Carol Lavin Bernick
Former Executive Chairman, Alberto-Culver Company
Carol Lavin Bernick is a distinguished business leader, philanthropist, and member of the family behind the iconic Alberto VO5 brand. She serves as Chief Executive Officer of Polished Nickel Capital Management, a privately held firm that manages a diversified portfolio of investments and operating companies across multiple industries.
In her role as CEO, Bernick oversees the strategic direction and long-term stewardship of her family’s enterprise, integrating investment management with a strong commitment to purpose-driven philanthropy. The firm operates as the family office, aligning business operations, wealth management, and charitable initiatives within a unified, impact-focused model.
Bernick spent more than 37 years with the Alberto-Culver Company, the global beauty and personal care company founded by her parents, Leonard and Bernice Lavin. Best known for brands such as Alberto VO5, TRESemmé, and Nexxus, the company grew into an international leader under family ownership. She ultimately served as Executive Chairman, playing a key role in product innovation, brand strategy, and corporate culture, and personally created well-known brands including Static Guard and Mrs. Dash.
She led the company’s successful sale to Unilever in 2011, marking a defining milestone in its evolution within the global consumer products industry. Beyond business, Bernick is widely recognized for her leadership in healthcare governance and education. She previously served as
Chair of Northwestern Memorial Healthcare and currently chairs the Northwestern Health Network, an integrated system of hospitals and physicians. She has also held leadership roles at Tulane University, her alma mater.
Philanthropy remains central to her work. She founded initiatives including The Friends of Prentice, Enchanted Backpack, and CC’s Wish List, providing critical support to women’s health, education, and underserved communities. Her efforts reflect a broader family legacy of innovative, impact-driven giving.
An author as well as an executive, Bernick wrote Gather As You Go, a collection of lessons drawn from her career and life experiences, with proceeds benefiting charitable causes. She divides her time between Chicago and Naples, Florida, where she remains active in philanthropic and community initiatives.