Kerschner Family Series Global Leaders Speaker Tracee Ellis Ross during Arts, Creativity, and Innovation Weekend
To kick off the 2026 Arts, Creativity, and Innovation Weekend, Colgate welcomed award-winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur Tracee Ellis Ross to share her journey with students. Preceding her keynote to hundreds of community members in Colgate Memorial Chapel, Ross sat down with Assistant Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Dominique Hill for an exclusive Q&A session in front of less than two dozen students. This time was an opportunity for students to connect directly with the professional in an intimate setting.
While it can feel intimidating to meet a celebrity, Ross was quick to relate to students, explaining that her origins as an entrepreneur started as so many do: by identifying a demand that wasn’t being met. Ross grew up using haircare products that were not suitable for her hair texture, resulting in wasted time and lowered self-confidence. When her mother explained that, if she wanted better hair products, she would have to get a “really good job” or marry rich, Ross realized something must be done to fill the gap in the market.
Her haircare line for curly, coily, and tight-textured hair, Pattern Beauty, launched after 10 years in development. During this time, Ross experienced many noes and had to push back against potential investors who insisted she make the product for all hair, not just curly, coily, and tight-textured. When her products finally hit shelves, her work was hardly over. To this day, Ross advocates for Pattern Beauty, ensuring positive marketing strategies and maintaining brand integrity.
“I wanted to shift the paradigm. Marketing is usually anchored in the idea that you have a problem and need a product to ‘fix’ it. I find that problematic. I wanted to use hair as a way of celebrating. I was adamant that Pattern be anchored in the celebration of Black beauty. We inherently understand the worthiness of Blackness,” Ross said.
As both an actress and entrepreneur, Ross stressed the power of rehearsal and the value of growth. Ross drew from her undergraduate years at Brown University to help convey this message, sharing a story of another actress who attended the school at the same time. According to Ross, this actress was by far the most talented performer at Brown and had landed the lead in a theatrical production. However, Ross was notably shocked when her fellow A-lister performed extremely poorly in the first few days of rehearsal. By the time the play was set to debut, the unnamed actress was able to put on an incredible performance, teaching Ross that even those who are immensely talented still need practice.
“That was one of my biggest life lessons: Rehearsal is a space of play where you get out of your own way,” Ross explained.
Ross concluded the Q&A session by urging the young innovators to resist the pressure of outperformance and instead prioritize their well-being. Using the acronym HALT, she advised students never to make major life or business decisions when they are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Ross reminded the audience that true confidence is earned through action rather than accolades. “Self-esteem comes from estimable acts,” she told the students. By the time Ross headed to the chapel for her keynote, she had left the small group of students with not just business advice, but a roadmap for a life built on authenticity, curiosity, and the courage to remain teachable at every stage of the journey.