Get the latest Academy content and special deals direct to your inbox
With our beauty community dealing with the pains of a pandemic, certain industry leaders chose to step up and speak up with the legislators and media influencing our business. We are grateful to them for taking their time, taking a stand for their peers, and making a true difference in the well-being of all beauty professionals. They have become your role models when speaking to critical issues, and will hopefully inspire you to also lead the way to proudly support your peers and profession.
The bottom line, these advocates encourage so many of us to advocate and activate on behalf of our industry. Their common theme is to focus on the greater good — not just on their own struggling business but on all of them as one. Collectively, they have kept us strong, motivated, and surviving. Are you an advocate yet? It’s not hard … just listen to the leaders who share your professional pride and passion to speak up, be heard, and climb out of the pandemic crush … together!
As a media brand, our mission is to focus the spotlight on others. We cover the professional beauty industry by tapping into the wisdom and expertise of industry leaders who are our guiding lights. As an editor, I have lived through the many issues that the beauty community has been dealing with … like undergoing self-examination around issues of racial equality, inclusivity, representation, and diversity. I turned to these folks more than ever for their input, understanding, and sympathy. Bottom line, we look to the pro-active leaders who inspire us to give so freely of ourselves … to help us all to survive and succeed in good times and bad.
“We are not in the haircutting business; we are in the people business. It is essential for our future barber and beauty professionals to learn to get along with and understand people from all walks of life.”
–Rodrick Samuels
Lauren Moser and Rodrick Samuels are the power duo who own Hair Lab Detroit Barber School. These two beauty professionals are educators, motivators, award-winners and salon and school owners. Partners in both life and work, they have a respected pro-active history of stepping up and giving back. As an interracial couple, they have a valuable perspective. And, as artists, they see how our industry can improve…they work to create meaningful change at every level.
See more from Rodrick and Lauren here.
“My career and struggles do not qualify me to write, speak or teach you — my solutions do.”
–Carlos Valenzuela
This is one of my favorite quotes Carlos Valenzuela, a stylist, author, and educator. He is another great industry advocate and role model who has inspired many of his peers over the years to step up and make a difference in their industry, as well as their own business and careers. A mentor of mine for years (whether he knew it or not), Carlos is the ultimate champion and cheerleader for hairdressers. His 45 years of industry expertise and wealth of life experience means that he can speak on everything from money management to personal fulfillment.
Contact Anne Moratto at anne.moratto@bobit.com.
Watch for next week’s Part 2 of this series on Industry Advocacy: Be an Industry Advocate: How YOU Can Speak Up!
Anne Moratto is the Director of Content Strategy for both MODERN SALON and NAILS. She has been grateful to be part of the beauty industry for over 20 years, working in content creation and development, editorial, public relations, and advertising.