Start Right Here! Podcast

Cataanda James, Chief Beauty Officer of CJ The Beauty Group, talks about building a career that surpasses her wildest dreams.  Cataanda James is a textured-hair expert, educator, and beauty industry strategist whose career embodies resilience, authenticity, and the courage to follow one's passion.  Raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, she grew up inspired by her mother's love of fashion and flawless gro...

Starr Blackshere is a powerhouse in the beauty industry, a visionary artist whose journey from childhood fascination to professional mastery is nothing short of inspiring. With an innate eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Starr has transformed her passion for beauty into a thriving career that spans hair, makeup, and the intricate art of brow design. Born and raised in San...

We wrap up our three-part series on Shifting the Natural Hair Narrative. I'm thrilled to be joined by three incredible guests at the forefront of a revolutionary movement in the world of hair—Erin Maybin, Natasha Gaspard, and Debra Hare-Bey, founding members of the NHBC .    In this episode, we dive deep into natural hair advocacy, design, and the cultural significance of textured hair.   Our firs...

We continue our discussion on Changing the Natural Hair Narrative with the second of our three-part series. This episode features Diane C. Bailey, a pioneering figure in the world of textured hair care, with a career spanning decades and an unwavering commitment to education, advocacy, and community empowerment. She is the CEO and Founder of EMERGE NBIA: Natural Beauty Industry Alliance and Co_Pre...

Author, advocator, educator and entrepreneur, Diane Da Costa is a trailblazing figure in the beauty and wellness industry. She is the CEO and Founder of SimpleeBEAUTIFUL Brands , Co-President of the Natural Hairstyle & Braid Coalition and wrote the book, Textured Tresses . With over three decades of experience in the beauty industry, Diane has honed her craft to become a master hairstylist, specia...

Marsha Haygood , CEO of Stepwise Associates says finding success starts with three essential questions; What do you want? Why do you want it? And what are you willing to sacrifice to make it happen? Marsha Haygood is a renowned leadership expert, captivating speaker, and accomplished author with a remarkable career dedicated to empowering individuals, especially women, to unlock their full potenti...

Kerry Abner is the visionary founder behind Manhattan Grey , a revolutionary haircare line specifically designed for people with grey hair.    As a military brat born in the Bronx, New York, Kerry's upbringing took him on a diverse journey across different cultures, including living in England, Japan, and Florida. This broad exposure nurtured his passion for creativity and a desire to explore uniq...

In this episode, we explore honing in on your niche as a beauty entrepreneur. Yasmin Zeinab is the visionary founder and driving force behind Abi Amé , a trailblazing body care brand that seeks to revolutionize the beauty industry.    With cultural influences from her Jordanian and Palestinian heritage and an upbringing in Australia, Yasmin brings a fresh and innovative perspective to the world of...

In this bonus episode, we are talking about how working with a recruiter can help when you are looking for a job in the beauty industry. My guest is Brianna Blackwood-Mallory, a compassionate recruiter and inclusivity advocate who runs Königin Consulting & Recruiting . She shares the circuiritous path she took to her current role which included studying Chinese Language and Literature at Vassar Co...

Funlayo Alabi, CEO and Co-Founder of Shea Radiance , wants to see women win. The founder, who was born in Manchester, England, and raised in Nigeria, moved to the United States at 17 to attend college. But she brought with her a strong sense of beauty implanted in her growing up in Nigeria, which included gleaming skin.  After realizing that following in her father's footsteps by studying accounti...

Are you thinking about making a move with your career? Whether you want to break into beauty, are seeking another position, or are exploring entrepreneurship, this bonus episode is for you. Because before you embark on this next step, it is critical to get your mind right. That means developing the proper mindset, setting intentions, and setting expectations. This week, I chat with Ananda Leeke, a...

Melissa Hibbért, founder and CEO of SHYFT Beauty knew that she was destined for a career in beauty since she borrowed her mother's red lipstick to wear in high school. She earned her cosmetology license while still in high school. Then, while a student at Fisk University, she found an abandoned hair salon in her dorm, reopened it, and with a few of her high school friends operated the salon on the...

This season, I am kicking off a series of bonus episodes that provide practical information for beauty entrepreneurs and those who want to chart their career courses in other aspects of the industry. In this episode, I chat with Dee Bowden, BCS Solutions founder and Cash Flow Recovery trainer.  She is also the author of a book called Collect the Cash . Dee shares a bit of her story of working in t...

Narae Chung, the CEO, and co-founder of Cardon , was aware of the value of skincare early on. She observed the multi-step skincare rituals her mother practiced daily, which she believes were as much self-care as they were beauty steps. By the time she was in her early teens, Narae had a 4-step system of her own. Skincare was part of her life, and culturally, it was more important than makeup. The...

Have you ever taken a leap of faith? Makeup artist. Educator, and product development consultant, Nicky Posley has built a vibrant career because of his willingness to take the leap. But growing up, Nicky wanted to be a fine artist and was already participating in art shows while still in middle school while living in suburban Illinois. One of his friends suggested he explore m makeup. What starte...

You've probably heard the adage that when a woman changes her hair, she changes her life. When Keziah Dhamma Big chopped her hair after moving from Sacramento to Los Angeles, it led to a whole new career. She went from an actress and model to a beauty entrepreneur all because she couldn't find what she needed for her thick, textured natural hair. Since developing her Snappee hair ties, Swirly Curl...

We are back with Season 3 of Start Right Here! On this episode, it is a pleasure to welcome Noelly Michoux. She is the CEO and Co-founder of 4.5.6. Skin. And in this episode, we talk about how Noelly and her co-founders have used an international perspective and scientific research to create a groundbreaking line that addresses the skincare needs of 40% of the world's population. Noelly shares why...

This week, we are back in the crates with a rebroadcast of my chat with Ron Robinson, CEO, and Co-Founder of BeautyStat Cosmetics .  This is a must-listen for anyone contemplating beauty entrepreneurship, product development, or becoming a cosmetic chemist. Ron tackles the critical mindset for each. He also chats about pivoting BeautyStat from an influencer agency to a successful skincare brand. T...

With all that is going on in the world, we all need a bit of self-care. And in order to practice it myself, I wanted to bring you a rebroadcast of my chat with Dixie Lincoln-Nichols, Founder of the Inside Outer Beauty Market . In this episode, Dixie shares her career evolution from her aspirations to become a medical doctor to a science teacher to now a beauty and wellness entrepreneur. Stay tuned...

When Abigail Opiah and her sister, Antonia, co-founders of UN_Ruly, launched an exhibit and short film called You Can Touch My Hair, in 2013, the intent was a commentary on how Black women had been "othered" in the workplace. But to some it was controversial. In fact, on the second day of the public exhibit, some Black women came to protest. Abigail's goal was simply to move the conversation about...

The children of Trinidadian immigrants growing up in Montreal, Jamella Bailey, President, and Founder of Crüe Cosmetics , dreaded the hair maintenance process. It led her to spend many years hiding her hair under braids and protective styles. But her quest for a Beyoncé-like lace front cost her more than the expensive price tag for the wig. The stylist she visited glued the wig directly to her hai...

Briggitta Hardin, the Co-founder of NFZD, a whole plant beauty brand, always knew entrepreneurship would be in her future but never thought that beauty would be part of the equation. Growing up in a rough section of Chicago, Briggitta couldn't go outside to play, so she devoured books instead.  Her thirst for knowledge led her to attend Howard University, and when she found herself squeamish aroun...

Rahama Wright, CEO of Shea Yeleen, volunteering for the Peace Corp was a no-brainer, it was how her parents met. But it was during her time volunteering for a health clinic in West Africa that she had a desire to create an ecosystem that provided economic support for women. And she saw shea butter as a vehicle for her end goal. Eventually, that led to the launch of Shea Yellen, through which she p...

This week, I am excited to bring you my chat with Amanda Flores, the Editorial Director of Prose, a customized haircare company. Amanda has loved beauty since she began playing around in her mother's Mary Kay stash when her mom sold the brand. But it would be years before she considered a career in the industry, and for her, writing was the key. Amanda wanted to be Judy Blume and pen novels (who k...

In the latest episode, I chat with natural hair pioneer T aliah Waajid , who talks about her career journey in the world of textured tresses that inspired her to create the World Natural Hair Show  in the late 1990s.  Taliah shares how her first braiding in a salon taught her that the customer's hair health has to be the priority, even if it means turning down a style request. When she first moved...