Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Kilpatrick.
Hi Whitney, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started as a small-town hairstylist, but I knew I was meant for more. My first salon experience came with significant challenges when it came to leadership, culture, and growth opportunities that had me questioning if the beauty industry was right for me. I never wanted to become a salon owner because I never met a happy salon owner, but the toxic environment I was in forced me to give it a try and solve the problems I had experienced in my first salon. In 2019, I left the safety of a W2 job to figure out this entrepreneurship gig. I started a little salon suite called Foiled Studio; after a couple years of growing a team, building out systems, and watching it flourish, I was ready to have my own brick-and-mortar. This transition also came with a rebrand to know Maven Fort Worth Hair Co. We currently have 12 stylists on our team who are talented and committed to our mission of elevating the beauty industry. We want to act as an example for other salons and beauty businesses. We want to show the world that women can come together in a beautiful way to create a work environment that values empowerment and growth!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If it were easy… Everyone would do it. This journey has come with lots of ups and downs. In the beginning, the biggest challenge was lack of direction and overwhelm. This is why I always recommend hiring a coach or mentor who is currently in or has been in the position you want to be in. Once I hired a coach, it was smooth sailing, and when a new challenge arose, like losing an employee or having to fire an employee, came up, I knew I had someone in my corner to call and ask for advice! Of course, there have been several challenges that have come along the way, but that is beauty of entrepreneurship and solving problems. It’s all about getting back up, learning how to be better, and continuing to move forward.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are dedicated to raising the bar in the beauty industry. We have worked hard to find the problems on the client and stylist side of the salon business and make them better! It started internally with culture and leadership. Once stylists have a great work environment, they can happily offer great service to salon guests. Surveying our salon guests identified the pain points involved with salon experiences, which allowed us to go in and redesign our guest experience. This redesign improved first impressions on social media, to the reminder texts, check-in/out protocol, how we structured our menu, and making sure they are comfortable during the time they spend with us in the salon with signature seasonal cocktails and snacks! I could go on, but rest assured knowing we thought of every detail, and we are continuing to improve every year. I’m most proud of our Google reviews because it’s a representation that all of our hard work behind the scenes is working, and our salon guests are enjoying their time with us!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as personal growth. No matter where you came from, who your parents are, your education background, everyone can attain personal growth. Once you’ve worked on yourself, you have the awareness and trust in yourself to tackle whatever sets your heart on fire.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mavenhair.co
- Instagram: whitkilpat
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/601967292089637/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mavenuniversity
Image Credits
Lauren Bellamy Photography
