Awards

Kelley School of Business Distinguished Entrepreneur - 2004

About Jean A. Ford

Jean Ford is the co-founder of Benefit Cosmetics, which she established in 1976 with her twin sister, Jane. Ford attended Indiana University and graduated in 1970 with a B.S. in art education. Throughout her career with Benefit, Jean Ford's expertise in promotion, marketing, graphic design and product development has lended to Benefit becoming known as one of the fastest growing cosmetic companies in the country.

After college, they moved out west to pursue a modeling career. In 1976, Ford and her sister opened up a make-up store called the Face Place in San Francisco's Mission District. Their products soon became popular and the business expanded to a catalog and department stores in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Benefit Cosmetics went international by expanding into London's Harrods Department Store in 1997.

Ford later studied design and art at the San Francisco Art Institute and the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco. She won the Distinguished Entrepreneur Award from her alma mater for her successful career in cosmetics.