Inside the Only Aesthetics Conference Created Just for Women

If there was ever a weekend that proved beauty and business can coexist with heart, it was the Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference (known as WALC) at the breathtaking Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

Hosted by the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa), the second-ever WALC gathered women from every corner of the aesthetics world—injectors, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, entrepreneurs and brand founders for three days of inspiration, ocean air and real talk about what it means to lead with authenticity.

Between puppy yoga, ocean kayaking, archery and conversations that ran deep, attendees got the rare chance to pause, connect and refocus on their purpose.

“WALC was a special event, and I was honored to be a part of it,” said AmSpa founder and CEO Alex Thiersch. “The main thing that resonated was the feeling of community and support the attendees showed for one another. Despite being competitors, there was no ego, no desire to put others down to climb higher—only words of belonging, support and encouragement. I’ve never experienced an industry, or an event, where the leaders are as committed to helping one another as this one.”

An Entrepreneurial Mindset

WALC balanced leadership panels and hands-on workshops with moments of reflection and joy. This year’s lineup featured powerhouse voices whose personal journeys reminded attendees that real success begins with self-belief.

Jamie Kern Lima, founder of IT Cosmetics and author of Believe It and Worthy, opened the weekend with a keynote on resilience and staying true to your vision. Rejected by investors who told her “women wouldn’t buy makeup from someone who looks like you,” she kept knocking until QVC said yes, selling out in minutes and later selling IT Cosmetics to L’Oréal for $1.3 billion. “Don’t try to fit in when you’re born to stand out,” she said, reminding the room that perseverance is the real beauty secret in business.

Lessons in Human Connection

Next, Dermalogica founder Jane Wurwand took the stage to talk about what she called a “global epidemic of loneliness and isolation.” Her message: in a high-tech world, human touch is more powerful than ever. “For every action of high-tech, there’s an equal and opposite reaction of high-touch,” she told the audience. “We are rediscovering what makes us deeply human, and that’s connection.”

Wurwand traced her path from London beauty schools to launching Dermalogica and the International Dermal Institute, showing how empathy and education became the backbone of her success. “Human beings are meant to be together,” she added. “We like bringing each other joy, we like touching each other, we like looking at each other in the eyes.”

Leading with Heart

The weekend also marked one of the first public appearances by Nicole Mowad-Nassar, the new Global President of Allergan Aesthetics, who spoke candidly about her climb through corporate pharma and her excitement to join the aesthetic industry. “I grew up in corporate America where I was used to being the only woman in the room,” she said. “To be in a room and in a business full of women is a welcome change in my life.”

She also shared how a personal tragedy within her team reshaped her leadership philosophy. “Women show up as leaders differently,” she said. “And that difference, our empathy, our ability to connect, is our strength.”

More Than a Conference

One of the weekend’s most meaningful moments came during the Distinguished Women in Medical Aesthetics Awards Dinner, presented by Merz Aesthetics. The formal evening celebrated 2025’s most influential voices in aesthetics, visionaries shaping innovation, mentorship and empowerment across the field.

Hosted by Susie Albion, senior director of education and advocacy at Merz Aesthetics, the event recognized 30 remarkable leaders including Dr. Jennifer Walden, Dr. Sheila Barbarino, Traci Andreason, FNP-C, Shelby Miller, DNP, FNP-C, Michelle Doran, APRN-BC and Leslie Fletcher, NP-BC, each honored for advancing education, elevating patient care, and inspiring the next generation of women in aesthetics.

Over dinner and dancing, the message was clear: when women celebrate each other’s success, the entire industry moves forward together.