Erica Roberson, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in L’Oréal’s Professional Products Division, is a recipient of the Personal Care Product Council (PCPC) Madam C.J. Walker Award for Excellence. The honor was presented during PCPC’s Beauty Collective Summit on March 25. Roberson was one of three winners this year; beauty entrepreneur Vera Moore and Robert Cradle, a master barber and community leader, were honored in the small business category.

PCPC received a record-breaking 300 nominations this year for its annual award, which is named for the boundary-breaking beauty entrepreneur.

“That’s 300 stories of leadership, impact and service to the community. It is a powerful reminder that the spirit of Madam Walker continues to shape the industry today,” said Tesia Williams, executive vice president, public affairs and communications at PCPC, during the ceremony in Key Biscayne, FL.

PCPC’s Madam Walker honor recognizes the changemakers in the beauty and personal care industry whose entrepreneurial spirit and community leadership ignite lasting change. The award was created by PCPC in 2021 to celebrate individuals of all backgrounds who embody Madam Walker’s legacy of entrepreneurship and vision of economic opportunity for all.

VERA MOORE

Moore is founder and CEO of Vera Moore Cosmetics, a beauty business she built from the ground up, inspiring women to pursue opportunities in major retail spaces.  

Moore was first Black tenant at Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, NY.

Her leadership has expanded far beyond her storefront; Moore mentors entrepreneurs globally and creates educational programs for students in the beauty industry, noted PCPC. Moore also advances minority business access through certifications and partnerships that expand opportunities for diverse suppliers. 

While not able to attend in person, she relayed to the audience her gratitude through a written statement that was read by Williams:

“I have stood on the shoulders of Madam C.J. Walker as an entrepreneur for 47 years, since founding Vera Moore Cosmetics. My goal has been, and continues to be, equity, diversity, and inclusion. I made history as the first black tenant at Green Acres Mall on Long Island, New York, and now many have followed, breaking barriers in major malls and leveling the playing field for quality products for black women and people of color. My goal is to continue to allow God to order my steps and to echo the legacy of Madam C.J. Walker, empowering women and promoting economic opportunity.”

ROBERT CRADLE

Cradle is managing director of Rob’s Barbershop Community Foundation.

He is a master barber, shop owner and community leader, who, over his 40-year career, has created an apprenticeship program to teach and mentor students in Maryland and to educate barbers and cosmetologists about the CROWN Act.

Further, after discovering that clients at a local homeless shelter could not afford haircuts, he mobilized his customers, staff and community partners to create the Rob’s Barbershop Community Foundation, dedicated to providing free grooming services to underserved populations.  

Cradle, who became a barber after graduating high school, told the audience that while he has been honored by philanthropic groups, this was the first time he was being honored by his peers in the industry.

ERICA ROBERSON

Roberson, the honoree in PCPC’s corporate category, launched the Texture of Change initiative after recognizing that over half of Americans have textured hair, yet beauty schools were not required to teach how to care for it. Her bold vision led to a national movement by addressing the long-overlooked need for textured hair education in the beauty industry.  

Roberson also helped build the Texture Education Collective, which has successfully advocated for textured-hair education laws in nine states, representing more than a third of all US beauty students. 

Present for the ceremony was A’ Lelia Bundles, Madam Walker’s great-great granddaughter. The journalist and author addressed the attendees and presented the award to the winners.