We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Danie Wilks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Danie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

For me, success has always been about clarity, resilience, and the willingness to evolve. My first major shift came when I realized I couldn’t keep operating as a one-woman show. I was so used to doing everything myself, but I knew that if I truly wanted to grow, I had to ask for help and bring in people who were skilled in their own right. That moment moving from a solo business structure to hiring and building a team was the turning point.

What I learned is that success requires letting go of the idea that you have to do it all alone. It’s about building systems, surrounding yourself with the right people, and creating space for your vision to expand. That one decision pushed me from simply working in my business to leading bigger than myself.

Now, as I run multiple brands, I see success as the discipline to keep showing up, the courage to make hard pivots, and the clarity to keep my vision at the center. At the end of the day, it’s not just about talent it’s about structure, support, and the belief that you’re building something bigger than you.

Danie, 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?

I’ve been in the beauty industry for over 20 years, licensed at just 18 years old. What started as a love for styling hair quickly grew into a lifelong passion for creating spaces, products, and resources that help women look and feel their best and help hairstylists build businesses that thrive.

Today, I lead three interconnected brands that I call my Beauty Ecosystem. The Press Room Salon is my luxury salon in Atlanta, known for healthy hair care and premium services like silk presses and sew-ins. Danified Hair Co. provides high-quality hair extensions and tools including our signature Gold Rush Brush & Raw hair extensions serving both professional hairstylists and everyday consumers. And The Stylist Corner is my education platform and community, empowering hairstylists with the business and pricing strategies they need to scale beyond the chair.

What sets my work apart is the combination of artistry, strategy, and empowerment. I don’t just style hair I build systems that elevate hairstylists into entrepreneurs. I’m most proud of taking my own journey starting young, learning the hard way, and growing into multiple six-figure businesses and turning it into resources that help others avoid burnout and create profitable, sustainable careers.

At the core, my mission is simple: to transform the way hairstylists see themselves, their craft, and their earning potential. Success in beauty isn’t about hustling harder it’s about positioning yourself smarter, valuing your skillset, and building with intention.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I’ve been on social media for a long time, and I’ve always been a quick learner when it comes to new platforms. But as my businesses grew, it became a lot to juggle serving clients behind the chair, running operations, creating content, and managing everything else that comes with entrepreneurship. It can feel overwhelming, but social media has been one of the biggest free marketing tools that’s pushed my beauty businesses forward.

What helped me most was learning to build systems. Consistency doesn’t mean posting every day it means setting up a rhythm that works for you and sticking to it. I batch content when I can, repurpose across platforms, and lean on scheduling tools to keep me visible even when I’m busy with clients.

For anyone just starting, here are a few strategic steps I’d recommend:

Get clear on your voice. Don’t just post what you think will “go viral.” Share stories, lessons, and results that reflect your brand.

Repurpose your work. That one client transformation can become a reel, a TikTok, a carousel, and even an email tip. Don’t reinvent the wheel every day.

Use systems for curation. Save audios, captions, or post ideas as you see them so you’re not starting from scratch.

Invest in help if you can. Whether it’s editing support, a content assistant, or automation tools, it will save you energy and keep you consistent.

At the end of the day, don’t make excuses not to use social media. It’s free marketing that can change the trajectory of your business if you’re willing to show up, be authentic, and stay consistent.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A big lesson I had to unlearn was not asking for help. For a long time, I carried everything on my own from servicing clients, to creating content, to running every detail of my businesses. Looking back, I realize I was adding so much unnecessary stress on myself.

Part of it came from how I grew up. I had to figure a lot of things out on my own, and that made me believe independence meant doing everything by myself. But as an entrepreneur, that mindset doesn’t work. I didn’t have a guide into this life, so I thought “figuring it out” was the only way.

What I learned is that real growth comes when you let others contribute their strengths. Asking for help doesn’t make you less capable it actually makes you more effective. The moment I started building a team and allowing others to support the vision, I was able to move from surviving in business to truly scaling it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thestylistcorneracademy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_danified