Lead from Where You Are: Becoming a Recognized Voice in the Beauty Industry

Elaine Truesdale
Jun 2
3 min read

You’ve spent years perfecting your craft—but the spotlight keeps passing you by. You’re not alone—and you’re not without options.

This challenge was the heart of a recent ANHC PRO Business Mastery Series session, where ANHC PRO Founder and Beauty Business Strategist Elaine Truesdale shared a roadmap for stylists and salon professionals ready to become visible, credible, and in-demand voices within the beauty industry.

Maybe you’ve sat through a training, nodding politely, while silently thinking, ‘I could teach this better.’ You’re not imagining it—your voice deserves to be heard.

The Four Pillars of Industry Leadership

Elaine outlined four key pillars to help you position yourself as an industry leader.

1. Visibility

Whether it’s through teaching, speaking at events, or creating content, you must make your expertise visible—no one can recognize your brilliance if you keep it hidden.

Start reaching out now—apply to speak at a school, pitch your expertise to a podcast, or host your own mini training.

To help members increase their visibility, ANHC PRO provides opportunities like:

Webinar presentations and Roundtable events
Speaking engagements at cosmetology schools
Guest spots on IG Live and blog features

Several members have landed contracts and collaborations after gaining exposure through ANHC PRO partnerships.

2. Credibility

Talent is only part of the equation—credibility is built through experience, education, consistency, and social proof. Social proof includes your online profiles, what others say about you, and your ability to show (not just tell) your value.

Through ANHC PRO, you can build your social proof through your member profile, showing up as a subject expert at online and in-person events, and acting as Club Chair.

3. Community Impact

Your community impact is defined as how you make change within the industry. From mentoring to guest speaking at beauty schools to lending your skills to community service events, making an impact within the beauty community reinforces your role as a leader.

Within ANHC PRO, you can serve as a mentor within our Rising Stars Club. Or create and lead a club of your own. You won’t be doing it alone—ANHC PRO is a collective of professionals committed to helping each other rise.

4. Brand Identity

Elaine reminded participants that it’s not just about what you do—it’s how you present it. Brand identity includes your bio, professional story, visual branding, and how you position your expertise both online and in person.

BONUS: Digital Communications

Digital presence is no longer optional—it’s essential. Elaine broke down the importance of:

A well-structured website or booking page
Clear sales funnels that capture client information
Social media content that aligns with your brand story
SEO-driven blogs and written content that enhance your online discoverability

Together, these tools make up your digital communications strategy. It’s how you tell your story, attract your audience, and prove your expertise online—24/7.

Where to Start

Not sure where to begin? What do people already come to you for advice on? That’s your starting point.

Elaine's advice: start small and stay focused. Choose one path:

Want to be an educator? Reach out to schools and volunteer as a guest presenter.
Want to build a consulting brand? Start sharing tips in blogs or videos.
Want to grow your influence? Share your story and past experiences with intention.

And always share your wins—publicly thank organizations, post about your speaking engagements, and link your work back to your mission.