

“My favorite course was ‘Engineering for non-engineering majors’. No, it wasn’t an engineering class. It was a way to train your brain to take practical, linear approaches when examining complex or unclear situations. He was taught by the bright and jovial John Truxal who could pretty much simplify any situation in a fun and engaging way. He showed that brilliance shows the simplicity in a complex situation rather than the complexities in a simple situation. – Mike Indursky, Founder and CEO, Hear Me Raw

Graduated from Stony Brook

“My favorite course in college was an introduction to financial analysis. I have always been curious about business and thought I might want to explore a career in finance and investing. This class provided my first exposure to this area. Getting a good grade reaffirmed my interests. – Rich Gersten, Founder and Managing Partner, True Beauty Capital

Union College graduate