This year’s theme was Beauty’s Innovation Revolution: How Beauty, Technology and Diversity Converge

On September 19, 2024, Agency Guacamole proudly hosted its eighth annual Beauty, Lifestyle and Nurturing Diversity (B.L.N.D.) event in Los Angeles. This year’s panel explored the exciting intersection of beauty, technology and diversity, uniting top creators, industry professionals and media figures for a vibrant discussion.

A Legacy of Inclusivity

Since its inception in 2018, B.L.N.D. has become a cornerstone of the beauty and lifestyle dialogue, taking place in cities like New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, as well as virtually. Each year, the event aims to gather key opinion leaders, industry executives, content creators and editors to discuss pressing themes around inclusivity.

"From AI and AR to even VR, technology continues to skyrocket forward–and the beauty and lifestyle industries have a front row seat,” said Bilal Kaiser, Agency Guacamole’s Founder and Principal. “This year’s phenomenal panel challenged all of us to think about the importance of DE&I as we collectively enter a new frontier. I could personally talk about this topic again and again.”

Insights from Industry Leaders

Moderated by Bilal Kaiser, the panel featured an impressive lineup of thought leaders, including:

The discussion delved into how advancements in AI and emerging technologies are redefining beauty and wellness routines, as well as how major social platforms are paving the way for more diverse beauty and lifestyle content.

Engaging Activations

Attendees enjoyed a variety of interactive activations from brand partners, such as:

  • The Carol's Daughter Goddess Lounge, offering dry styling and scalp consultations by Carol’s Daughter’s Stylist Ambassadors.

  • The Dermablend Dessert Cart, featuring an array of sweet and photo-worthy treats.

  • The Urban Decay Set & Sip Bar, a vibrant space to enjoy drinks while keeping makeup flawless with the full collection of All Nighter Setting Sprays.

  • The Famous B.L.N.D. PopShop, where guests curated complimentary beauty products from top brands like Baxter of California, Mizon, Matrix, Pureology and IT Cosmetics.

Voices for Change

During the panel, Pia Velasco emphasized the importance of inclusivity in decision-making: “We have to have diverse voices in the rooms where product and marketing decisions are being made.” 

Rajni Jacques noted the current lack of representation, stating, “You see who’s in the room making decisions at tech companies, and it isn’t many women, and it isn’t many women of color. That’s why mentorship is so important—finding those diverse voices that you can bring up and open the door, so that hopefully by 2053, we’ll see more diversity in boardrooms.” 

Sindhya Valloppillil echoed this sentiment, adding, “The buying power of diverse groups is very important and it can’t be overlooked.” 

Together, these leaders highlighted the critical need for increased diversity in both product marketing and boardrooms.

Looking Ahead

For those who missed this year’s event, Agency Guacamole is excited to continue the conversation and share insights from the panel. 

Check out the 2024 B.L.N.D. recap video at this link and stay tuned to our social media channels for updates on B.L.N.D. 2025. 

Thank you to everyone who made this year’s B.L.N.D. event a success, and we look forward to seeing you next year!

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