Award-winning entrepreneur, motivational business speaker, and media guru, Cornell McBride Jr. serves as the visionary and president of McBride Research Laboratories (MRL), the parent company of Design Essentials® Salon Systems and Design Essentials® Natural. Both brands have made MRL renowned as a global leader in manufacturing hair care products for both salon professionals and multicultural consumers for over 30 years.

Cornell spends much of his time focused on MRL’s global expansion, nurturing ethnic hair care around the world. He keeps pace with the fast-moving beauty industry by consistently releasing fresh, innovative products that outperform sales forecasts and accelerate growth across mass retailers both nationally and globally.

Additionally, Cornell remains committed to the company’s roots—using its brands to help empower entrepreneurs and beauty industry professionals everywhere, fostering long-term and multi-generational business success.