General Counsel at Olaplex Visits Princeton

Former secretary of Tiffany & Co. and current General Counsel of prestige hair care brand Olaplex, John Duffy.

Former secretary of Tiffany & Co. and current General Counsel of prestige hair care brand Olaplex, John Duffy, visited his alma mater on April 2nd. His presentation to Princeton students ranged from a discussion of the pressures of working for an up-and-coming company, the importance of rebranding, and how to take advantage of opportunities at Princeton. 

When asked about major trends shaping the hair care industry, Duffy was quick to respond. “The worlds of beauty and wellness are converging, and that's one of the primary reasons why we wanted to help clarify that Olaplex is a foundational health and wellness company,” the alum stated. This was central to the rebranding of Olaplex that Duffy helped create, shifting the website and branding from monochrome visuals to the inclusion of a sharp red element. Olaplex is special in that it is not an ordinary hair brand: there is immense science and new technologies that make the products' benefits so unique. Modifying the company’s branding would help consumers better understand the significance of Olaplex’s hair bond-repairing products, shaping the narrative of the company and increasing its sales. 

As a high-up representative of the company, Duffy has much leadership experience. “If you’re a great leader, you can’t do everything yourself, right?” he questioned. This is why Duffy explained that Olaplex's brand culture demonstrates the importance of internal collaboration in shaping the external sales environment. “The culture is so collaborative. There's this desire to be curious, ask questions. That's kind of how we think. One of the reasons that we can create these great products is because people ask questions that push boundaries, and we defy expectations.” 

Speaking to his younger self to advise current Princeton students, Duffy had one thing to say: “Don't try to plan out your career path. You don't know where it's going to end up.” Finding excitement in the unexpected is one of Duffy’s greatest pieces of wisdom, which has led him to his success today and will lead the Princeton students he spoke to to the same heights.