--- title: "Fernando Tamez Gutierrez from DS Laboratories: True Industry Innovation Requires Constant Reinvention Instead of Imitation" url: "https://authoritymag.co/articles/fernando-tamez-gutierrez-from-ds-laboratories-true-industry-innovation-requires-constant-reinven" publisher: "Authority Magazine" author: "Jilea Hemmings" authorUrl: "https://authoritymag.co/authors/jilea-hemmings" interviewee: "Fernando Tamez Gutierrez" company: "DS Laboratories" category: "Business" datePublished: "2022-06-29T19:18:46.930Z" dateModified: "2026-11-12T17:07:51.966Z" tags: "Business" --- # Fernando Tamez Gutierrez from DS Laboratories: True Industry Innovation Requires Constant Reinvention Instead of Imitation *The CEO of DS Laboratories shares his remarkable turnaround journey from distributor to owner, emphasizing science-backed innovation, people-first culture, and persistence in the beauty industry.* > Since the beginning, we have done things differently, so it has always been a positive trend. I always tell everybody in our company that we innovate, not imitate. --- As*a part of our series about “Five Things You Need To Know To Succeed In The Modern Beauty Industry”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Fernando Tamez Gutierrez from DS Laboratories.* *Dr. Fernando Tamez double-majored in medicine and business, which has given him a unique position in the beauty industry, allowing him to develop unique products backed by science and real results. He worked his way to become a DS Laboratories distributor, being named COO, to later being fired by the board, and then ultimately acquiring the company in 2019 — making it a successful turnaround story. Nowadays, ​​DS Laboratories is a leading dermatological brand specialized in science-backed haircare and skincare, offering innovative, clinical-grade products recommended by top dermatologists worldwide.* --- **Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?** While I was in med school about to do my residency in plastic surgery, I came across DS Laboratories. Since I was always seeking solutions for my hair loss problems, I found products that worked, but I knew I could enhance them with some improvements. I made the incredibly tough decision to leave medicine to become an entrepreneur. **Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?** I have so many stories I could probably write a book. Long story short, I joined DS Laboratories as a distributor, helped take the company public in NASDAQ, became COO, and was fired by the board (for trying to improve the business) only to take over the company later. **Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success? Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?** Since the beginning, we have done things differently, so it has always been a positive trend. I always tell everybody in our company that we innovate, not imitate. When people start to copy you, it means you have been successful, but it is essential to keep innovating. I also had a lot of takeaways of what NOT to do from previous leadership, which set a culture from the beginning of taking over the company and always putting our people, customers, and products first. No compromises. **None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person to whom you are grateful who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?** I think if you find good people and bring them along on this journey, it will be very profitable for all the parties involved. Eight years ago, while I was looking for someone to run our Mexican business, between all the CVs, I spotted one that was entirely out of our reach, a C-level executive from one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world. I asked for the interview to pick his brain and see how a person of his caliber works. The chemistry was undeniable from the start. I convinced him to work for us; he is currently our COO. Three years ago, our VP of E-commerce was introduced to me by our in-house counsel at a lunch one day. From the beginning, these key hires made a big difference by sharing the same vision and being ALL IN. . But both have been key in developing the current business to where it is today. Many people work on the day-to-day that makes the business run. As the saying goes, ‘teamwork makes the dream work.’ **Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. The global beauty industry today has grown to more than a half a trillion dollar business. Can you tell us about the innovations that you are bringing to the industry? How do you think that will help people?** Since the beginning, I have thought about innovation in a way that brings differentiated products to the marketplace. For example, men and women alike have been battling hair loss for many years by using Minoxidil, a one-ingredient product that’s been in the market for over 30 years. We spend a lot of time working alongside dermatologists and scientists to research and develop the latest science to understand the root causes of issues like hair loss and what ingredients can be formulated to create unique products that drive real results. We also created our Advanced Nanosome Technology Delivery System that encapsulates key active ingredients in our products for better absorption, making the product work longer from the time of application. **Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the modern beauty industry?** 1. New active ingredients 2. Green packaging 3. Clean beauty **Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to improve the industry, what would you suggest?** 1. Less waste 2. Ban harmful ingredients 3. Stricter control of claims **You are an expert about beauty. Can you share a few ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? **Just by taking shower, combing our hair, and even working out helps us produce endorphins. **Here is the main question for our discussion. Based on your experience and success, Can you please share “Five Things You Need To Know To Succeed In The Modern Beauty Industry”. Please share a story or an example, for each.** 1. Innovate. Be different do not copy. 2. Invest in people. You need to have the best team and help them in their personal development. 3. Invest in product. Your products need to be different, help people, and keep evolving. 4. Invest in the future. Your business needs to have a real purpose to succeed. **5.** Persistence: Good things take time. **You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)** I think right now what the world needs the most is peace. We need to learn tolerance and inclusivity. **Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?** Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. — Winston Churchill. **How can our readers follow you online?** [linkedin.com/in/fernando-tamez-a4a40134](https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-tamez-a4a40134) **Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.** --- Source: https://authoritymag.co/articles/fernando-tamez-gutierrez-from-ds-laboratories-true-industry-innovation-requires-constant-reinven (Authority Magazine, Business). Interviewee answers are first-person statements of the guest. Index of all pages: https://authoritymag.co/llms.txt