Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jennifer Perez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The more we talk about good leadership the more we think good leadership practices will spread and so we’d love for you to tell us a story about the best boss you’ve had and what they were like or what they did that was so great?

I’ve been lucky in my career path to have wonderful mentors in my life. When I was working as a beauty school instructor, my boss was more of a leader/mentor, which was so refreshing coming from a retail position before. She would coach me how to really play on my strong points as a teacher, with grace and positive reinforcement. She would always say, if you really invest your heart in this, your job becomes your purpose. Empowering me with her small wisdoms daily, would push me to make sure my students would be the best they could be no matter what circumstances they came from. We had students from all walks of life, immigrants from all over the world , homeless women and men, single mothers restarting their lives, retirees wanting a life change, and the list goes on and on. The biggest lesson I learned is, no matter what never give up, don’t listen to any negativity. Your heart and instincts will always guide you in the right direction.

Jennifer, 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?

Well, I started in the Beauty Industry, in 2006 during college. I was working at a veterinary office to pay down student loans and decided to apply to work for a popular makeup company. I had nothing to loose, so I applied and got the job. I had Zero idea how to even match a skin tone to a foundation, but I was determined and willing to learn. Within two weeks, I had the entire 230 color tones memorized, easy right? Nope, that was just the tip of the iceberg. I was so incredibly lucky to have co workers help me learn along the way and show me the proper way to do things. After I created my own style and ran with it. I lasted 8 years in retail, after I decided to apply to a beauty school to get my skincare license, when I was applying for the school, they hired me instead, with zero teaching experience. This is where I met my mentor, she was so patient and knowledgeable about teaching, it helped me grow very quickly as a beauty instructor. During beauty school, I jumped into Permanent makeup, Microblading, before it became popular again. I always hear millionaires say, you must always have a few sources of income, and that’s where I decided to grow my brand. Makeup for all occasions/ film production/ and Permanent makeup artistry. I enjoy helping my clients feel really good about themselves, I don’t Allow insecurities in my makeup chair. You will leave feeling like you can conquer the world, no matter how you felt before. The positivity and genuine conversations with clients are what set me apart. I leave a little piece of love with everyone.

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

During this entire journey I had to unlearn that I did not know everything about makeup. Especially after teaching so many students. Once you feel like you are a master of your craft, you’ve reached a dead end. I’ve learned always to keep an open mind, with attention to detail. In this industry you’re going to have to move as quickly as the trends change, which keeps you on your toes and helps you to always keep learning.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

My most effective strategy to keep my clientele growing is, go out to events, shows, anywhere there are people you can easily just interact with. Word of mouth has kept my business growing for the past 16 years, stay true to your word, and always deliver what you promised. Follow up with past clients, send congratulations on anniversaries, and happy birthday texts. All of these small gestures go a long way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Jenni_golightly
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makeupgangster

Image Credits
https://www.neff-photography.com/ http://www.neidyparra.com/