Six Pieces of Career Advice We Picked Up At Luxury Brand Partners’ Idealogue

Leading minds in social media and hairdressing converged at Metropolitan West in New York City for Luxury Brand Partners’ third annual Idealogue Conference, exploring economic and personal growth in our rapidly changing industry. Here are some of our favorite pearls of wisdom we picked up during the two-day conference, and scroll through the slideshow above for more pics!

• “The key to monetizing your brand is to add to your portfolio and keep an open mind,” shared Ursula Stephen (@ursulastephen), the hairstylist behind Rihanna and Kerry Washington’s iconic looks. “Stay curious. Stay hungry. And be real about your brand because people will know.” Ursula was a stylist in a salon for nine years before she started to say yes to every opportunity and go freelance—and look at her now!

• “If I’m not making the change in my life, there won’t be any change in my life,” said Laura Chihaia, aka @lalasupdos, who came to the U.S. 11 years ago with $300 to her name. None of her education was recognized when she came to the U.S., but over years of hard work (she worked three jobs for NINE YEARS), she succeeded.

• “Everything I know in business, I learned from selling marijuana,” shared Jeff Arbour (@jeffarbour), co-founder of a team of entrepreneurs called Chameleon Collective. OK, we’re listening, Jeff! His three biggest lessons? Quality is everything—it spurs loyalty, and loyalty is how business are made. Be nice. And finally, never underestimate the power of a network.

• “Sometimes you think you know everything but you have to open your minds… it’s a new time,” shared Alfredo Lewis (@alfredo_lewis), global director of education for Brazilian Professionals. There are people coming into your salons that know how to do things that you have no idea how to do… you have to take risks and expand.

• “We have to understand that people leave and can go elsewhere. It’s super important that we understand what we are really selling,” said Victor Valverde (@victorval), senior hairstylist, salon guru and business consultant. “We aren’t providing a service to the consumer—we have to change with the market. The consumer is no longer the salon owners costumer. It’s the stylist. They are looking for education, a mentor—we were fighting for the clients, and now we are fighting for the stylists. Ask your stylists what they want… take care of them!”

• “Don’t lower your prices. That’s a race to the bottom—you don’t want to win that race,” said Seth Godin, best-selling author and speaker. As the keynote speaker, Seth delivered a lot of truth, like, “If you’re replaceable, you’re going to get replaced.”

Other speakers included:

• Deepica Mutyala (@deepicam), on-air beauty expert, Today Show tastemaker and YouTube personality
• Jenny Strebe (@theconfessionsofahairstylist), educator, author, curator of @theconfessionsofahairstylist
• Jamie Dana (@jamiedanahairstylist), hair blogger who teaches social media for businesses
• Julius Caesar (@juliuscaesar), L.A. barber, Wahl education and artistic team member
• John Mosley (@popular_nobody), a barber and men’s grooming expert who has worked with Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and many athletes
• Johnny Wright (@johnnywright220), educator and celebrity hairstylist to Michelle Obama
• Frankie Greek (@grankiefreek), Snapchat creator, social journalist and digital host at Uproxx Media