Jane D. Wurwand

As the Founder and Owner of Dermalogica and The International Dermal Institute post graduate training centers, Jane Wurwand is recognized worldwide as a key innovator who not only developed the industry’s number one professional brand, but who has changed the nature of the skin care profession itself through her example and leadership. Today, Dermalogica has grown to become the leading professional skin care brand, used by more than 75,000 skin therapists in over 50 countries around the world.

Two core concepts guide the growth of the brand, as embodied by Wurwand herself: the transcendent power of human touch, and the far‐reaching effects of education. These dual qualities have not only shaped the success of Dermalogica, but also provided a social blueprint for women’s financial success in every country and economy.

As a passionate advocate for mentoring and entrepreneurship, Jane writes and speaks frequently about the specific financial needs of women, especially in the developing world. Within the context of the skin care profession itself, comparatively modest licensing requirements and initial capital investments costs offer many women unusual access to financial independence. This experience is further enriched, socially, culturally and politically, by the fact that 98% of all professional skin therapists are women, and that these professionals attract a clientele which is 92% female—literally creating more woman entrepreneurs than any other industry in the world.

Through her work in many areas of philanthropy, education and women’s business development, Wurwand now champions her brand, via The Dermalogica Foundation, to create and support similar opportunities for women in other professions through a hand up, not a hand out. Jane shares the view that the future for world‐economy depends upon the ability for women, especially marginalized women, to financially support themselves and their children. In January 2011, through her foundation and in
partnership with Kiva.org, Jane will launch a global initiative to empower women worldwide called FITE – Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship. The first microlending Web site that solely focuses
on women entrepreneurs, FITE will help 25,000 women to start or grow a business in over 57 countries around the world.

Jane actively participates in several organizations which serve to empower women and girls. Among these is the national non‐profit 501.C.3, Step Up Women’s Network, a coalition of businesswomen dedicated to mentoring young women into self‐determinism and professional success. The National
Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Los Angeles chapter, named Jane “Business Woman of the Year” in 2009, and in June, 2010, Jane participated in a Keynote Panel for the group’s annual Women’s Business Conference in Washington, D.C.

Jane gave the Keynote Address for the NFTE [Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship] 2010 Regional Youth Business Plan Competition, hosted by the University of Southern California. She is a member of the Board of the Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at The Anderson School of Business
Management, UCLA, and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).

Other honors include her recognition by American Spa magazine as ‘The Most Influential Industry Leader’, and in 2010 was named Beauty Industry West’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’. Jane’s leadership was documented in the company’s profile in the Harvard Business Review and was invited to become a member of the C200 [Committee of 200], a nonprofit organization comprised of the world’s most influential female entrepreneurs and leaders dedicated to the advancement of women in business. Also in 2010, Jane participated in an exclusive roundtable discussion marking the 50
the anniversary of the Pill, hosted by Step Up Women’s Network and Bayer HealthCare, with notable panelists including Gloria Steinem and Hilary Swank. The historic event was photographed by Annie Leibovitz for a forthcoming book called “Faces of Women's Empowerment”.

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