SM: You started Bobbi Brown Cosmetics with $10,000 in funding. How did you feel when Estee Lauder bought your company a mere five years after you launched it? And, what’s your role in the company today?
Brown: I was thrilled; it was an honor to realize the mark I had made in the industry in such a short period of time. Today, I’m CEO of my company and I’m involved in all aspects—from product development to advertising and marketing. Every product we launch is something I truly believe in.

SM: What, if any, sacrifices have you made to get to where you are today?
Brown: I’ve been lucky in that I don’t feel I’ve had to give anything up. I’m lucky to have an amazing family [including a husband and three sons] and a job that I love. Juggling it all certainly isn’t easy—you need to know what your priorities are, you have to be organized and you have to know when to ask for help.

SM: A portion of your company’s sales goes to charity. How important is it to you to give back to the community?
Brown: I believe that the more you give in life, the more you get back. I support Dress for Success, an organization that [provides business attire to] underprivileged women entering the work force, and the Jane Addams Vocational High School in the Bronx.