Ep. 281: How the President of Buttah Skin Is Scaling a Beauty Empire With AI + Strategy - Tomara Watkins

In this week’s episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, we’re joined by Tomara Watkins, the powerhouse President of Buttah Skin. Tomara has been shaping the brand since 2020—first as a strategic growth consultant, and now as the executive leading its continued expansion and innovation.

We dive into what it truly takes to run a fast-growing beauty brand from the inside—from managing operations and scaling strategy to staying rooted in inclusive beauty. Tomara shares the realities of upholding a founder’s vision while driving business forward, what kind of structure a brand needs before stepping away from founder-led visibility, and the metrics that matter when you’re scaling with intention.

We also explore how Buttah Skin is incorporating AI into its strategy, and Tomara gives her candid thoughts on Black-owned beauty brands being acquired—what it means for the culture, and how founders can prepare for legacy moves.

With a 12-year track record of scaling multicultural beauty and CPG brands like Bevel, Hyper Skin, and Alodia Haircare, plus a background in leading eCommerce strategy at Microsoft/Xbox, Tomara brings a powerful blend of corporate leadership, financial acumen, and authentic brand storytelling to the table. She’s also a proud graduate of Howard University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Whether you’re a beauty pro, a founder, or just curious about what happens behind the scenes of your favorite brands—this conversation is packed with gems you won’t want to miss.

Enjoy this episode!

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