ALFRED -- Under Andrea Jung's leadership, Avon Products Inc. has remained dedicated to a single vision, one that has transformed Avon into "the company for women" and revitalized its reputation as the world's leader in the direct sales of beauty products.

Jung, chairman and chief executive officer at Avon, has played a significant role in achieving that vision. Under her leadership, Avon's annual sales have grown to $6.5 billion, with 4.4 million independent sales representatives marketing and selling Avon products in approximately 140 countries throughout the world.

Jung spoke Monday afternoon on the Alfred University campus, where she delivered the fifth annual Cutco Foundation Lecture on Entrepreneurial Leadership. The annual lecture series, sponsored by the Cutco Foundation and Alfred University, is made possible by a gift from Erick and Marianne Laine and the Cutco Foundation. Erick Laine is chairman of Alcas Corp. of Olean, NY, chairman of Cutco Cutlery Corp. and an Alfred University trustee.

Jung, who joined Avon in 1994, was elected chairman of the board at Avon in September 2001 and has been CEO since November 1999. When Jung began her career at Avon, the company was struggling to find an identity. While the Avon name is one of the world's most recognizable, Jung said, "the company was out of step with the needs of contemporary women. We knew we needed a fresh strategic approach. We needed to crystallize our vision."

That vision would be summed up in a new tag line that described Avon as "The Company for Women." Jung helped oversee the introduction of exciting new lines of business, launched a series of bold and image-enhancing initiatives, and expanded career opportunities for women around the world.

"We transformed the brand. It's now much more hip and relevant to today's consumer," Jung said. At the same time, Avon embraced its role as a company that provides an equal opportunity for employment. Increased earnings opportunities and a commitment to training have resulted in an increase in Avon's independent sales representatives (most of whom are women) which now number 4.4 million worldwide.

Jung said throughout her career in business, she has been guided by numerous personal beliefs.

"Be proud of who you are as an individual and realize there's no typical way you have to be," she said. "I believe in passion. More important than anything, love your work and be passionate about it."

Jung, the mother of a 14-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son, said she has made it a priority to balance her professional and family lives. She makes certain that her children and her career have her attention when they need it most.

"I have the responsibility as a woman with young children to show that balance is important. My children lose on some days, but they win on the days that are most important. The company loses on some days, but it wins on the most important days."

Jung stressed the importance of philanthropy. Avon began a giving program to benefit breast cancer research in 1993. Under Jung's watch the program has continued to grow, with $300 million raised toward the fight against breast cancer.

"Tomorrow's leadership has to give back to the community," Jung commented. "I've been very fortunate that (Avon) has always had philanthropy as part of its fabric."

Jung said there was a time when it was rare for a woman to land an upper level management position, let alone take over the reins at a Fortune 500 Company like Avon. She feels that has changed in recent years and will continue to change.

"As we move along, there will be less scrutiny paid to women. There is a barrier at the top, but it is changing," she said.

Jung spoke of the importance of leadership to any successful business endeavor. Leadership, she said, is demonstrated by a firm commitment to goals and objectives while maintaining sound moral principles and integrity. She urged those in attendance, particular the large group of AU students, to embrace the lessons of leadership they learn and hold true to them.

"The key to successfully navigating today's business world is to understand the values and beliefs important to you and use them as your guiding light," she said.

Jung is a Magna cum Laude graduate of Princeton University. Before joining Avon, she was executive vice president at Neiman Marcus. Earlier in her career, she was senior vice president and general merchandising manager for I. Magnin in San Francisco.

In 2002, Time Magazine/CNN declared Jung one of the 25 Most Influential Global Executives, and in January 2003, she was featured on the cover of Business Week as one of the best managers of the year. She has been named among Fortune magazine's "50 most powerful women in business" for six consecutive years, and was most recently ranked number three on the list.

Erick and Marianne Laine endowed the Cutco Lecture as a way to bring nationally prominent entrepreneurial leaders to campus to meet with students, faculty and friends of Alfred University.

Laine is pleased with how the lecture series has grown over the last five years, each of which has brought a noted entrepreneur to the AU campus. Tami Longaberger, president of the Longaberger Company, delivered the first annual lecture, in 2000. She was followed by David Oreck, chairman of the Oreck Corp., in 2001, and Peter Cuneo, then-president and chief executive officer of Marvel Enterprises, Inc., in 2002, and Doris Christopher, founder and chairman of The Pampered Chef, last spring.

"Each year it gets tougher to match the very high bar we've set for ourselves, but we have succeeded in exceeding our standards," Laine said. "Avon has grown to become one of the best known brands in the United States and around the world. The company's sales and profit growth since (Jung) has taken over has been just electric."

Cutco is the largest manufacturer and marketer of high-quality kitchen cutlery and accessories in the United States and Canada. The Cutco corporate "family" consists of Alcas Corp., the parent company; Cutco Cutlery Corp., manufacturer of Cutco products since 1949; Vector Marketing Corp., marketer of Cutco products directly to consumers via sales representatives, and Cutco International Inc., responsible for international marketing of Cutco products.