From Artist to Entrepreneur: Expanding Your Opportunities in Beauty

Session details:

Beauty school teaches you the craft, but building a career means learning how to recognize opportunities, build relationships, and navigate an industry that extends far beyond the classroom.

Drawing from her experience as a makeup artist, hairstylist, educator, creative director, and agency owner, Jalia Pettis shares the lessons, mistakes, and pivotal moments that helped her build a multifaceted career spanning beauty, fashion, entertainment, commercial production, education, and brand partnerships. She'll discuss what she wishes she'd known earlier, how she created opportunities outside traditional beauty settings, and the decisions that helped shape her path. Through honest storytelling and practical advice, Jalia will help students think bigger about what's possible and identify steps they can start taking now to build a career uniquely their own. The session concludes with a candid Q&A covering networking, social media, working with brands, career setbacks, and creating opportunities in the industry.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify practical steps to begin expanding your career beyond traditional salon or service-based work.
• Understand how relationships, professionalism, and visibility can influence career growth.
• Learn from real-world career decisions and mistakes to avoid common early-career pitfalls.
• Identify actionable next steps based on your individual interests, strengths, and career goals.