How Sephora built brands through creators, partnerships and loyalty - CMO Zena Arnold

Zena Arnold, CMO of Sephora, joins us to break down how one of the world’s most influential beauty retailers continues to set the standard for brand, community, and culture.From standout branding to record-breaking product launches, Zena shares what’s behind Sephora’s success and how the business stays relentlessly close to its customers in a fast-moving category. We explore the rise of celebrity brands, the power of loyalty, and how Sephora works with creators through initiatives like the Sephora Squad.Thank you to our sponsor, System1: https://system1group.com/Timestamps00:00 - Start01:13 - Zena’s incredible marketing career06:02 - Lessons that turned Zena into the marketer she is today07:41 - What has made Sephora so successful?10:01 - Why Sephora’s branding stands out11:30 - What’s trending in the beauty category in 2026?13:22 - How does Sephora stay close to the customer?14:45 - The biggest brand launch in Sephora history15:25 - How to pitch a beauty brand to Sephora18:00 - How important are celebrity brands?19:03 - Helping brands launch in Sephora21:00 - The power of Sephora’s loyalty programme25:09 - How Sephora attract new customers27:02 - How Sephora uses creators effectively with the Sephora Squad29:45 - How to measure the effectiveness of creators31:12 - The exceptional advertising of Sephora32:49 - How Sephora uses tech in their marketing38:09 - Dealing with the speed of retail39:00 - Creating conditions where you can fail and learn