If you haven’t heard the name Vennette (no last name required), you haven’t been paying attention to some of the biggest investment and M&A deals to happen in beauty over the last few years. Vennette and her firm, Raymond James, have found themselves at the center of a dizzying list of deals involving some of beauty’s hottest brands. To namedrop a few, she sold Paula’s Choice to Unilever, Hero to Church and Dwight, Drunk Elephant to Shiseido, Tula to Procter & Gamble, Olaplex to Advent International, Tatcha to Unilever, Briogeo to Wella, Curlsmith to Helen of Troy, Sol de Janeiro to L’Occitane, Dr. Dennis Gross to Shiseido, K18 to Unilever, and RoC Skincare to Bridgepoint. Despite having mastered the art of beauty deal matchmaking, she’s also making deals at home with her husband and two children. Just how does she do it all? Apparently, with an occasional plate of spaghetti carbonara.
Beauty’s doyenne of the deal (not to mention, BeautyMatter's 2024 Person of the Year) tells us 28 things we've always wanted to know but have been too shy to ask until now.
Admire: My 14-year-old son Dylan. He has a rare genetic disorder and special needs; the most basic of tasks are very difficult for him. He definitely has challenges, but he is always confident in who he is, is always passionate, loves people, and has a great sense of humor
Airline: Jet Blue
Bedtime Ritual: 4 sprays of Osea Vagus Nerve Pillow Mist
Birthday: October 28th (♏️)
Book:Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Cold Weather Day: Dreaming of summer and reapplying moisturizer
Currently Wearing:Wildfox sweatshirt, Vuori joggers, and a ponytail
Dessert: Black Forest Cake
Extravagance: Silence
First Job: Assistant Buyer of Trend Jewelry at Bloomingdale's
Flaw: I work too hard (haha 😄) Also, I have a habit of buying beautiful notebooks I don’t have the heart to use
Fragrance: At the moment - Rose Atlantic by DS & Durga
Hotel:Torel Palace Porto - A beautiful little hotel in the middle of the city where the rooms are named after famous Portuguese writers
Indulgence: Spaghetti Carbonara
Inspired By: People who are amazing at what they do but are also humble and down-to-earth
Life's Work: Helping people
Love: My daughter's kind and pure heart
Morning Ritual: Walking in the park near my apartment at sunrise and taking pictures of flowers and buildings along the way
Most Like to Live: As a writer on a tropical island
Most Overused Phrase: "It is what it is"
Movie: Inception
Notorious Among Friends For: Being late because I was stuck at work
On a Rainy Day: Still outside on the rooftop spinning with Comeback Cycle
Restaurant (New York):Misi (Brooklyn) for lunch & dinner; Good Thanks Café (LES) for breakfast
Television Series:Never Have I Ever
Wake Up Time (Weekday): 5:45 AM
Wake Up Time (Weekend): 6:00 AM
Writing This From: A coffee shop, waiting to pick my daughter up from a playdate