Renata Rist
Renata Rist is a distinguished luxury sales and education executive with over 20 years of experience in the beauty and luxury goods industry. Originally trained in International Relations in Brazil, she began her career in import/export and International Business negotiations before relocating to the United States. Upon arriving in New York, she transitioned into the beauty industry, starting as a fragrance spritz person at Macy’s and learning the trade hands-on from colleagues. Her early experiences across skincare, makeup, and fragrance allowed her to master diverse sales techniques and develop a deep understanding of client engagement and relationship-building. Throughout her career, Renata has held progressive roles including Account Coordinator, Business Manager, Account Executive and Territory Manager, most notably driving significant growth at Barneys New York. Known for her visionary leadership, she has led high-performing teams, overseen P&L management, maximized ROI, and implemented CRM-driven strategies that consistently exceed targets. Her expertise in luxury brand development, product curation, and strategic event planning has elevated client experiences and strengthened brand presence, while her digital transformation initiatives have successfully bridged online and in-person customer engagement. Today, besides operates her own consultancy, helping luxury beauty brands convert digital shoppers into loyal in-store clients, you will also find heron the sales floor, selling, training and observing trends. She specializes in client retention strategies, relationship-building, and training teams to deliver exceptional experiences that foster long-term loyalty. Fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, she combines cross-cultural insights with decades of industry expertise to guide brands in creating meaningful, memorable interactions with their clientele. Her professional philosophy emphasizes fairness, respect, and mentorship, ensuring that both teams and clients thrive under her leadership.
• Key Account Management
• Account Management: Maintaining Relationships
• Business Manager
• Universidade de São Paulo (USP) - MBA
• Food Bank Volunteer
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance and resilience above all else. I show up every day, even when showing up doesn't feel like enough. I've witnessed major empires crash down - stores like Henri Bendel, Lord & Taylor, Barneys NYC. Through all of that, I've remained very resilient. I'm not scared to walk into stores and say I need a job, I need work. I don't have this huge ego - I mean, I have an ego like everyone else, but if I don't have a job or if I need something, I will visit 18 stores in a week. I'll stop every person I know from before and say, look, I'm looking for work, can you help me out? Don't be scared or embarrassed, just show up and put yourself out there!
Life is cyclic - one day you're on top, the other day you're not, and it's going to be like that forever. I'm also very personable and speak several different languages. I am a very warm person and I’m not scared to ask questions. All of that works together to create success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is that you need to give grace to people. Look around and see the situation happening. You don't know, really, what happened before, during, or what's going to happen after. Try to give grace. Obviously, if someone is very disrespectful or aggressive, you will try a de escalate and if that doesn’t work, you have tried your best. This is a reflection of them and not about you. However whenever you can try to give grace to people. This approach has been invaluable in building relationships and navigating the complexities of the beauty industry.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to focus on your own growth first. Build your projects quietly, let your results speak, and never be afraid to ask questions. Observe carefully, learn what you want—and what you don’t. While we naturally want to nurture others, make sure you establish your foundation before helping anyone else.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my industry is saturation and unprofessionalism in the hiring process, especially here in New York. Companies often expect multiple roles without proper compensation, so you have to be adaptable and persistent. At the same time, opportunities exist for those willing to embrace new technologies, reinvent themselves, and stay flexible.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are fairness, empathy, and integrity. I believe in treating everyone justly, even when I don’t agree with them, and I won’t compromise on what feels right for me. Helping those less fortunate is also central to my life—I volunteer regularly at food banks and am passionate about ensuring no one goes hungry or without shelter. Equally important are my personal relationships: my husband, friends, and even my cats—they remind me to prioritize and nurture the people who support me.
Locations
Private Company
New York, NY 07093