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The global beauty and supply chain landscape has lost a visionary architect with the sudden passing of Lizbeth Zuniga, founder and CEO of Acquire Beauty. More than an executive, Zuniga was a unique hybrid: an industrial systems engineer who applied rigorous analytics to the creative world of beauty, helping iconic brands like L’Oréal, Shiseido, and Pat McGrath Labs build the operational backbone behind their global presence.
Zuniga, who split her time between New Jersey and her native Peru, passed away unexpectedly last night. The news has sent waves of grief through the professional communities she shaped and the personal circles she cherished, including, as noted tenderly by her family, her beloved dog, Lina.
Her journey from Rutgers University engineering graduate to sought-after industry sage was marked by a rare ability to translate creative brand vision into logistical reality. At Acquire Beauty, her consultancy was not merely about solving supply chain puzzles; it was about “envisioning future states” for brands—a phrase that colleagues say captured her forward-looking, almost philosophical approach to operations.
“Lizbeth didn’t just manage supply chains; she designed ecosystems for growth,” said a former colleague from L’Oréal, where Zuniga served as Director of Market Supply Logistics. “She saw the intersection of data, human collaboration, and global movement where others saw only spreadsheets and shipping routes. In an industry obsessed with the front-end—the product, the marketing—she was the master of the elegant back-end that made it all possible.”
Yet, those who knew Zuniga emphasize that her legacy is bifurcated, rooted as deeply in service as in strategy. Her engineering mind was matched by a builder’s heart, volunteering with the Fuller Center and Habitat for Humanity International. This duality defined her: she was as comfortable on a construction site lifting beams as she was in a corporate boardroom mapping a multinational expansion.
Her Peruvian heritage and global lifestyle informed a unique perspective. She navigated New York corporate culture and South American business landscapes with equal fluency, often acting as a cultural and operational bridge for brands looking to scale internationally. “She brought a truly global soul to her work,” noted a client. “She understood that beauty rituals are universal, but the pathways to deliver them are complex and local. She held both truths at once.”
In a statement, her family requested privacy but shared that her absence would be profoundly felt by all who loved her, including her constant canine companion, Lina—a poignant detail that underscored the personal warmth behind her professional stature.
Lizbeth Zuniga’s passing leaves a void not easily filled. She was a mentor who championed young professionals, especially women in STEM and operations. She demonstrated that analytical rigor and deep human compassion are not just compatible, but powerfully synergistic. The beauty industry will move forward on pathways she helped design, but it will do so without the unique engineer, builder, and global citizen who drew the map.