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3 Key Insights from New Study DSA Commissioned from Ipsos on How to Make Direct Selling the Best Opportunity to Be an Entrepreneur

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The U.S. labor market is rapidly evolving. Despite 50-year lows in unemployment, wages have remained stagnant when adjusted for inflation over the past 50 years, and household debt (including student loan, medical, and credit card debt) has reached record levels ($13.5 trillion).

Within this context, DSA commissioned a study by Ipsos, a global leader in market research, to survey a robust, representative sample of Americans to address:

  • What are Americans’ attitudes toward flexible, entrepreneurial earning opportunities?
  • What do aspiring entrepreneurs want?
  • What are Americans’ attitudes and opinions toward direct selling, and how have they changed?
  • How do we make direct selling the best opportunity to be an entrepreneur?
  • What messaging resonates most with direct selling prospects?

Here are three of the many key insights from the study:

1. Americans show strong interest in flexible, entrepreneurial opportunities, and younger generations are particularly interested. 79 percent of Americans in this study indicated some interest in finding flexible ways to make money in the next 12 months, with Gen Z showing the most interest of any generation (92 percent). When looking for new ways to make money, the three features most cited as very or somewhat important are becoming more financially secure (92 percent), low start-up costs (92 percent), and flexibility (91 percent).

2. Direct selling is competitive against gig competition and has broad appeal. 79 percent of Americans have positive/neutral attitudes toward direct selling (which is comparable to attitudes toward the gig economy). The demographic breakdown of Americans that indicated an interest in direct closely reflects the overall U.S. population. A key finding here is that even though the U.S. direct selling salesforce is 75 percent female, there’s close to a 50-50 percent level of interest among women (48 percent) and men (52 percent), meaning there’s a significant growth opportunity for men to become direct sellers.

3. Direct selling is well-positioned to appeal to future generations. According to the U.S. Federal Reserve, boomers and Gen X owned 21 percent and 8 percent of U.S. wealth, respectively, when the average age of each was 35. The average millennial turns 35 in 2023, and right now, they own 3 percent.

With this apparent disparity across generations, appealing to younger generations is vital because they represent the future of the labor market. The great news is that direct selling appeals more to millennials and Gen Z than older generations: Gen Z has the most favorable opinion toward direct selling (88 percent), followed by millennials (85 percent) (with the overall average being 78 percent).

All DSA members will receive the full Consumer Attitudes & Entrepreneurship Report in early 2020 as a benefit of membership. To receive even more direct selling data and insights, make sure to participate in DSA’s 2020 Growth & Outlook market-sizing survey, which is open to all direct selling companies and is in the field now: www.dsa.org/GO2020. As a benefit of your participation, you’ll receive the results report at no cost once it’s compiled later this year!

3 Key Insights from New Study DSA Commissioned from Ipsos on How to Make Direct Selling the Best Opportunity to Be an Entrepreneur

by Leave a Comment

The U.S. labor market is rapidly evolving. Despite 50-year lows in unemployment, wages have remained stagnant when adjusted for inflation over the past 50 years, and household debt (including student loan, medical, and credit card debt) has reached record levels ($13.5 trillion).

Within this context, DSA commissioned a study by Ipsos, a global leader in market research, to survey a robust, representative sample of Americans to address:

  • What are Americans’ attitudes toward flexible, entrepreneurial earning opportunities?
  • What do aspiring entrepreneurs want?
  • What are Americans’ attitudes and opinions toward direct selling, and how have they changed?
  • How do we make direct selling the best opportunity to be an entrepreneur?
  • What messaging resonates most with direct selling prospects?

Here are three of the many key insights from the study:

1. Americans show strong interest in flexible, entrepreneurial opportunities, and younger generations are particularly interested. 79 percent of Americans in this study indicated some interest in finding flexible ways to make money in the next 12 months, with Gen Z showing the most interest of any generation (92 percent). When looking for new ways to make money, the three features most cited as very or somewhat important are becoming more financially secure (92 percent), low start-up costs (92 percent), and flexibility (91 percent).

2. Direct selling is competitive against gig competition and has broad appeal. 79 percent of Americans have positive/neutral attitudes toward direct selling (which is comparable to attitudes toward the gig economy). The demographic breakdown of Americans that indicated an interest in direct closely reflects the overall U.S. population. A key finding here is that even though the U.S. direct selling salesforce is 75 percent female, there’s close to a 50-50 percent level of interest among women (48 percent) and men (52 percent), meaning there’s a significant growth opportunity for men to become direct sellers.

3. Direct selling is well-positioned to appeal to future generations. According to the U.S. Federal Reserve, boomers and Gen X owned 21 percent and 8 percent of U.S. wealth, respectively, when the average age of each was 35. The average millennial turns 35 in 2023, and right now, they own 3 percent.

With this apparent disparity across generations, appealing to younger generations is vital because they represent the future of the labor market. The great news is that direct selling appeals more to millennials and Gen Z than older generations: Gen Z has the most favorable opinion toward direct selling (88 percent), followed by millennials (85 percent) (with the overall average being 78 percent).

All DSA members will receive the full Consumer Attitudes & Entrepreneurship Report in early 2020 as a benefit of membership. To receive even more direct selling data and insights, make sure to participate in DSA’s 2020 Growth & Outlook market-sizing survey, which is open to all direct selling companies and is in the field now: www.dsa.org/GO2020. As a benefit of your participation, you’ll receive the results report at no cost once it’s compiled later this year!

SHAPE Magazine Chooses Younique YOU·OLOGY Serum As Editor’s Pick

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Younique announced that its YOU·OLOGY Serum was named editor’s pick by SHAPE magazine.

The customizable serum is part of Younique’s YOU·OLOGY skin care line, which includes a cleanser, day moisturizer and night cream, offering up to 40,000 possible combinations to expertly tailor a daily skin care regimen to a diverse set of needs.

“Younique allows you to build your own custom skin-care product regimen by adding three boosters—such as hydrating, oil control, and firming—to their cleanser, serum, moisturizer and night cream,” said Kate Sandoval Box, SHAPE magazine beauty director.

“We understand that all women want healthier-looking skin, but every woman has her own unique skin care needs,” said Younique Co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer Melanie Huscroft. “That’s why we created the YOU·OLOGY skin care line, a completely customizable approach to skin care. You can create a high-quality regimen with a distinct combination tailored to address your specific skin care needs. The results are healthier, younger-looking and more luminous skin.”

Formulated to absorb quickly, the highly concentrated and bespoke serum features skin-nourishing ingredients like Vitamin E and olive oil to hydrate skin. Users can customize YOU·OLOGY Serum and target individual skin care concerns by adding in any three boosters, which blend seamlessly through MicroSperse® Technology, creating a custom-made serum for a personalized formula.

SHAPE Magazine Chooses Younique YOU·OLOGY Serum As Editor’s Pick

by Leave a Comment

Younique announced that its YOU·OLOGY Serum was named editor’s pick by SHAPE magazine.

The customizable serum is part of Younique’s YOU·OLOGY skin care line, which includes a cleanser, day moisturizer and night cream, offering up to 40,000 possible combinations to expertly tailor a daily skin care regimen to a diverse set of needs.

“Younique allows you to build your own custom skin-care product regimen by adding three boosters—such as hydrating, oil control, and firming—to their cleanser, serum, moisturizer and night cream,” said Kate Sandoval Box, SHAPE magazine beauty director.

“We understand that all women want healthier-looking skin, but every woman has her own unique skin care needs,” said Younique Co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer Melanie Huscroft. “That’s why we created the YOU·OLOGY skin care line, a completely customizable approach to skin care. You can create a high-quality regimen with a distinct combination tailored to address your specific skin care needs. The results are healthier, younger-looking and more luminous skin.”

Formulated to absorb quickly, the highly concentrated and bespoke serum features skin-nourishing ingredients like Vitamin E and olive oil to hydrate skin. Users can customize YOU·OLOGY Serum and target individual skin care concerns by adding in any three boosters, which blend seamlessly through MicroSperse® Technology, creating a custom-made serum for a personalized formula.

NewAge Announces Name Change for Direct Selling Division, Appoints Vanderveen as COO

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NewAge, formerly known as Morinda,  has announced a new name for its direct selling division. They will now be known as Noni by NewAge.

NewAge CEO Brent Willis also announced that David Vanderveen has joined the Noni executive team as chief operations officer.

“We are incredibly excited to have Dave join NewAge,” said Willis. “His reputation speaks for itself. His track record of successfully driving transformative organic growth is unparalleled, along with his knowledge of how to convert traditional direct selling into experiential marketing machines.”

Vanderveen has over 20 years of experience in direct selling. He was the founder and CEO of XS Energy, a portfolio of energy drinks and sports nutrition products, which he sold to Amway in 2015. Since the sale of XS Energy, he has been operating as a senior executive within Amway leading the expansion of the brand to more than 60 countries. Most recently he joined the Board of RX3 Ventures and is an investor together with Byron Roth and Nathan Raabe from Roth Capital, and Aaron Rodgers, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.

“Noni by NewAge is the next logical step for me, to build on my success with XS Energy, Amway, and my work with RX3 Ventures,” said Vanderveen. “I have a shared vision with Brent Willis and his team on how digital and social commerce platforms will transform brand building, and I intend to support the building of NewAge into one of the preeminent omni-channel businesses worldwide.”

As COO, Vanderveen will be responsible for overseeing growth and expansion in the direct-to-consumer division of NewAge.

NewAge Announces Name Change for Direct Selling Division, Appoints Vanderveen as COO

by Leave a Comment

NewAge, formerly known as Morinda,  has announced a new name for its direct selling division. They will now be known as Noni by NewAge.

NewAge CEO Brent Willis also announced that David Vanderveen has joined the Noni executive team as chief operations officer.

“We are incredibly excited to have Dave join NewAge,” said Willis. “His reputation speaks for itself. His track record of successfully driving transformative organic growth is unparalleled, along with his knowledge of how to convert traditional direct selling into experiential marketing machines.”

Vanderveen has over 20 years of experience in direct selling. He was the founder and CEO of XS Energy, a portfolio of energy drinks and sports nutrition products, which he sold to Amway in 2015. Since the sale of XS Energy, he has been operating as a senior executive within Amway leading the expansion of the brand to more than 60 countries. Most recently he joined the Board of RX3 Ventures and is an investor together with Byron Roth and Nathan Raabe from Roth Capital, and Aaron Rodgers, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.

“Noni by NewAge is the next logical step for me, to build on my success with XS Energy, Amway, and my work with RX3 Ventures,” said Vanderveen. “I have a shared vision with Brent Willis and his team on how digital and social commerce platforms will transform brand building, and I intend to support the building of NewAge into one of the preeminent omni-channel businesses worldwide.”

As COO, Vanderveen will be responsible for overseeing growth and expansion in the direct-to-consumer division of NewAge.

USANA Sales Down in Q4, Fiscal 2019

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USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE: USNA) yesterday announced financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended December 28, 2019.

Fourth quarter 2019 net sales were $271.3 million, compared with $299.0 million in the prior-year period. The company’s total number of active Customers at the end of the fourth quarter was 586,000, compared to 616,000 in the prior-year period.

“Our fourth quarter results were stronger than expected and allowed us to finish the year strong,” said Kevin Guest, chief executive officer. “As we begin fiscal 2020, we believe our business is positioned to deliver solid operating results. However, we acknowledge the evolving situation in China, where our customers, employees, and China’s health officials are responding to the spread of the coronavirus. While the Chinese New Year holiday typically affects our first quarter results, we expect an additional negative impact this year as a result of the coronavirus and the related impact on our business and consumer spending in China. Notwithstanding the expected impact to our near-term results, we remain confident in our China business and our long-term opportunity in this important market.”

Net sales in the Asia Pacific region for the fourth quarter of 2019 were $217.3 million as compared to $243.3 million during the fourth quarter of the prior year. The total number of active customers in the Asia Pacific region was 459,000, compared to 487,000 in the prior-year period.

Net sales in the Americas and Europe region for the fourth quarter were $54.0 million as compared to $55.8 million for the prior-year period. The total number of active customers in the Americas and Europe region was 127,000, compared to 129,000 in the prior-year period.

Net sales for fiscal 2019 totaled $1.061 billion, compared with $1.189 billion in 2018. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar negatively impacted net sales by approximately $34.5 million for the full year. On a constant currency basis, net sales decreased by 7.9% during fiscal 2019.

To read the full USANA report, click here.

USANA Sales Down in Q4, Fiscal 2019

by Leave a Comment

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE: USNA) yesterday announced financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended December 28, 2019.

Fourth quarter 2019 net sales were $271.3 million, compared with $299.0 million in the prior-year period. The company’s total number of active Customers at the end of the fourth quarter was 586,000, compared to 616,000 in the prior-year period.

“Our fourth quarter results were stronger than expected and allowed us to finish the year strong,” said Kevin Guest, chief executive officer. “As we begin fiscal 2020, we believe our business is positioned to deliver solid operating results. However, we acknowledge the evolving situation in China, where our customers, employees, and China’s health officials are responding to the spread of the coronavirus. While the Chinese New Year holiday typically affects our first quarter results, we expect an additional negative impact this year as a result of the coronavirus and the related impact on our business and consumer spending in China. Notwithstanding the expected impact to our near-term results, we remain confident in our China business and our long-term opportunity in this important market.”

Net sales in the Asia Pacific region for the fourth quarter of 2019 were $217.3 million as compared to $243.3 million during the fourth quarter of the prior year. The total number of active customers in the Asia Pacific region was 459,000, compared to 487,000 in the prior-year period.

Net sales in the Americas and Europe region for the fourth quarter were $54.0 million as compared to $55.8 million for the prior-year period. The total number of active customers in the Americas and Europe region was 127,000, compared to 129,000 in the prior-year period.

Net sales for fiscal 2019 totaled $1.061 billion, compared with $1.189 billion in 2018. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar negatively impacted net sales by approximately $34.5 million for the full year. On a constant currency basis, net sales decreased by 7.9% during fiscal 2019.

To read the full USANA report, click here.

The Customer Experience

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MY MANTRA, “Give value and do more than is expected,” is the cornerstone of exceptional customer service. Living up to this mantra requires a shift in mindset. You must constantly prioritize your customers’ needs above your own, while simultaneously asking yourself how you can improve your quality of service. By doing so, you will establish trust with your clients, make them feel heard, and ensure they feel cared for in a way that will make them want to repeat the experience with you again and again.

Brand loyalty is developed when employees establish a positive and authentic emotional connection with the consumer. Start by looking for small ways to exceed customer expectations, and over time you’ll gain the skills necessary to keep a customer for life.

Be sure to deliver (or over-deliver) when it comes to your promises! Remember, just doing what is expected typically means performing at a minimal level.

Think of Your Customer as Your Partner

Create a brand promise so compelling and effective that it makes your customers think of you as a partner rather than a vendor. Your brand promise must be apparent in every touchpoint a client encounters with your company.

Let’s look at Dell Inc. as an example. They started by asking their customers what they wanted their computers to do—both at present and in terms of future product development.

Then they connected with their suppliers and challenged them to develop innovative plans so the changing needs of their customers would be met.

Brand loyalty is developed when employees establish a positive and authentic emotional connection with the consumer.

Treating customers as partners continues to be a foundational strategy throughout Dell. The company’s founder, Michael Dell, has a reputation for anonymously entering internet chatrooms where individuals openly discuss their purchasing likes and dislikes. This practice serves as a tremendous learning opportunity for both Dell and his company.

Know your customers by segment, by spending, by market, and by product, and work to make them advocates of your company’s efforts. Actively listen to your customers and seek their input. All feedback is a gift to be cherished!

Give Your Customers a Membership Experience

Whether or not your customers are actual members, treat them as such—special!

Customer membership is a powerful strategy that can leave clients with lasting positive impressions. Make it obvious that you’re happy to have them on board. Loyalty programs and social media networks are dynamic features in the membership experience because they create an appearance of being exclusive and socially popular.

Think of the airline industry, which is known for giving a great membership experience to its frequent flyers. They offer benefits in the form of redeemable travel miles, upgrades, preferential seating, unique perks, and more.

When customers subscribe to membership clubs like StitchFix, Dollar Shave Club, and FabFitFun, they receive handpicked products from the company that are tailored to their member profile.

Treat each customer like they’re your only customer, and you can own their loyalty; they will likely go on to rave about their experiences with you to others.

The best customer memberships are interactive in some way and keep the customer thinking about you and your brand in a positive and emotionally connected light.

Treat each customer like they’re your only customer, and you can own their loyalty; they will likely go on to rave about their experiences with you to others.

Get Team Members Excited About Working for You 

Creating positive work experiences for your employees is critical because customers can often perceive the “atmosphere” of your company’s culture—whether it’s enthusiastic, cheerful, and caring… or not! You want to keep your employees happy, and there are many ways you can accomplish this through leadership action, engaging activities, strategic communications, training, and an emphasis on brand awareness.

Happy employees will attract friends, family, and—most importantly—customers to your brand. There are multiple benefits that come from creating an environment where your employees are happy and committed:

• There is an observable ripple effect when people are happy.
• Success is often linked to happiness.
• When people enjoy their work, it’s reflected in their attitude.
• Happy people are less stressed, and reducing stress increases productivity.
• Creativity rises during periods of contentment.
• People gravitate toward happy people.
• When the right conditions exist, your employees bring extra positive energy to work, and your customers benefit from it.

Remember, your employees are a powerful tool when it comes to guaranteeing exceptional customer experiences. Honor and treasure them.

Delivering Great Customer Experiences Generates an Environment Where Employees Win and are Proud of Their Work

Making adjustments to keep pace with a changing world can only happen with a motivated team. Receiving fantastic feedback from your clients can be a real encouragement to your team, and they’ll want to continue providing the ultimate customer experience. One way to accomplish this is by developing innovative internal recognition and reward systems that are tied back to the desired customer outcomes.

Make it easy for your employees to do business within the company. Encourage employee interactions with executives by making them accessible, by setting appropriate policies, and by making information available using internal websites and HR systems. C-suite leaders (especially) should be transparent in their actions.

Maintain open lines of communication with your team to motivate and inspire them. Constantly make them feel valued, and they will be encouraged to continue working for you.

Google’s mantra is, “Do cool things that matter.” This mantra is exhibited well, both internally and externally. Google provides its employees with great perks and a neat campus-style workplace that inspires them and keeps their performance levels high. This translates into great customer experiences, which serve as positive reinforcement for the employees and make them proud of the brand. Note how the pattern becomes a continuous cycle.

When the customer experience demonstrates caring and commitment to excellence across the journey, your brand will be in the consumer’s top of mind each time they look to buy!

 

Tony Jeary—The Results GuyTM—is a prolific author and a strategist. His organization, TJI, facilitates powerful meetings, keynote events and coaches high performers to accelerate their results.

The Customer Experience

by Leave a Comment

MY MANTRA, “Give value and do more than is expected,” is the cornerstone of exceptional customer service. Living up to this mantra requires a shift in mindset. You must constantly prioritize your customers’ needs above your own, while simultaneously asking yourself how you can improve your quality of service. By doing so, you will establish trust with your clients, make them feel heard, and ensure they feel cared for in a way that will make them want to repeat the experience with you again and again.

Brand loyalty is developed when employees establish a positive and authentic emotional connection with the consumer. Start by looking for small ways to exceed customer expectations, and over time you’ll gain the skills necessary to keep a customer for life.

Be sure to deliver (or over-deliver) when it comes to your promises! Remember, just doing what is expected typically means performing at a minimal level.

Think of Your Customer as Your Partner

Create a brand promise so compelling and effective that it makes your customers think of you as a partner rather than a vendor. Your brand promise must be apparent in every touchpoint a client encounters with your company.

Let’s look at Dell Inc. as an example. They started by asking their customers what they wanted their computers to do—both at present and in terms of future product development.

Then they connected with their suppliers and challenged them to develop innovative plans so the changing needs of their customers would be met.

Brand loyalty is developed when employees establish a positive and authentic emotional connection with the consumer.

Treating customers as partners continues to be a foundational strategy throughout Dell. The company’s founder, Michael Dell, has a reputation for anonymously entering internet chatrooms where individuals openly discuss their purchasing likes and dislikes. This practice serves as a tremendous learning opportunity for both Dell and his company.

Know your customers by segment, by spending, by market, and by product, and work to make them advocates of your company’s efforts. Actively listen to your customers and seek their input. All feedback is a gift to be cherished!

Give Your Customers a Membership Experience

Whether or not your customers are actual members, treat them as such—special!

Customer membership is a powerful strategy that can leave clients with lasting positive impressions. Make it obvious that you’re happy to have them on board. Loyalty programs and social media networks are dynamic features in the membership experience because they create an appearance of being exclusive and socially popular.

Think of the airline industry, which is known for giving a great membership experience to its frequent flyers. They offer benefits in the form of redeemable travel miles, upgrades, preferential seating, unique perks, and more.

When customers subscribe to membership clubs like StitchFix, Dollar Shave Club, and FabFitFun, they receive handpicked products from the company that are tailored to their member profile.

Treat each customer like they’re your only customer, and you can own their loyalty; they will likely go on to rave about their experiences with you to others.

The best customer memberships are interactive in some way and keep the customer thinking about you and your brand in a positive and emotionally connected light.

Treat each customer like they’re your only customer, and you can own their loyalty; they will likely go on to rave about their experiences with you to others.

Get Team Members Excited About Working for You 

Creating positive work experiences for your employees is critical because customers can often perceive the “atmosphere” of your company’s culture—whether it’s enthusiastic, cheerful, and caring… or not! You want to keep your employees happy, and there are many ways you can accomplish this through leadership action, engaging activities, strategic communications, training, and an emphasis on brand awareness.

Happy employees will attract friends, family, and—most importantly—customers to your brand. There are multiple benefits that come from creating an environment where your employees are happy and committed:

• There is an observable ripple effect when people are happy.
• Success is often linked to happiness.
• When people enjoy their work, it’s reflected in their attitude.
• Happy people are less stressed, and reducing stress increases productivity.
• Creativity rises during periods of contentment.
• People gravitate toward happy people.
• When the right conditions exist, your employees bring extra positive energy to work, and your customers benefit from it.

Remember, your employees are a powerful tool when it comes to guaranteeing exceptional customer experiences. Honor and treasure them.

Delivering Great Customer Experiences Generates an Environment Where Employees Win and are Proud of Their Work

Making adjustments to keep pace with a changing world can only happen with a motivated team. Receiving fantastic feedback from your clients can be a real encouragement to your team, and they’ll want to continue providing the ultimate customer experience. One way to accomplish this is by developing innovative internal recognition and reward systems that are tied back to the desired customer outcomes.

Make it easy for your employees to do business within the company. Encourage employee interactions with executives by making them accessible, by setting appropriate policies, and by making information available using internal websites and HR systems. C-suite leaders (especially) should be transparent in their actions.

Maintain open lines of communication with your team to motivate and inspire them. Constantly make them feel valued, and they will be encouraged to continue working for you.

Google’s mantra is, “Do cool things that matter.” This mantra is exhibited well, both internally and externally. Google provides its employees with great perks and a neat campus-style workplace that inspires them and keeps their performance levels high. This translates into great customer experiences, which serve as positive reinforcement for the employees and make them proud of the brand. Note how the pattern becomes a continuous cycle.

When the customer experience demonstrates caring and commitment to excellence across the journey, your brand will be in the consumer’s top of mind each time they look to buy!

 

Tony Jeary—The Results GuyTM—is a prolific author and a strategist. His organization, TJI, facilitates powerful meetings, keynote events and coaches high performers to accelerate their results.

Mary Kay Foundation Announces Brazilian Recipient of First-Ever International Postdoctoral Grant with UT Southwestern

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On World Cancer Day, The Mary Kay FoundationSM announced the first recipient of the new International Postdoctoral Scholars in Cancer Research Grant program.

Natália Bernardes, Ph.D., a biotechnological engineer with a doctorate degree in general and applied biology from São Paulo State University in Brazil, is the first of five recipients of the program established last year with UT Southwestern Medical Center. This new one-year fellowship will provide Dr. Bernardes the resources to conduct innovative cancer research at the world-renowned UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and allow her to continue her research activity in Brazil with a return grant.

Dr. Bernardes’ research will be focused on studying the molecules in charge of maintaining the DNA organized inside cells and identifying any problems with these molecules that could lead to anomalous cell growth such as cancer. During her year-long fellowship, she will be mentored by Yuh Min Chook, Ph.D. and Professor in the Pharmacology and Biophysics Department at UT Southwestern.

“The support of grant funding is critical at every stage of research,” said Dr. Bernardes. “With the support of The Mary Kay Foundation, I will be able to learn and practice cutting-edge techniques, transfer this knowledge to current research projects and help identify drug targets for the most common types of cancers that affect the Brazilian population.”

The program marks the first time the Foundation’s cancer research grants have supported global researchers, showing its continued commitment to ending women-related cancers around the world.

“We are excited to bring together a coalition of the best and brightest research minds to find a cure for cancers affecting women,” said Dr. Lucy Gildea, chief scientific officer at Mary Kay Inc. “Supporting the tireless work and dedicated service of the medical research community to our society is to continue Mary Kay Ash’s mission to enrich the lives of women everywhere.”

UT Southwestern is one of the premier academic medical centers in the United States and has been an on-going partner to The Mary Kay Foundation in its shared mission to find cures for cancers affecting women for nearly 25 years. The institution’s faculty includes many distinguished members, including six who have been awarded Nobel Prizes since 1985.

To date, The Mary Kay Foundation has awarded more than $23 million to support the work of over 235 top women-related cancer researchers funding efforts to discover cures for breast, uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers.

Mary Kay Foundation Announces Brazilian Recipient of First-Ever International Postdoctoral Grant with UT Southwestern

by Leave a Comment

On World Cancer Day, The Mary Kay FoundationSM announced the first recipient of the new International Postdoctoral Scholars in Cancer Research Grant program.

Natália Bernardes, Ph.D., a biotechnological engineer with a doctorate degree in general and applied biology from São Paulo State University in Brazil, is the first of five recipients of the program established last year with UT Southwestern Medical Center. This new one-year fellowship will provide Dr. Bernardes the resources to conduct innovative cancer research at the world-renowned UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and allow her to continue her research activity in Brazil with a return grant.

Dr. Bernardes’ research will be focused on studying the molecules in charge of maintaining the DNA organized inside cells and identifying any problems with these molecules that could lead to anomalous cell growth such as cancer. During her year-long fellowship, she will be mentored by Yuh Min Chook, Ph.D. and Professor in the Pharmacology and Biophysics Department at UT Southwestern.

“The support of grant funding is critical at every stage of research,” said Dr. Bernardes. “With the support of The Mary Kay Foundation, I will be able to learn and practice cutting-edge techniques, transfer this knowledge to current research projects and help identify drug targets for the most common types of cancers that affect the Brazilian population.”

The program marks the first time the Foundation’s cancer research grants have supported global researchers, showing its continued commitment to ending women-related cancers around the world.

“We are excited to bring together a coalition of the best and brightest research minds to find a cure for cancers affecting women,” said Dr. Lucy Gildea, chief scientific officer at Mary Kay Inc. “Supporting the tireless work and dedicated service of the medical research community to our society is to continue Mary Kay Ash’s mission to enrich the lives of women everywhere.”

UT Southwestern is one of the premier academic medical centers in the United States and has been an on-going partner to The Mary Kay Foundation in its shared mission to find cures for cancers affecting women for nearly 25 years. The institution’s faculty includes many distinguished members, including six who have been awarded Nobel Prizes since 1985.

To date, The Mary Kay Foundation has awarded more than $23 million to support the work of over 235 top women-related cancer researchers funding efforts to discover cures for breast, uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers.