Sonia Kashuk, Founder of Sonia Kashuk, Inc.

What is your role?
I guess I refer to myself as a creative director. I'm creating and innovating product development, representing the brand and very involved in doing press. Yesterday, I was on a TV commercial shoot. Next week, I'm on a shoot with Cindy Crawford in Dallas. I'm also still in the studio to test the product. I really touch every single aspect of the brand. It has my name on it, so I have to give it my seal of approval. My expectations are superhigh, and I'm a supertough critic. After 32 years in the industry, you know what you're looking for.

What was your first job/break in the industry?
My first break was thanks to my dear friend Linda Mason, whom I was assisting for many years in the early '80s. She was working with photographer Arthur Elgort on a four-day shoot and was only available for two days. She told him she had an incredible assistant that could cover for her. And he was kind and said yes. That was the beginning of a very special relationship. You need people in your life to open doors for you. You have to be able to walk through them, but someone has to open them. I have an incredible loyalty to those who have helped me.

What is your best advice for someone seeking a similar position?
Have a clear concept of what you want to do. And I ask, "What is your point of differentiation?" It's such a competitive landscape today because there are so many talented, intelligent people. How do you stand out in this very crowded market? If you're not willing to take a risk, you'll never know if you could have been successful. Sometimes you'll have wins, sometimes you'll have losses. You need a bad day to have a good day.

What's the best part of your day?
The creation and ideation. Trying to come up with things that are useful but have a point of difference. When a new product comes in, I am like a kid in a candy store. When the first prototypes come into the office and they're better than what I had in my head, it's an ah-ha moment of how cool my job is.

What has been the highlight of your career?
There are so many magical moments. One being the first Vogue cover. Another being my product-line launch, not just signing my contract, but the launch party. Another was when I was recognized by the CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women), which is such a major player in the industry. Last year, I won a beauty award in three categories. I think it was myself and L'Oreal that won that many awards. The beauty industry itself has been so incredible and supportive to me. I keep working and trying to show my passion and my point of difference. My motto is that I can always be better. Unfortunately, you can never sit back and think you've achieved enough. I'm as good as my last collection.

What are some common misconceptions people have about your job?
I think people think beauty is glamorous and that you're playing in makeup all day. We are playing with makeup all day, but it's up and down my arm, in my hair, all over my face and my eyes are usually two different colors. We're knee-deep in products or in a sterile environment at the lab sitting for hours working on getting the right navy. It's detailed and time-consuming and it doesn't happen overnight. There is the pressure of doing something great and beautiful, but always wearable.

Dineh Mohajer, founder of Smith & Cult and Hard Candy Cosmetics

What is your role?
I'm the creative director and co-founder of Smith & Cult. I came up with the concept and put it together -- meaning I partnered with a company to bring it to the market, develop the creative concepts and execute the deliverables. Because it's a start-up environment, I'm very entrenched in every aspect of the products, branding and visuals. I pick anything from the names of the nail polishes to the size of the font on our website.

What was your first break in the industry?
I was in school studying biochemistry as a pre-med student, and I started playing around with nail polish -- I think as a way to procrastinate and forget about school. I mixed some Essie white polish with some really cheap, super-pigmented polish I had on hand, and I got this beautiful pastel blue color that I started wearing. Immediately, I started getting compliments. So I started selling it from my house -- which started smelling like a toxic plant, by the way. Fred Segal in Santa Monica began carrying it, and it would sell out as soon as I fulfilled the order. Then I sent some to magazines and the response was incredible. They featured it, and because this was pre-Internet, they put my phone number in the magazine for people to buy it. My phone was ringing off the hook. Finally, I got set up as a real company after I realized I couldn't keep making it from home. I was 22.

What is your best advice for someone seeking a similar position?
Be fearless. Try not to look at limitations or boundaries and never think that something is un-doable. At the same time, be very cognizant of the business side. If you're trying to be both the creative and the business brains, you run yourself ragged in no time. Find someone who is proficient in finance and operations to be your partner who can help you with capitalization, because you're going to need money. A beauty business sucks up cash -- you got to have money to make money.

What's the best part of your day?
First of all, the people I work with are amazing, and I love working with them. Secondly, the creative conception is the most stimulating thing I do -- the packaging, the colors and the layout.

The worst?
The pressure of deadlines. The general attitude the first time I hear about something is "we need it yesterday."

What has been the highlight of your career? The biggest highlight is having a huge impact and changing part of the world of cosmetics. When I walk around and see girls wearing pastels and bright colors and glitter eyeliner, I think, "Wow, I influenced that." Selling my company to LVMH was also a highlight.

What are some common misconceptions people have about your job or working in beauty?
They think I'm in a lab mixing things up or that I'm some sort of makeup magician. When people think about working in beauty, I don't think they think about the actual operations -- it's romanticized.

What's next?
I just finished developing a lip lacquer category called "The Shining" with eight shades this year. It's an Italian formula that we spent a lot of time perfecting. It's out Fall 2015!

Alexis Rodriguez, Executive Director, Global Communications, North America for Bobbi Brown

What is your role?
I oversee PR activities/strategy for Bobbi Brown, both the makeup artist and the cosmetics collections. This includes securing press opportunities for brand spokespeople and product launches across all media outlets, protecting the brand equity/image, developing content for social media platforms, managing our cause-related marketing initiatives and much more.

How did you break into the industry?
I interned for a small PR firm that specialized in independent films. I realized I liked PR, but not for films, so I looked for another internship and landed one at DNA PR, which specializes in beauty PR for independent beauty brands. Once there, I felt like I found what I was supposed to be doing.

What's you best advice for someone seeking a similar position?
There is no formula or specific path that will guarantee a job in beauty. Everyone's path is different. I suggest internships as a foundation. Hands-on experience is crucial, and you'll learn very quickly if you want to do PR for a living. Networking is also key. Connect with professionals in the industry however you can. Lastly, immerse yourself in the industry. Visit sites like TotalBeauty.com and WWD.com to keep a pulse on the industry. It's all about being really proactive and creating opportunities for yourself, as they will not be handed to you.