027 One woman’s journey and her love of the craft.

I’m sure that like me, you get inspired by people for lots of different reasons. Sometimes it might be because of what they have achieved. Other times it may be the journey they have had to get there, or maybe how they’ve handled adversity and overcome challenges. Or maybe you get inspired by how they think. How they think about people, how they think about life, and how they think about hairdressing. My guest on today’s podcast is Traci Sakosits, North American Creative Director of the Sassoon Salons and Academies.  Traci has a passion and curiosity about people and the craft of hairdressing. She is someone who inspires me, not only by what she does with hair but with how ‘she thinks’ about hair and hairdressing and her commitment to the craft. So, on today’s podcast, amongst other things we are going to talk about: How people and businesses evolve. What do you need to do to lead a team effectively? What young people expect today, and how do you lead and motivate them. How you balance life as a leader, teacher, mom, and wife, etc. In This Episode: [01:47] Welcome to the show, Traci! [02:43] Traci, can you give us an overview of your life and who inspired you to become a hairdresser? [04:12] Traci discusses her early years in the business, her love of cutting hair, and why she went to Sassoon. [07:07] She speaks about interviewing with Sassoon in New York City and getting a position in the salon as a hairdresser. [09:15] Traci chats about her two years of apprenticeship she did with Sassoon. [10:03] Antony speaks about his journey with Sassoon and the company itself. [11:41] Traci believes that Sassoon not only shows you the techniques to succeed; they also give hairdressers a strong foundation and teach them professionalism. [13:38] Traci shares about an instructor she had that inspired her to teach others. [17:09] They chat about how long Sassoon has been around and the changes they have had to embrace. [18:12] How has Sassoon changed today, and what does the future hold? [21:21] Traci speaks about the Sassoon business model and how the salon suites shift has affected them. [24:22] Traci shares that Sassoon has become much more flexible with the hours the hairdressers work. [26:11] They chat about the different generations and how styles Traci has seen over her years in the business. [27:45] What are the attributes of a strong leader? What should you look for in a potential leader? [29:46] Traci describes what cosmetology is for the listeners that are not in the United States. [31:38] Traci shares what she believes Sassoon means to young hairdressers today. [34:20] Traci believes that all hairdressers should be able to handle whatever requests come in the door.  [37:24] Do you think that there are a lot of preconceived notions surrounding Sassoon? [39:57] Traci discusses how Sassoon had evolved around the changing technology and social media. [42:09] Do you have any guidelines for your team when it comes to Instagram and other social media platforms? [45:15] Traci says they do not have an online tool at this time, but they are working on one called Sassoon Online. [48:11] What advice would you give a young twenty-something that is looking to hone their craft? [49:51] Traci shares the ways she reinvents herself and how she changes her mindset to be more flexible. [51:30] How do you balance your time and mindset between your family and work? [55:25] Traci, do you have any final thoughts for our listeners? [57:05] Traci, thank you so much for sharing your time with the listeners.   Links and Resources Grow My Salon Business    Find Traci Traci Sakosits @tracisak_hair Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest