Paulo Lima ’04

Paulo Lima is the Co-founder and former Co-CEO of IT Cosmetics, a business he started with his wife in their living room and grew into the largest prestige makeup brand in the United States, then sold to L’Oreal in 2016 in the largest acquisition in L’Oreal history.  Currently Paulo is the Chairman and CEO of the Lima Family Office where he oversees all investment decisions. 

Paulo has been honored with awards including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year; he is a KPMG QuantumShift Fellow and has twice been honored as a Goldman Sachs 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneur.  Prior to founding IT Cosmetics, Paulo worked on Wall Street, focusing in M&A at various firms including Credit Suisse and Peter J. Solomon Co.  IT Cosmetics has received multiple industry and editorial awards including WWD Prestige Brand of the Year, QVC Vendor of the Year, ULTA Brand of the Year, and has received more than 200 press placements including TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Nightline, NY Times, WWD, Allure, InStyle and many more.  Mr Lima and his family are also passionate philanthropists both personally and with IT Cosmetics, having donated over $50 million.

Paulo received his BBA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Columbia University where he is also a member of the Board of Columbia Business School.