Dina Elliot, CEO and Co-founder of Exit One Solutions.
After a five-year courageous battle with breast cancer, Dina Elliot passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 26th. As the president and CEO of Exit One Solutions, Dina was a deeply respected figure in the professional beauty industry and communications industries. Known for her expertise and remarkable ability to build meaningful and lasting relationships, she shaped how beauty brands showed up in the world with both creative and strategic excellence.
More than 17 years ago, she founded Exit One Solutions growing it into an award-winning, full-service communications and marketing agency that helped propel brands nationally and internationally. To many across the industry, she was not only a strategic partner, but a connector, mentor and a friend.
Over the course of her career, Dina held senior-level communications and marketing positions at leading organizations including Wella US, Shiseido Ltd. and The Lamaur Corporation. Before entering the communications field, Dina had an early career as an opera singer. She was one of the youngest students accepted into The Juilliard School and later attended the prestigious Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. She graduated from New York University, where she double majored in music and journalism, a reflection of her lifelong passion for both artistry and storytelling.
In addition to her professional achievements, Dina was deeply devoted to philanthropy and community service. She was an active board member and volunteer with Cancer Alliance Network (CAN), a Southwest Florida nonprofit that provides non-medical financial assistance and support to individuals and families battling cancer. She also served on the board of Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’MON), supporting educational and arts initiatives for children in her local community.
“Dina led with strength, grace and a remarkable energy that earned respect and admiration,” says her husband Jack Elliot, co-founder of Exit One Solutions. “She had a way of making people believe in what was possible and then achieving it. As a reflection of her dedication and spirit, she spent the last eighteen months preparing for the future and mentoring the exceptional team at Exit One Solutions. She loved this industry deeply, loved this work passionately and above all loved the people in it.”
At the heart of all her accomplishments was her family: Jack, and their son, Connor, whom she always described as her greatest source of pride and purpose. . “For Connor and me, she was our friend, our anchor, a fiercely protective and proud mother, and the center of our world.” Jack posted on social media shortly after her passing. “She was the toughest person I’ve ever known, and the space she leaves behind is immeasurable.”
As Exit One Solutions honors Dina’s legacy, the agency affirms that its operations will continue without interruption. The team she guided remains committed to upholding the standard of creativity, responsiveness and professionalism that she championed throughout her career. The agency will continue to carry forward the vision and values she instilled, striving to meet and exceed the expectations set under her leadership.
Originally posted on Salon Today