Jenise Lee (MBA ’12)

Companies are known to put misleading labels on their products. In Canada, if just one ingredient in a cosmetic is natural or organic, the product is legally allowed to be marketed as natural or organic. So how can we as shoppers tell what we are really about to buy?

Enter Jenise Lee, a 2012 MBA graduate and founder of CertClean – Canada’s only certification for safer beauty and personal care products. CertClean has certified hundreds of cosmetics and personal care products from brands across the country, and Lee says studying at Schulich assisted her success.

“Unequivocally, my education gave me a solid foundation to really delve into any career – from the corporate world and the start-up environment,” Lee says.

“However, I owe a debt of gratitude to those who helped me give myself permission to be an entrepreneur. From the professors who allowed me to work on projects related to my idea – Professor Ellen Auster and Professor Joy Fayt – to fellow students. I have one remarkable and competent group of cheerleaders catalyzing my growth – how amazing is that? Without their guidance, expertise and love, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Lee specialized in Strategic Management and Business & Sustainability and benefited from many aspects of the program, including flexibility and international exchange.

“Schulich was the best school for me because its MBA program was really flexible – I was able to go from full-time to part-time so I could spend time on figuring out whether or not to start my own venture. The exchange program allowed me to spend life-changing months in Europe, and gave me with the skills and confidence to start my own business,” Lee said.

In the next few months, look for CertClean to launch a campaign to develop the world’s first user-driven review site for clean beauty and announce the winners of CertClean’s 2nd Annual Clean Beauty Awards, putting the spotlight on the best performing clean beauty products.