With a career spanning key management roles and brand partnerships, beauty powerhouse Nomzi Dlamini shares her insights on agility, continuous learning, and navigating an ever-evolving landscape
Nomzi Dlamini’s passion for her craft began in primary school with a stolen makeup kit and an insatiable curiosity. Today, as a respected beauty manager and leader, she continues to advocate for individualism, strong relationships, and constant learning. Here, she lets us into her career journey, the importance of staying true to one’s voice, and her role is shaping the future of beauty.
GLAMOUR: Take us back to the beginning, what first drew you to the beauty industry, and when did you realise this was more than just a job for you?
Nomzi: My earliest memory, was when I was 8 years old, My mom had a make-up kit which she never used and I constantly took it out the house and applied make-up on my teachers and friends in primary school and even though it presented as mischievous, it set the tone for my curiosity and exploration for beautiful things. Beauty has been a medium of expression which has allowed me to play and build my career.
GLAMOUR: Your career has evolved over the years. What have been some of the defining moments that shaped the beauty professional you are today?
Nomzi: It would definitely be my 1st management role as a Beauty Retail Manager, working for a leader in the beauty prestige space opened up more opportunities for me to learn and grow.
GLAMOUR: Beauty is an industry that constantly changes. How have you evolved alongside it while still staying true to your own voice and approach?
Nomzi: Individualism, and owning your own voice is what I live by. It’s also key to keep up with the changes within the beauty industry, as we have seen there have been changes within the South African beauty landscape with the introduction of Indie brands, and those environmental changes have impacted consumer buying behaviour.
GLAMOUR: What does your approach to your craft look like today compared to when you were starting out? What have you learned about the importance of preparation, discipline and consistency?
Nomzi: Discipline and consistency = success. Earlier in my career, I had to delegate tasks within my role but now it is even more important to continuously adopt a mindset of collaboration and being present to learn in the moment. Preparation is vital as I manage multiple projects and there are always moving pieces that contribute to the overall output.
GLAMOUR: You’ve built considerable longevity in an industry that can be very trend-driven. What do you think has allowed you to remain relevant and continue growing?
Nomzi: As a people orientated person, I have always been curious about how people view beauty and how it impacts their lives. I also believe in upskilling and having a “don’t fix what isn’t broken. Build on top of it”mindset because trends don’t last!
GLAMOUR: What does longevity mean to you beyond simply being in the industry for a long time? What do you believe your journey says about the way you’ve built your career?
Nomzi: You are never too old to start over and you always need to maintain agility over the course of your career. I actually got to a point in my career where I ditched the traditional 5 year plan and just embraced growth and learning.
GLAMOUR: How important has it been for you to remain curious and open to learning, whether that’s new techniques, new faces, new trends or new ways of working?
Nomzi: I have noticed that for the better part of my career, I have been thrusted into new opportunities and challenges. I always told myself that “for as long as I have the ability, I can overcome it”. Therefore, the question for me is how far can I go?
GLAMOUR: When considering a potential partnership, what are the key things you look for beyond audience size and visibility?
Nomzi: Do they align with our values? And do they believe in who we are? Naturally, I look at relationships in the long term…be it personal relationships or business. It’s a marriage that is mutually beneficial.
GLAMOUR: Beauty is increasingly about conversations, culture and community, rather than simply products. How does that influence the partnerships you’re interested in?
Nomzi: We always try to collaborate with partners that consider the importance of how beauty impacts cultural experiences and social responsibility. We work with cultural influencers which share our brand values and create authentic connections with audiences.
GLAMOUR: How do you balance staying true to a brand’s identity while allowing room for the creativity and personality of the partner you’re working with?
Nomzi: I work for a brand that has a strong identity in terms of individuality, self expression and inclusivity and we always encourage creativity as that embodies who we are.
GLAMOUR: What do you think separates someone who is simply talented at beauty from someone who can build a lasting career in the industry?
Nomzi: The main point of differentiation is in how you allow yourself to constantly remain agile as you grow in your career, you need to set yourself apart from the next person who only relies on talent. Talent is a God given gift, agility and drive is how you convert that gift into a career success story.
GLAMOUR: How important have relationships and reputation been to your longevity? How intentional are you about the professional relationships you build and maintain?
Nomzi: The relationships which I have nurtured over many years have been key in building my personal brand. It’s in the way you treat people and how you become intentional about making genuine connections.
GLAMOUR: Looking at the next chapter of your career, what are you curious about? Are there areas of beauty, creativity or business that you’d still like to explore?
Nomzi: Absolutely, I'm keen to see how AI is going to influence how we consume beauty and from a fashion perspective (as beauty and fashion influence one another), the growth between local beauty brands and the fashion industry within our local market as a whole.
GLAMOUR: Finally, what advice would you give to the next generation of beauty professionals who want to build careers that are not only successful, but sustainable and authentic to who they are?
Nomzi: Do not think that your career entry point will be traditional, there are so many ways to build your success story within this vast industry, focus on establishing strong genuine relationships and find creative ways to tell your story. Everyone has a story to tell, it’s in how the next person reads it.
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