We were lucky to catch up with Victoria Coakley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Victoria, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

There’s too much pressure in school to follow the “safe” path: become a doctor, lawyer, teacher—anything but creative or trade work. But what about the kids who are naturally gifted with their hands? I knew how to braid hair in high school. I told my barber I wanted to be like him one day because I saw how he made people feel good about themselves. That inspired me. But my mom, like so many parents doing their best, pushed me to follow a more traditional path—college, criminal justice, maybe law enforcement—just like my sister. That wasn’t me.

I spent my early 20s working all kinds of jobs—security, retail, odd gigs—trying to figure out what life had for me. I even moved from Portland to Miami, and I saw firsthand the different types of hustle: people selling things on the street, flipping services, trying to survive. But Miami was fast, and I wasn’t grounded. I came back still unsure of who I was or where I fit.

Eventually, I moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to attend Job Corps. That program gave me a real shot—one that didn’t require college debt or a four-year plan. It gave me access to a trade, and I’m forever grateful. Sadly, that Job Corps center was shut down under the new administration. Programs like that change lives, and we need to fight to keep them around.

At Job Corps, I started working as a concrete finisher. I knew I had strong hands, and I could make anything look good—but the work was hard on my body. I realized I needed to do something I loved if I was going to make it long-term. So at age 29, I made the decision to finally go to barber school. That was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Along the way, I learned just how important math is—not just in business, but in life. I had to take my college math class three times before I finally passed and earned my associate’s degree in applied science from Jefferson Community College. That was a lesson in perseverance. Math shows up in budgeting, product orders, pricing, booth rental agreements—everything I do as a business owner. I wish schools connected math to real-life situations like these sooner.

In my 20s, I lived in subsidized housing because I couldn’t keep a job. I was struggling—not because I wasn’t smart or hardworking, but because I didn’t love what I was doing. That’s what happens when people are pushed toward jobs they’re not passionate about. The truth is, the government doesn’t support entrepreneurs the way it should. If you don’t want to work in the system, you’re often left to fend for yourself.

As a business owner now, I have to do everything: be my own photographer, run my social media, manage clients, buy supplies, handle marketing—and still find time to cut hair and build relationships. Unless I make enough to hire help, it’s all on me. And that’s true for so many self-employed people. There just aren’t enough resources, grants, or support systems out there for us.

That’s why I believe the education system needs to teach real-life skills—not just college prep. We need financial literacy, customer service training, emotional intelligence, exposure to trade careers, and more support for self-employed pathways. We need career fairs in low-income neighborhoods, scholarships for creative students, and safe spaces for young people to figure out who they are without pressure or shame.

Now I run my own shop: Vice Versa Barber Braid Beauty, where our motto is: When you look good, you feel good, and you go and do good. I created the life I wanted—but I had to fight for it every step of the way. If we build a better education system—one that values all paths—more people can create lives they love, without having to struggle just to survive.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, I’m Victoria Coakley, also known as Chance Thee Barber, and I’m the founder and owner of Vice Versa Barber Braid Beauty—a space rooted in creativity, community, and care.

I got into this industry because I fell in love with how powerful a good haircut or hairstyle could be. As a teenager growing up in North Portland, I already knew how to braid hair. I told my barber back then that I wanted to do what he did—because I saw how he made people feel seen, confident, and brand new. That stuck with me. But like a lot of people from underserved communities, I was pushed toward “safe” careers like law enforcement or healthcare. I even went to school for criminal justice and worked various security jobs, but nothing ever fit—until I went to barber school at 29.

It was a late start, but the right one.

At Vice Versa, we offer barbering, braiding, and beauty services for all genders and ages. That includes haircuts, braids, beard trims, eyebrow shaping, skin care education, and more. Our motto is: When you look good, you feel good, and you go and do good. We live by that. This is more than just a barbershop—it’s a safe space, a healing space, and a hub for local culture. I also bring in community events, like free back-to-school cuts, manifestation meetings, and collaborative education days with other stylists and creatives.

What sets Vice Versa apart is the vibe. I care about how people feel—not just when they leave the chair, but when they walk in. I create an experience that helps people feel uplifted, empowered, and appreciated. I’m not just here to cut hair—I’m here to build community, inspire confidence, and support growth.

I’m especially proud of how far I’ve come. I built this brand with no handouts, no silver spoon, and no blueprint. I’ve worked through housing instability, job loss, and trial and error. I know what it feels like to struggle—and I know how to turn that into purpose. Now I run a business that reflects who I am, and I get to uplift others in the process.

If you’re looking for a barber or stylist who sees the full you—your hair, your vibe, your vision—Vice Versa is the place.

And if you’re someone chasing your own dream, I want you to know: it’s never too late to start

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I didn’t fund my business through loans or grants—just grit, hustle, and community.

One day, I was walking to the bus stop after congratulating a fellow business owner when I saw a “For Rent” sign in a salon window. I walked in, and the owner said he was ready to get out of his lease. It felt like divine timing.

At the time, I was working from home—no car, no shop, just catching the bus and saving everything I could. A client of my sister’s gifted me $1,000 in old $20 bills, and I used that along with one of my credit cards to cover the deposit for the space. Everything else was paid for out-of-pocket or donated. I built Vice Versa Barber Braid Beauty piece by piece—with no investors, just belief and support from my clients.

Now I’m still paying off that card and navigating slow seasons like winter, all while managing arthritis from long hours on my feet. That’s why I’m exploring new income streams—to protect my health while continuing to grow what I built.

Nothing was handed to me. I created this shop with love, faith, and resilience. And that’s what sets it apart.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

What started as a side hustle—cutting and braiding hair—became my full-time career, but the journey wasn’t easy.

I’ve worked jobs from correctional officer to Ford plant worker, security guard to ice cream truck driver. While working 10-hour shifts at Ford, I went to barber school—paying $5,000 out of pocket, even attending in a boot after tearing my Achilles playing women’s football. I launched a GoFundMe to help with the deposit, and my community stepped up.

I had no clients when I started in the shop. I was a woman in a male-dominated field, and people doubted me. Some wouldn’t let me cut their hair. One man used my business card to clean his teeth. People questioned my prices, my skills, my place.

But I kept going. I kept cutting. I kept showing up.

Now I own Vice Versa Barber Braid Beauty, where my hustle became my purpose. I didn’t just build a business—I built something no one can take from me.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://viceversabbb.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chancetheebarber
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16he5DhaaC/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-coakley-1a893939?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chancetheebarber?si=ciQHo_aSO2RT_VCf
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/8RKa8Rc0uc
• Other: https://linktr.ee/ChanceTheeBarber
  https://www.facebook.com/share/1AqNDzYuMj/?mibextid=wwXIfr
  https://gofund.me/b513fd43

Image Credits

All credits go to me