Aria O'Connell

I attribute much of my success to resilience. I graduated high school and started college during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced me to adapt to constant uncertainty from the very beginning of my adult life. I learned how to keep moving forward without always knowing what was coming next — and that experience shaped a strong, steady approach to challenges that has carried into every part of my career. When things shift unexpectedly, whether it's a new regulation reshaping my industry or a sudden change in direction at work, I don't get thrown off. I've learned to trust my ability to adapt, problem-solve, and keep showing up — and I think that mindset has been more valuable to me than any specific skill or piece of experience.

The best career advice I received is: don't make your career decisions based on income. Base them on something you're truly passionate about and feel purposeful doing. I learned this firsthand after graduating. I took a sales job because it was the highest-paying offer I had, but before I had even reached six months I was completely drained, overworked, and felt no real sense of purpose. It was hard to get back the motivation and drive I once had. That experience gave me the clarity I needed to pivot into work that aligned better with my values. At the end of the day, no matter what happens or how much money you make, it ultimately comes down to whether you genuinely care about the work you're doing.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. When you're confident and believe in yourself, others will see it, and you'll earn the respect you deserve. I struggled with this at first. Being so much younger than most of my coworkers and the industry professionals around me, it was hard to feel like I belonged in the room. But I quickly realized that the moment you start carrying yourself with confidence in who you are and what you bring to the table, people respond to it. They're more likely to respect and even admire you, regardless of your age. Especially now, with so much of our lives shaped by technology, it's easier than ever to compare yourself to others and feel like you're not good enough. That's why it's so important to do the inner work to identify the unique strengths and value you possess and add to your job, your team, or the people around you. Confidence and faith in yourself have to come first, before anything else.

My industry is being impacted by multiple new federal regulations, including provisions tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The one I'm most familiar with, and that I believe could have the greatest impact, is the proposed Accountability Framework — specifically its Earnings Premium test. In theory, this rule would require graduates of certain non-degree career programs to earn an income comparable to that of someone with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from MIT. If programs don't meet that benchmark, they risk losing their Title IV funding, meaning they can no longer offer federal financial aid — making it far more difficult for students to enroll and access that form of education. Based on ED's own projections, 92.5% of cosmetology and barber programs could fail this test, which would lead to widespread school closures beginning as early as 2027.

My industry is being impacted by multiple new federal regulations, including provisions tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The one I'm most familiar with, and that I believe could have the greatest impact, is the proposed Accountability Framework — specifically its Earnings Premium test. To illustrate how mismatched this standard is, the rule would hold a graduate of a short-term cosmetology program to the same earnings benchmark as someone with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from MIT. If programs don't meet that benchmark, they risk losing their Title IV funding, meaning they can no longer offer federal financial aid. This would make it far more difficult for students to enroll and receive the education needed to work in these fields. Based on ED's own projections, 92.5% of cosmetology and barber programs could fail this test, which would lead to widespread school closures beginning as early as 2027.

I recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with congressional offices and advocate for career schools, because the framework as drafted doesn't reflect the realities of our industry — including the fact that Congress explicitly limited this framework to degree programs, not the undergraduate certificate programs that make up most of our sector.

At the same time, this challenge has opened up a real opportunity. I'm leading initiatives to expand our services in several directions if the Framework is finalized as currently written: growing access to private lending through banking partnerships, building out our software capabilities to process private loans, and strengthening our consulting and compliance services, which will become more important than ever as these new regulations take effect. The goal is to ensure that if federal funding is stripped from our clients, we can still help their students access the funds and support they need to pursue their education. Building out that strategy — and ensuring we remain a reliable resource for our schools no matter what happens with federal aid — is the biggest opportunity in front of me right now.

Three values guide both my work and personal life: health and wellness, trust, and fun. I prioritize being in a strong mental state myself and making sure the people around me feel supported and okay — that foundation matters in every part of life. Trust is also huge for me. You have to be able to genuinely trust the people you surround yourself with, in business and personally. And finally — it might sound unexpected, but fun. Life is fragile, and I think it's important to enjoy it, even in a work setting. Why not make the most of every moment we have?