Culture includes expressions of identity, value, beliefs, behaviours, rituals and social norms, therefore to some degree, it must also encompass fashion and beauty. In appreciating the breadth, depth and complexity of cultural leadership, we include vision, strategy and influence (Pharaoh, 2023), which incorporates elements of business, and business subsumes diverse industries, such as beauty brands.
The Australian Financial Review article Zoë Foster Blake: ‘I still think it’s hilarious that I’m in business’ by Fashion Editor, Lauren Sams is a lesson in leadership. The article is a worked argument that takes us on a tour of the book Conscious Leadership by Mackay, Macintosh and Phipps (2020) and an example of how beauty brands can embody cultural values, and contribute to societal narratives of ethical leadership.
The article follows the logical, dialectic and rhetorical principles of arguments as laid out by Rybecki and Rybecki (2021), and Sams structures a clear, truthful, efficient argument by ethically making fact claims and value claims (Rybaki & Rybacki, 2021), such as, “It listed on the ASX in 2015 at $1.50 a share and by 2018 it was trading near $8” and (Sams, 2024) “everything looks effortlessly perfect, a fairytale even” (Sams, 2024). The claims in the article are supported by grounds and underpinned by warrants with values that are paralleled in the book Conscious Leadership (Mackay et al, 2020).
Sams speaks about Foster Blake’s vision and virtue in her approach to her Go-To beauty brand. Her prioritisation of purpose, leading with love, and acting with integrity (Mackey et al., 2020), saw Foster Blake operate a business with a sense of cultural connection and identity. She not only solidified her position as a brand leader but also demonstrated a deep understanding of the significance of shaping a brand’s identity by utilising personality, charisma and personal integrity (Pharaoh, 2023). Despite the unconventional act of writing a self-recommendation, attributed to Rupert Murdoch (Sams, 2024), Foster Blake’s actions were never seen to compromise her integrity but rather perceived as a proactive way to advocate for herself.
Sams argues that Foster Blake’s focus on people and culture was a strategic approach and her attention on collective win solutions, emphasised innovation, value creation, and long-term sustainability (Mackey et al., 2020). Foster Blake embodied ethical leadership by utilising social responsibility through ‘building community’ (Sams, 2024). Even when faced with challenges, she maintained a strategic focus, continuing to trade normally, releasing new products, and announcing collaborations (Sams, 2024).
The article highlights how Foster Blake built ‘efficacy and transparency’ into her business practices (Sams, 2024) thereby laying the groundwork for trust and credibility that allowed her to embrace a growth mindset, revitalise her team and recalibrate industry norms (Mackey et al, 2020). By inspiring positive change she socialised her brand for the collective good and “is thinking about philanthropy as well as ways of assisting other entrepreneurs” (Sams, 2024), through innovated thinking she enacted authentic transformational leadership (Pharaoh, 2023).
Toulmin’s framework (Rybacki & Rybacki, 2021) for the structuring of an argument is evident in Lauren Sams (2024) article and positions Foster Blake as a leader who utilises connection power to leverage networks and relationships in order to influence (Pharaoh, 2023). Her beauty brand and business, was not just created with good timing (Sams, 2024) but with master stokes of conscious leadership as well.
Mackey, J., Mcintosh, S. & Phipps, C. 2020. “Conscious Leadership, Elevating Humanity Through Business”. Penguin Random House. New York.
Pharaoh, N. 2023. ‘NIDA Leadership and Governance v5 intensive 1.pdf’ PowerPoint PDF. CUL9104Leadership and Governance: NIDA, Kensington NSW. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://learn.nida.edu.au
Sams, L., 2024. “I still think it is Hilarious that I am in Business”. Australian Financial Review. The Australian Financial Review Magazine, The Fashion Edition, April 2024. Accessed 23 March 2024. https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/fashion-and-style/zo-foster-blake-i-still-think-it-s-hilarious-that-i-m-in-business-20240216-p5f5g6
