How I Got Here: Mecca’s Head of Fabulosity on how he got that title

“Making someone feel at ease and confident with you will be your greatest asset.”

Welcome to How I Got Here, where we talk to people who are killing it in their respective fields about how they landed their awe-inspiring jobs, exploring the peaks and pits, the failures and the wins, and most importantly, the knowledge, advice and practical tips they’ve gleaned along the way.

We’ve interviewed people in a range of roles across the fashion and beauty industry in this series, from marketing leads and PR managers, to designers and founders. However, this is the first time we’ve had the pleasure of featuring a Head of Fabulosity. When we first heard of Tony Baumann’s role at Mecca, we were hooked. What did it involve? How did he get there? Was it, in fact, fabulous?

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“People always ask me what Head of Fabulosity even means, and to put it simply, it means that everyone who stands in front of me feels fabulous,” he explains. “A customer, a brand founder, a team member and everyone in between feels wonderful about the interaction they are having with me. It’s never about me, it’s always about others.”

The day-to-day of Tony’s work is subject to change. Some days, he’s involved with product development, working alongside the retail team or assisting marketing departments. Others, he’s hosting brand founders like Charlotte Tilbury, Gucci Westman and Mr. Nars himself. “I was in the back of a taxi many years ago with an artist who was visiting from the US and she was texting Madonna… I was dying on the inside but tried to stay calm and cool.”

With 40 years of experience under his belt, Tony got his start as a fully qualified hairdresser and makeup artist. From there, he climbed Mecca’s ladder, working in-store before making the leap to head office. “Beauty has always been a playground for me: experimenting, creating, connecting and making people feel incredible,” he reflects. “Even after all these years, it still gives me that same buzz.”

Fashion Journal: Hi Tony! You’re the Head of Fabulosity at Mecca. How did you get this title, and what exactly does your role involve?

Tony: I can’t actually remember how or when this title came to fruition, but I believe it was used in jest and it stuck. I adore everything to do with beauty from our incredible brands, our passionate team members in-store and the interactions we have daily with our customers. When all of these elements come together, the outcome is truly fabulous, so my role is to make sure our customers, brands and team members have the most fabulous time doing it.

Did you have an idea of your dream job growing up? 

Growing up, my dream role as an adult would be to work in beauty and make people feel great about themselves. I remember when I was about five putting blue eyeshadow on my mother, brushing her hair and styling her clothes. I just loved the playfulness of it and how it made her feel (not so sure how she looked), and just being creative. Like all creative endeavours, it puts you in a different realm for a moment, so I can happily say I fell into the right hands at Mecca.

How exactly did you make the leap into the beauty industry? Did you study formally, or did you start with an entry-level role and climb the ladder?

I started with Mecca after having a career in hairdressing, while also being fully qualified as a makeup artist. I took what I learnt from beauty and being a small business owner, and adapted it to Mecca. When I first started, I was like a kid in a candy store, getting to play with the best of the best beauty brands from all over the world. Mixing, painting and blending felt like I was reliving my childhood with my mum.

I worked in-store for a few years, proudly showing our customers what Mecca was all about. These were the golden years for me. To this day, those years in-store inform every decision I make, and I’m so glad I have that intel to always fall back on. I came to Mecca with an artistry background but being exposed to artistry through our global brands really took the blinkers off.

From there, I made my way to HQ and became the Experience Manager (customer-focused), then Colour Manager (brands and education), which progressed into Head of Artistry and now into Head of Fabulosity. So I literally have my fingers in all of the pies and it works.

Can you walk us through a typical day in your life on the job? 

My role is rather fluid at Mecca, so no two days are the same and where I need to put my energy depends on the needs of the business. I’m involved with product development, working alongside the retail team on our service model, assisting marketing with upcoming campaigns, hosting brand founders when they are in market. And I can still be found working in-store, so I’m across how it is all landing for our customers.

What’s your approach to office dressing? A role like yours must require some next-level outfits… 

Dressing for work for me is a simple tailored silhouette, and I will always grab a few items when I am in Europe to keep my look fresh. I do have a custom lobster orange sequin suit that I will rock up in if the occasion seems fitting, and it’s had quite the outing, let me tell you!

What about your everyday beauty routine for work?

My everyday beauty is Dr Dennis Gross SpectraLite at home, hydrated skin with a swipe of brow gel to keep them in place. Hair is always freshly blow-dried, and I layer two fragrances for a signature scent. I really like having my own scent, and people will always comment that the room smells like Tony.

What has been a major career highlight for you so far?

Highlights? There have been so many. Getting up close and personal with Mr. Nars, Ellis Faas, Terry De Gunzberg, Gucci Westman and most recently Charlotte Tilbury. They’re all incredible and so inspiring to witness. Meccaland was another pinch-me moment, and the openings of George Street in Sydney and Bourke Street were huge. The morning we opened Bourke Street was spectacular.

Walking the Sydney Pride Parade two years ago with the Mecca team (the debut of the orange suit) got me right in my feelings. Working at NYFW in 2016 with the Nars team is also something I will cherish forever, and every time we launch a new product from Mecca Max, it’s thrilling for me to see how our customers react.

 

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What challenges have you faced getting to where you are now? 

The biggest challenge for me is that as Mecca has grown, I have to learn to let go and trust, and know when to step in and when to hold back. This is hard for me because I like to be across everything, I love being in the detail, knowing what’s happening in every corner. But growth demands a different version of you, and you can’t be everywhere, doing everything, all the time.

When you give people the space to own something, they bring their own magic, their own flair, their own way of solving problems. That’s been a big learning, to trust the talent around you, back them and know that stepping back isn’t letting go of standards, it’s creating room for others to shine.

What’s the best part about your role? 

My favourite part of my role is that I still get to play, like I did with my mum. Beauty has always been a playground for me: experimenting, creating, connecting and making people feel incredible. Even after all these years, it still gives me that same buzz. I love the human side of it most, those small moments where someone feels seen, understood and fabulous. That never gets old.

What would surprise people about your role?

I get to have full autonomy with my role and float to where I’m needed at the time. Mecca has always given me the flexibility and trust to just go and do what I need to do, so everyone has the best outcome. Having that freedom and trust from Mecca gives me the ability to adjust at anytime to get the best result.

You must speak to some incredibly talented entrepreneurs. Has anyone made you feel star-struck?

I was in the back of a taxi many years ago with an artist who was visiting from the US and she was texting Madonna … I was dying on the inside but tried to stay calm and cool on the outside. That was a challenge, but I did it… just!

Similarly, is there a beauty founder who has surprised you with their advice or philosophy?

Rose Marie Swift, founder of RMS Beauty, taught me it’s what you eat, and how you think and live that makes you beautiful. Rose Marie has a wealth of knowledge on nutrition and natural remedies, and she inspired me to live a bit cleaner.

What skills have served you well in the beauty industry?

I’ve just reached 40 years in the beauty industry and over that time, I’ve had thousands of interactions with just about everyone. Be kind, be flexible and always weave in a little humour. Laughter is medicine.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be in a role like yours one day?

Be open to learning new things from anyone who crosses your path. Master the craft of interaction and take the time to harness the humanness of beauty. Making someone feel at ease and confident with you will be your greatest asset. Today, we’re bombarded with technology and all humans really need is another human helping them along. So figure out what it is about you that other people resonate with and then put that part of yourself on steroids.

What about a practical tip? 

Know your craft from the ground up. Get into the weeds to understand what it is, how it works and what you can do to make it even more special. People always ask me what Head of Fabulosity even means and to put it simply, it means that everyone who stands in front of me feels fabulous. A customer, a brand founder, a team member and everyone in between feels wonderful about the interaction they are having with me. It’s never about me, it’s always about others.

Learn to meditate so you are present and grounded for others. Have interests outside of work that fill you up. Be authentic and never take yourself too seriously. Spending time in nature seems to keep the keel even and always make the time to have a good old cackle every day. Do your research on everyone and everything so you know it inherently, then the process is more fluid and enjoyable.

Find more from Tony here.