We were lucky to catch up with Darcey Leach recently and have shared our conversation below.

Darcey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

When I owned a salon, I learned firsthand that success doesn’t come from doing everything yourself — it comes from the relationships you build along the way. The connections I made with my partner, my staff, and the broader community were what allowed the business to grow and flourish. Even my landlord played a role; he was someone who truly valued small businesses and the role they play in a neighborhood. That kind of support was invaluable.

When it eventually came time to sell, the transition was almost seamless because of those relationships. I had the respect of my landlord, a close bond with my team, and ultimately, it was my staff who bought the business. It felt less like an ending and more like passing the torch, and it worked because I had laid the groundwork through trust, communication, and shared purpose.

That experience continues to shape how I work today. I still believe the most important thing you can do is respect people — their time, their background, their expertise — and learn how to speak their language. That’s how you build authentic connections and get better results. I know what I’m good at: educating, communicating, facilitating. And I also know what I’m not: being endlessly patient, deeply compassionate, or the most wildly creative in the room. Owning that balance — leaning into my strengths and partnering where I need support — has made me a stronger leader and a more effective collaborator.

Darcey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At my core, I’ve always been fascinated by people and the ways we connect — whether it’s through storytelling, shared experiences, or simply showing up for one another. That thread has carried me through a career that may look varied on paper, but is deeply connected by a common purpose: helping people and brands communicate clearly, passionately, and authentically.

As an adolescent, I dreamed of being the president’s speechwriter. The idea that you could move people with words, help them see the world through another perspective, and inspire collective action felt so profound and powerful to me. That belief has never left. I still see empathy as the heart of communication — it keeps us true to ourselves, accountable to our communities, and lifts us all up. In today’s world, that feels more important than ever.

After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder, my degree in journalism and advertising gave me the unique opportunity to start my career as a qualitative and quantitative consumer researcher, writing creative strategy for advertising campaigns.

That sense of connection and working closely with others is what ultimately led me into the beauty industry, where I became a stylist and eventually co-owned a salon. In addition to a passion for makeup and hair, it was about bringing out the best in someone’s physical self so they could feel strong in their inner self. Instilling confidence, making genuine connections, and helping people feel like the best version of themselves was deeply rewarding. Over time, those relationships grew into a community, and it was that community that allowed my salon to thrive and eventually transition smoothly to new ownership.
Today, I bring that same spirit into my work in public relations and communications, where I help clients in real estate, technology, and lifestyle industries tell their stories in a way that builds trust, visibility, and meaningful impact. What sets me apart is the way I bridge strategy with humanity. I’m comfortable with the data, planning, and execution elements — but I never lose sight of the people at the center of it all.

If there’s one thing I’d want people to know about my work, it’s that I see communication not just as a tool, but as a responsibility. Every message we put out into the world has the power to either add to the noise or cut through it with meaning. In a world where there is already so much static, I believe it’s essential that what we share carries purpose and positivity. That’s the standard I hold myself to, and it’s the lens through which I guide my clients and my work.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I met my business partner through a mutual friend — a reminder of how often connections can open the right doors. At the time, I was nervous about where to start my career. Many stylists went the route of apprenticeships or large, established salons, and I wasn’t sure if that was the only path forward.

Instead, I landed at Lucky Lu’s. Lacey, the owner, was an incredible stylist balancing an overbooked schedule, single parenting, and entrepreneurship. She was thriving behind the chair but was stretched thin on the business side. I was eager to grow into a strong stylist and curious about what it really took to run a business.

She took me under her wing, and in return, I stepped up to help on the operational side to grow business output. Over time, we realized we complemented each other, and the salon was thriving: she had the artistry and experience, I had the energy and drive to expand. Eventually, we partnered and grew the salon together. We expanded our square footage, staff, and bottom line.

That experience shaped how I see collaboration — it’s about recognizing where someone else shines, where you can fill in the gaps, and building something more substantial together.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2020, just before the pandemic, I had the opportunity to buy the building our salon was in. As the salon was now in a strong position financially, I was optimistic — it felt like the next step was to create stability, growth, and new revenue streams. I pulled together funding from both private and BBB channels and was ready to move forward. Then the shutdowns began.

As the months unfolded, I realized I didn’t have the personal cushion or capital to keep the business afloat if things didn’t rebound quickly. The risk was simply too great. I made the difficult decision to let go of the building and ultimately sell the business. On the surface, that might sound like a loss, but in hindsight, it was a pivot that gave me clarity.

That transition opened the door for me to learn at another incredible salon and from another savvy leader and salon owner. At Sisu, I was exposed to a completely different business model and approach to community. It also forced me to pause and recognize that I needed to invest in my own wellness. For years, I had poured my energy into creating space and connection for others. It was time to find a more sustainable path to that same sense of purpose for myself.

What could have felt like an ending instead became a reset. It gave me the chance to slow down, redefine what community and connection meant for me, and carry those lessons into the next chapter of my career.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darceyleach/