Leadership, business and entrepreneurship will be at the heart of the REALtalk Business Forum 2024, taking place at this year’s Hair Festival on Sydney, June 30, at Sydney’s ICC. Under the tagline of
‘Building a Resilient Future’, a bevy of talented local and international industry representatives will deliver panel discussions and keynote speeches around these core topics, in a morning session set amidst coffee, morning tea and a buffet lunch.

Let’s take a look at what you’ll learn.

Managing Teams

The importance of team building, feedback and communication, as well as staff wellbeing, staff management, culture and mental health will be core facets of this year’s REALtalk. Voulla Fronis, founder of the Gellibn staff management platform, will kick things off with the Staff Performance & Team Building Solutions keynote. Voulla is an award-winning stylist and educator, with a passion for mentoring and managing people that has seen her build Gellibn to impressive heights.

Beyond this session, the Staff Management, Culture and Feedback panel will follow, as prolific industry leaders Clive Allwright, Co-Owner of Our Place Salon, Jose Bryce Smith, Founder of O&M and Sheridan Rose Shaw, Creative Director of MAMAWEST will lend their expertise. Clive boasts 37 years of industry experience as a brand Artistic and Global Creative Director, educator and salon owner, while Sheridan’s career spans 17 years, across a host of awards and nominations. Jose is a renowned clean beauty entrepreneur who has excelled across salon and brand leadership.

Dealing With Clients

Client care and analysing consumer trends will be an essential component of REALtalk, as Faye Murray, Director of Your Coach, delivers ‘Dealing With Difficult Clients And Complaints’. Faye is both a hairdresser and one of Australia’s most respected business coaches and business speakers, who has trained hundreds of hairdressers and business leaders in her own right. Faye was the first person to be inducted into both the Hairdressing Hall of Fame and Beauty Hall of Fame and her wisdom on client relationships and many other business topics is highly sought after.

Social Media

Social media is a necessary skill for any modern business owner, and REALtalk will close out proceedings with social media expert James Fitzgerald, Managing Director of SMK, to teach ‘Unlocking Fresh Social Media Opportunities in 2024’. This relevant session will make use of James’ vast experience as a leader in this global EdTech business. James has developed educational corporate content and taught over 15,000 senior business decision-makers from leading brands, organisations and agencies, including NAB, ABC, Apple, Ralph Lauren, Tourism Australia, Air NZ, Sky TV and many more.

Sustainability

Sustainability remains a relevant and favourite focus at each REALtalk and Steven Ko, Founder & CEO of O’right Inc., will present The New World of Sustainability. Steven is a sustainability pioneer, having founded O’right in 2002, started Green revolution in 2006 and navigated the company’s transition to becoming the world’s first zero carbon beauty company. The company has achieved carbon neutrality across all product categories and organisational operations since 2020, being awarded and gaining coverage for its leadership, design and innovation in the process. Steven has presented as a keynote speaker globally, including at United Nations Climate Conferences, and brings a wealth of knowledge to REALtalk.

Innovation

Looking ahead to the future is a primary focus for any business leader, and this will be a key focus at the event. The Innovation panel will congregate talents such as Aygun Sana, Head of Sales and Operations for AUS/NZ at Vish, Paul Frasca of Sustainable Salon and entrepreneur and business owner Kate Champion. Aygun has over 20 years of industry experience in Australia and America with expertise in client relationships, sales management and new business development strategies. Paul is renowned for his service to the industry in reducing our collective carbon footprint, innovating in salon upcycling and donations and furthering the environmentalism of Australian hair. Kate is a former banker and one of the pioneering owner operators of Laser Clinics Australia, who has overseen salon design, marketing, financial reporting, supplier negotiations and developing training and operational guides for the franchise model in her illustrious role for this top-tier beauty brand.

A panel titled ‘Holistic Salons – The Future’ will feature Cass Donnelly, CEO, of CPR Hair, Natalie Chadwick, Digital Sales Coordinator of CPR Hair, business coach Shakira Jade and hairdresser Paul James Graham. Cass has pioneered CPR, creating the true-to-swatch colour system and taking the brand to award-winning heights by prioritising Australian hair professionals, and recently launching the Holistic Salon Service program. Nat builds on this success by mentoring the CPR ambassador team, spearheading education projects, cultivating campaigns and providing strategic direction.

Sharika aids women in their business endeavours, as the founder of three salons under the Hair Candy umbrella, as well as a podcast host and business coach and educator. Paul is an award-winning hairdresser and session stylist, renowned in the world of hair fashion.

REALtalk Business Forum creates authentic, inspirational and unbranded conversations on what matters to our industry, with usable ways to grow your business, inspire your salon staff and review your service offering. Don’t miss the 2024 event!

For more information visit www.hairfestival.com.au/realtalk

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