Binghamton student went behind the scenes in the cosmetics industry. Here’s what she learned

What’s the best way to learn how to connect customers with the right product?

Just ask Olivia Ugarte ’25, who built upon her experiences from Binghamton University’s School of Management (SOM) at Cosnova Beauty, a summer internship that helped lay the foundation for the next stage of her career.

“I’ve always been drawn to companies that prioritize innovation along with authenticity and implement creativity towards their work culture,” said Ugarte, who is working toward her Master of Business Administration (MBA). “Cosnova really stood out to me as their company is the embodiment of that. Cosnova emphasizes accessibility and self-expression to everyone and that is something that I value deeply.”

Equipped with the practical skills to thrive as a young professional, Ugarte expanded on lessons she’s learned from both inside and outside the classroom during her time at Cosnova’s New York City headquarters. She was also exposed to a breadth of opportunities within the cosmetics world, including a newfound enthusiasm for crafting effective customer experience and matching products to people in a meaningful way.

Ugarte’s internship placed her with the In-Store Excellence (ISE) team, where she helped bring Cosnova’s Essence Cosmetics brand to life across its many retail locations — nearly 100 worldwide, including major U.S.-based chains like Ulta Beauty, Target and CVS. She gained firsthand experience with retail strategy and visual merchandising by collaborating with stakeholders, reviewing store requests and designing customer-facing product displays.

“One of the most exciting parts of my role was being able to see new product launches and upcoming brand innovations before they hit stores, which gave me an inside look at how trends move from concept to shelf,” she said. “Every day was different, but that was what made it so exciting!”

Ugarte also contributed to a major project involving Essence’s seasonal realignment period where product displays transition for the upcoming fall collection, occasionally with the addition of new item lineups.

“I got to play a hands-on role in helping the team manage those updates,” she explained. “I helped track replacement orders, attended third-party vendor meetings, and by the end of my internship I was even running some of those meetings on my own. It was incredibly rewarding to see how all the behind-the-scenes coordination helped stores stay on schedule and maintain brand consistency.”

Toward the end of the summer, she and another intern had the chance to present to the team and share insights and photos they collected during store visits.

“That experience really tied everything together for me,” Ugarte recalled, “because it showed how much I had learned and how dynamic the retail side of the beauty industry can really be.”

Having recently graduated from Binghamton with her bachelor’s degree in economics last May, Ugarte was initially unsure about which path she wanted to take or how she would find her footing in the beauty industry. As a senior, she was able to challenge herself with pre-MBA courses that introduced her to marketing, organizational behavior and other business fundamentals — she called it the “perfect next step” to gain mentorship and grow her knowledge for a future career in marketing.

“The courses allowed me to build skills and helped me understand more about consumer insights before I even started my internship,” said Ugarte, who decided to stay at the University an additional year through the Harpur/STEM 4+1 MBA program. “The program also taught me how to carry myself in a professional setting and how to network effectively. I felt confident stepping into meetings and asking questions needed because of the skills I gained throughout my coursework.

“Even my professors and classmates in the MBA program have been incredibly supportive as they’re always encouraging me to take on challenges and learn from every opportunity,” she added. “I really felt like what I was learning in the MBA program came to life during my internship and set me up for success by giving both the technical skills and confidence.”

Ugarte’s experience with Cosnova proved to be a critical turning point in her professional development, where she could effectively apply what she had already learned in her classes while discovering a greater sense of direction. Her time at Binghamton and Cosnova not only prepared her for her future post-graduation, but also encouraged her to figure out what that might look like.

“Before starting, I honestly wasn’t sure what area of business I wanted to focus on. I had always been curious about the business side of brands but hadn’t pictured myself working in that space yet,” Ugarte said. “Cosnova completely changed that as I was immersed into the world of marketing and saw how much thought goes into every single customer experience. I loved everything about my internship and enjoyed the mix of creativity and strategy it offered.”

Now, she can see herself in brand or retail marketing. She’s ready for the next step of her career.