Kelsey Capo

I attribute my success to being highly detail-oriented and finding the cracks in things - that's part of working in operations. You have to find the building blocks and patch them up. I think a lot of people don't like looking at that side of the business because it can feel negative, but if you don't address those things, you can't grow. I took my years of knowledge and being mentored by wonderful COOs and wonderful leaders and brought that into my business. One of my most notable achievements was when I was just 22 years old in the med spa world - they handed me a management position for their largest location, but what they didn't tell me was that they were 18 of 18 in the company and struggling terribly. In 2 months, I took it over, cleaned house, flipped the team, started fresh, and we went to number one in the company. We stayed there until I left. I'm very intentional about creating a personalized experience for every client. I truly believe people don't leave stylists because of bad results - they leave because they don't feel heard. That's why I focus so much on asking the right questions, listening closely, and making each appointment feel collaborative instead of routine. I never let my clients sit down and say 'same thing as last time' - I always ask 'What are we doing today? What questions do you have for me?' because everybody sees trends, or you might be changing in a season of life, and you have to grow alongside people.

One of the most impactful pieces of advice I received was from an instructor when I was in cosmetology school. She said people don't leave stylists, they leave experiences. That has stuck with me so greatly because it's taught me that it's not just about the technical skill - it's about how you make people feel. I've also been incredibly fortunate to be mentored by wonderful COOs and wonderful leaders in operations throughout my career, and those relationships have shaped how I approach business. The eWomen Network has been a game changer for me - not only are a lot of the professionals there my clients, but they helped my business grow by word of mouth and truly believe in lift as you climb and having a very empowering message to women. Being part of that community has reinforced the importance of collaboration and supporting other women in business.

My biggest piece of advice is that imperfect action is better than perfect inaction. I would rather have imperfect action and just get going rather than perfect inaction. Not doing anything is not going to move you forward. If it's not perfect, that's okay - the opportunity is to just start. If you don't ever take the first step forward, you're not going to have a business - you're just going to have a hobby, and an expensive one at that. Don't be afraid to ask questions, whether you feel that they're dumb or not, and collaborate with other people. There are thousands upon thousands of business owners, all with a different skill set and knowledge, and you don't have to take every piece of advice, but there might be something in there that is really influential to you. Put yourself out there and ask - there's always something different that people bring to the table that you can learn from. And just start.

I work in an extremely competitive industry. There are more cosmetologists coming out every single day, graduating, and so I think the more you can differentiate yourself as not just a hairstylist, but as also a business owner, is really important. I want people to know that I have been doing this for 15 years and I have an extensive book of experience that is outside of just making you feel beautiful with your hair and your makeup - I have more to offer as well. In my industry in particular, unless you are a technician or in corporate leadership handing out the awards, there's not a lot of recognition to be had. It's very important that you be known for more than just your skill set and your business clientele, but also what you offer and what you can bring to the table. My industry has a lot to grow in certain areas, and I haven't found publications or resources that I'm just wowed by yet.

I am always for the underdog and a champion of those who are fighting. I sometimes feel as women we have a thankless role - we're everything to everyone - and sometimes we need a cheerleader in our own corner. I feel I'm able to bring that positivity and support through teaching and education inside of my profession. After years and years of managing people, I had to sit down with myself and realize I have poured into everyone and everything around me and have neglected myself for a very long time. Part of opening my business was not just helping other women and really getting to focus on what I wanted to see for a vision in a business, but also fulfilling my own cup - not having to constantly feel like I'm spread so thin, to be able to be completely present and completely whole standing in front of whoever it is that I'm helping. Outside of my business, I stay connected to communities that support and uplift women. I'm involved with eWomen Network, which focuses on helping women grow and scale their businesses, and I also work with Twelve12 Ministries, supporting women navigating infertility, loss, and other deeply personal challenges. My twin sister went through unexplained infertility, and my niece is an IVF miracle, so those spaces matter to me because they reflect the kind of impact I want to have beyond my day-to-day work. I'm also currently working on a book that's going to be a guide for women to learn how to take control of their beauty routines while also taking control of their life - it's going to be around empowerment and motivation, which is kind of my thing.