On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Chelle Neff, CEO and founder of Urban Betty, an award-winning salon and spa with three locations in the Austin, TX area.
Chelle grew up without a lot of opportunity; her parents had her when they were very young, and didn’t have a lot to support her financially. But one opportunity Chelle did have, and took on wholeheartedly, was a cosmetology program offered through her high school. Seeing as this program was a fraction of the price of a standard cosmetology school, Chelle saw this as her chance at a path forward. Straight out of high school, Chelle began working at a Supercuts, and then moved up to higher end salons.
But during her time working for other salons, Chelle noticed a business pattern that she didn’t like. In most salons, stylists rent a chair with which to receive clients, but that rental comes with unexplained service fees. Not to mention an overall lack of transparency and connection with the owner of any given salon, and Chelle knew that the typical salon culture (or lack thereof) was something she wanted to change.
Tune into this episode to hear Paul and Chelle discuss Chelle’s rocky road to a successful business model, her passion for elevating the industry to be seen as a respectable career, and how she hopes to improve as a leader.
Show Notes:
4:53 - Being the change in the industry
10:51 - Building a sense of community
18:00 - “I want to elevate our industry”
22:45 - Growing pains
33:16 - “Please ask for help”
Eric Rieger: Unpacking the Past
Andy Fowler: The Accidental Entrepreneur
Kate McCrea: The Sweet Side of Leadership
Angela Barbash: Empowerment Through Financial Literacy
Mel Gravely: Reframing How We Think and Talk About Race
Conni Reed: From ”Un” to Fun
Drew Patrick: The Company Is Yours Now
Leslie DeMent & Sabrina White: Dodgeball, Friendship, and Shonda Rhimes
Torey Carter-Conneen: Our Work Continues
Colin Quinn: Every Leader Needs a Sounding Board
Bonus Mailbag with Mackey McNeill: How to Thrive, Not Just Survive This Year
Jim Hume: The Harsh Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
Khalilah "KO" Olokunola: From the Block to the Boardroom
Ari Weinzweig: While the World Gets Louder, Humility Can Quietly Help
Jay Wilkinson: Fired as CEO of Your Own Company
Bo Burlingham: What Makes a Company Great?
Delcie Bean: On a Mission to Make I.T. Fun
Elizabeth Glasbrenner: Can a Leader Care Too Much?
Travis Slisher Interviews Paul Spiegelman: Take Care of the Person In Front of You
Lisa Wise: Empathy Is My Engine
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