This Black doctor is the scientist behind some of our favorite beauty brands!
Dr. Maiysha Jones serves as a Senior Scientist and Senior Scientific Communications Manager for Olay Body and several other P&G personal care brands.
While she has a true passion for contributing scientifically to the brands, Dr. Jones is also committed to the development of young professionals in the sciences who have a specific interest in the growth and development of women and underrepresented minorities.
“Black women bring a unique perspective to the STEM fields, and our voices need to be among those making decisions about the direction of consumer product and technology development to help protect against marginalization,” Dr. Jones told AfroTech via email.
Since middle school, Dr. Jones knew that she wanted to grow up to become a scientist, but it wasn’t until after her undergraduate studies that she wanted to do research that specifically served a purpose in people’s lives.
From there, she had the opportunity to intern at P&G upon heading to graduate school. When she began her job search as a doctoral candidate, Dr. Jones knew that it was only right that she find a way to return to the company where it essentially all started.
“I believe three things drove me to be considered for the job at P&G,” she shared. “The contributions I made to my field as a grad student, the trust that the Research Fellow had in my doctoral training, and the first-hand knowledge [they] had of my work, my values, and my growth potential.”
Potential that Dr. Jones now sees in the women she aims to uplift through her current position.
“I recognize the gap in women vs. men in STEM, and I know that a Black female with a Ph.D. is rare in this country,” continued Dr. Jones. “What I have learned over time is that simply being visible to the next generation is sufficient to enable them to see what their future can look like. Telling them my story and listening to theirs…answering their questions…helping them navigate their next steps? That’s icing.”
Today she spends her time collaborating with marketing and communications experts on how to share the science behind P&G products in a way that helps consumers understand the benefits they provide.
This year alone, Dr. Jones has been a part of the all-female team of skin experts who have added Retinol to two innovative body care products to build on their extensive portfolio of skin-care first body care products.
The new Olay Body Wash and the new Rinse-Off Body Conditioner with Retinol that Dr. Maiysha Jones has had a role in creating can be purchased by clicking here.
