What does it really take to build a salon that thrives without relying on you every single day?

In this episode, Nic and Tess sit down with award-winning salon owner Maria Unali to explore the leadership journey behind building multiple successful salons, creating an incredible team culture, and learning how to step back without sacrificing growth.

Maria shares the lessons she's learned over decades in the industry, from taking over her father's salon, navigating motherhood while growing a business, embracing conscious leadership, and using AI to streamline operations and create more freedom.

This is an honest conversation about leadership, resilience, personal growth, and building a business that supports the life you want to live.

In this episode, you'll learn:
💼 How Maria built multiple award-winning salons and a thriving salon culture
🌱 Why conscious leadership transformed the way she leads her team
🤝 The importance of hiring for values and building long-term team alignment
👩‍👧 How motherhood changed her approach to leadership and business
💬 Why the conversations you avoid today become the problems you face tomorrow
🚀 How to create a salon that can grow without relying on you every day
🤖 How AI is helping salon owners save time, create systems, and lead more effectively

Whether you're growing your first salon or leading a large team, Maria's story is packed with practical leadership lessons and mindset shifts that will leave you thinking differently about what it means to build a successful business.


To follow Maria's journey:
https://www.instagram.com/maria_unali/

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon