DeeDee Quinn Hussey
DeeDee Quinn Hussey is an Independent Sales Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics, with more than 33 years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry. Her career has been built on a foundation of entrepreneurship, flexibility, and a deep commitment to helping others grow. From a young age, she balanced multiple roles in restaurant management, banking, mail delivery, and mortgage services while simultaneously building her Mary Kay business, driven by her long-standing goal of becoming a business owner.
Throughout her journey, DeeDee has developed a strong reputation as both an educator and mentor in skincare and makeup artistry. She specializes in teaching women how to apply makeup in a way that recreates a professional, salon-fresh look at home, helping them feel confident and polished in their everyday lives. Her passion extends beyond beauty, as she focuses on empowering women to recognize their potential, build self-belief, and create independence. She has also achieved recognition as number 16 in customer service within her division of approximately 3,000 consultants, an accomplishment she values deeply.
DeeDee’s leadership style is rooted in compassion, authenticity, and service. She is especially drawn to individuals who lack confidence, as she personally understands what it means to be shy and reserved. She actively mentors women on her team, often without financial incentive, because of her belief in helping others succeed and grow. While she acknowledges the challenges of staying current in an evolving industry, ranging from constant product updates to emerging technologies like AI, she remains committed to personal connection, face-to-face relationships, and guiding women toward financial independence and greater life opportunity.
• Robert Morris University - ABA: Associate of Business Administration
• Top 16 in Division for Customer Service
• Customer Service Award (annual)
• Miss Go Give Award
• Ambassador for local chamber of commerce
• Board member of local chamber of commerce
• Boys and Girls Club
• Animal welfare organizations
• Fishing for Veterans
• Various chamber of commerce nonprofit initiatives
• Church Board Leader
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say I'm really good at encouraging people. I do make people feel seen and valued. I include people and make them feel welcome. I used to be very shy - I actually still am - so I'll look for the person that looks like they're feeling very uncomfortable, and I'll gravitate towards them because I can start a conversation with them and make them feel more welcome. Meanwhile, I'm feeling just as uncomfortable myself. I'm not loving networking and things like that, but I do it. I think when people are comfortable, you meet a totally different version of that person, and that's so important to me.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Just not giving up. You never fail unless you quit. So you just keep going. There's been so much great advice over the years, but that's the core of it - you have to keep going no matter what.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just be true to yourself. People have opinions, and don't take advice from somebody you would not trade places with. A lot of people have a lot of opinions, but if you would not want their life, then don't listen. Don't take that advice on. That's really important to remember as you're building your career.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In the skincare and color industry, change is constant. Change is constant - updating colors, updating ingredients, updating everything. For me personally, staying on top of all that, along with all of the AI stuff, is challenging because I want to be face-to-face. I'm a person-to-person kind of person. The younger generation is more comfortable with technology, but I feel like that's the biggest challenge - constant change. I love change, I think change is great, but it's also like you just get used to one way and then it changes, so you're always having to stay on top of everything. We're part of the fashion industry, so what's in this year might be completely different next year - you know, maybe browns are in this year, but next year you're looking at pinks and purples. It's a constant evolution.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Definitely God first. I'm very involved in church, and I feel like when you have God at the helm, then everything is good. And then family, obviously, would be second. I'm newly married - we've been together for quite a while and just got married a year ago - so I'm learning to put him ahead of certain things, which has not been easy for me because I was single for so long. But focusing on your family, and then the career comes in after that. Not obviously last, but it's the next thing. Just valuing other people before being stressed out about work or anything like that - it's focusing on the people.
Locations
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Englewood, FL 34224