Lessons from the first Pakistani woman leading beauty for a global make-up brand | Tayaba Jafri

What does it take to be the creative gatekeeper for Laura Mercier? One of the most iconic names in luxury cosmetics, and to do it as the first Pakistani-Canadian woman in that role?

In this episode of Boss Unscripted, Zaib Shadani sits down with Tayaba Jafri, the Global Beauty Director for Laura Mercier. For over 20 years, Tayaba has worked alongside the legendary founder herself, overseeing global campaigns, fashion week productions, product development, and the training of makeup artists worldwide. After the founder, she is the brand custodian and creative gatekeeper, the one who protects the DNA of the brand while evolving it for the modern global woman.

But this conversation goes far beyond beauty. Tayaba opens up about how she leads teams of elite creatives without dimming their light, why she believes ego is just passion misplaced, and the business acumen every creative professional needs but rarely gets taught. She shares her personal experience navigating imposter syndrome at the highest levels, the cultural challenges of self-advocacy as a South Asian woman, and why she is choosing to age naturally in an industry that increasingly normalizes procedures for women in their early twenties.

This conversation gives executives, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals a rare look inside luxury brand leadership, from the 90-second skincare hack that changed how Tayaba thinks about beauty, to the mentorship philosophy she calls “big cousin energy,” to why the ability to quantify your creative impact is the single most important skill for career advancement.

If you have ever wondered how to lead with both creativity and authority in a world that often asks you to choose, this episode will change how you think about both.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What it means to be the first Pakistani-Canadian woman leading creative for a global French beauty brand, and the responsibility that comes with it
• The business skill every creative professional needs: how to quantify your impact and advocate for yourself with numbers
• How Tayaba leads teams of elite creatives without dimming their light, and why she believes ego is just passion misplaced
• Why imposter syndrome doesn’t go away with seniority, and the mindset shift that helps you move through it
• The 90-second skincare technique that a 20-year beauty veteran says supersedes everything else
• Why choosing to age naturally is becoming a counter-cultural act in the beauty industry, and how to reframe your relationship with makeup at any age

Guest Info

Name: Tayaba Jafri

Title: Global Beauty Director

Company: Laura Mercier

Bio: Tayaba Jafri is the Global Beauty Director for Laura Mercier, a luxury French cosmetics brand, where she has worked for over 20 years alongside founder Laura Mercier. A Pakistani Canadian, she serves as the brand's creative gatekeeper overseeing global campaigns, product development, photo shoots, and makeup artist training.

Resources

● Laura Mercier: https://www.lauramercier.com

● The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin: https://www.nkjemisin.com/books/the-inheritance-trilogy

● Circe by Madeline Miller: https://madelinemiller.com/circe

● Hugo Awards: https://www.thehugoawards.org

Connect

● Boss Unscripted Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/Bossunscripted

● Zaib Shadani (Host): https://www.instagram.com/zaib_shadani/

● Tayaba Jafri (Guest): https://www.instagram.com/tayabaxmercier/

Hashtags

#BossUnscripted #ZaibShadani #AuthenticLeadership #CreativeLeadership #WomenInLeadership #LauraMercier #GlobalBeauty #SouthAsianWomen #BeautyIndustry #WomenOfColor #CreativeDirector #BeautyLeadership #AgingGracefully #Mentorship #ImposterSyndrome