A few hundred owners, managers and beauty professionals gathered in sunny Cancun toward the end of January to replenish, recharge, reconnect and reignite their passion at Summit Unplugged, hosted by Summit Salon Business Center. 

“This is the time to be a little selfish,” said Master of Ceremonies Blake Reed Evans. “This is your time to unplug. It’s time to focus on you and your own wellbeing.”

With the exception of a keynote address by Author Nataly Kogan, the content of the event was conducted by Summit coaches. 

Summit President Peter Mahoney kicked off the event by giving an industry update. “Of the last 40 years, the last four have been the craziest ever,” he said. “What’s trending now is an increased emphasis on digitization, sustainability, exceptional customer service and inclusive and diverse services.”

“Data tells the truth, and the truth is that all growth in salons right now is through price increases, and client retention is in decline,” he shared. “But you can’t buy into the story in your head. You have to buy into the story you want for your salon business.”

With a humorous spin that shared a number of disappointing affirmations, Derek Reynolds and Tim Fisk unveiled the qualities that cultivate culture, and encouraged the owners to really take the Unplugged event in. “To measure if you’ve unplugged enough, ask yourself, ‘Am I ready to take it all on again?’” Fisk said. “Sometimes unplugging doesn’t work out. But it’s all going to happen whether you give to yourself or not.”

Next, Dawn Carter and Jennifer Culverhouse taught the leaders how to navigate burnout, sharing the factors that lead to burnout, how it impacts your head, heart and body, and actions to take when you are burned out.

“As market leaders we know we have to pivot,” shared Carter. “The problem is over the last four years, we’ve had to pivot so much that our pivot has become a circle, and circles are exhausting.”

Carter and Culverhouse ended that session by asking the audience to close their eyes and, “Envision your favorite band or musician in concert, then think of your favorite place in the world. Now picture yourself in that place attending a concert of your favorite artiss and list three words that describe how you’re feeling in that moment.”

Blake Reed Evans and Chris Mahoney, conducted a live podcast about artificial intelligence, cleverly titled ‘AI: ChatGPTea.’

Chris Mahoney started by addressing the fear that many have about AI, that it will take away their job. “We operate in an industry that is very resilient to AI because it is high skill. But also the ticket price of what we’re doing is not high enough to create a robot that cuts hair,” he shared. “I heard a great quote that sums it up, ‘AI will not take your job, but a human using AI might take your job.’”

Kim Light-Pearson showed owners how to romanticize their companies through social media. For example if an employee leaves your business, “Consider putting together a reel or social media post that thanks that person for the time they spent with your company and wish them well on their journey,” she said.

Light-Pearson also shared five things that would help the audience find the magic in every day: 1) Seek connection, not validation; 2) Comparison is the thief of joy; 3) Happiness is not a destination; 4) You are your harshest critic and 5) Finding the magic is up to you.

Keynote speaker Nataly Kogan, author of Happier Now, coached the audience to a journey of discovering happiness.

“We all are wearing an emotional whiteboard. If think you can fake your feelings and fool your team, I invite you to reconsider,” Kogan advised. “It’s a better strategy to be emotionally open. You can acknowledge how you’re feeling without giving away the details of why you’re feeling it, but that vulnerability allows for a moment of human connection.”

“When you do what you love, it brings joy to others,” Kogan shared. “Self-care is a gift you give yourself.”

For example if an employee leaves your business, “Consider putting together a reel or social media post that thanks that person for the time they spent with your company and wish them well on their journey.”

In addition, there were three breakout sessions that attendees circulated through, with smaller audiences allowing for more interactivity during the presentations:

• Haleigh Culverhouse and Araceli Castaneda presented, “Navigating Imposter Syndrome as a Leader.”

• Jacob Rodriguez and Jason Culverhouse offered, “It Doesn’t Make Sense.”

• And, Renee Hyderi and Heather Milo shared, “The Hair Challenges of Leadership.”

At the conclusion of the first day of content, Summit hosted a cocktail party and gave out special awards to six salons, including:

Servant Leadership: Denise Soto Mentorship Award
Mirante Hair Studio in Clayton, NC

Passion: Community Service Award
Soto Signature Salon & Spa in Perrysburg, OH

Innovation: Strategic Impact Award
Snips SpaSalon in Bloomington, MN

Accountability: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Award
The Mae Salon & Spa in Indianapolis, IN

Sound Financial Practices: Overall Growth Award
Urban Betty in Austin, TX

Sound Financial Practices: Percentage of Growth
The Mae Salon & Spa in Indianapolis, IN

To facilitate the unplugging, Summit hosted an elegant dinner on the beach the second evening with fire dancers followed by a DJ and dancing. And, Jennifer Boutwell hosted Morning Mindfulness Mediation on the beach in the early morning.