Debra Neill is always tuned into the universe—listening, watching, waiting to see what it reveals and how it will help guide her to the annual Serious Business conference theme.

“This year, we based the Serious Business theme, ‘Evolve,’ on a quote by Ram Dass: ‘I can do nothing for you but work on myself; you can do nothing for me but work on yourself,’” Neill says. “It’s our own individual commitment to evolving that initiates the evolution of our businesses, communities, and ultimately the world. And, at the source of evolution is adaptation and adaptability—that’s why we continue to invest in our own growth and development.”

Get In Discovery Mode

Now in its 26th year, the intent of Serious Business is always to expose, evoke and evolve the thinking of salon professionals.

“Serious Business has always been about the whole person,” Neill says.

"All business development begins with personal development."

“The work we do on ourselves has such a ripple effect, that if we continue as an industry to evolve and stay mindful, we make a positive impact.”

Neill’s process for choosing speakers to complement the Serious Business themes is collaborative, with many voices contributing to speaker recommendations. One of her most trusted and treasured collaborators was Serious Business producer Carol Augusto, who passed away early this year.

Want to learn more about Serious Business? Get all the event and hotel details here, and follow @seriousbusinessconf on Instagram for a deeper dive into speakers’ content and additional event information.

“We will honor and celebrate Carol, who helped shape Serious Business for 20 years and was committed to elevating our industry and the people in it,” Neill says. “Part of our tribute will be through our first speaker, Alua Arthur, a death doula.”

“Alua is very uplifting and speaks passionately about how to live your life with the end in mind, reminding us that our legacy is in how we live our lives every day.”

The Messengers Matter

Arthur is one of the mainstage speakers thoughtfully selected to guide the Serious Business audience through their own evolution.

“When we were choosing speakers, a lot of younger people kept popping up,” Neill says. “They’re new voices sharing a familiar message that maybe sounds different—it’s all about timing and the messenger.”

In addition to Arthur, mainstage speakers include: 

Elizabeth Faye: Known for her heart-led leadership, Faye recently designed a wellness program for Pivot Point.

Dr. Michelle Johnston: A renowned expert in leadership and organizational development, Johnston will talk about how leadership has evolved. In her breakout, participants will take an assessment to help evolve their own leadership skills.

Ben Nemtin: Young and dynamic, Nemtin is a mental health advocate, author and highly sought-after motivational speaker.

Dr. Rebecca Heiss: Heiss is an evolutionary biologist who studies stress and how to use it rather than eliminate it.

The mainstage will also feature Andi Eaton Alleman, Light Watkins, and Vanessa Fitzgerald.

All of these mainstage speakers dive into the “why” and “what if” behind their topics.

On day two of Serious Business, breakout speakers tackle the “how” and what” behind their areas of expertise.

Breakout speakers include Faye, Alleman, Johnston, Fitzgerald, Gordon Miller and April McDaniel of Kopse Otte.

Purchase Your Tix, Plan Your Trip

Serious Business 2025 will take place January 12-13, 2025, at the Roosevelt Hotel and Saenger Theatre in New Orleans. Purchase tickets before November 15 for a $100 discount.

First time attending? Neill shares her advice: “Come open to hearing the most current thinking on everything regarding our industry, and be ready to evolve and connect to the energy at Serious Business,” she says.

“We come every year with an alignment around wanting to learn and evolve.”