We recently connected with Kayla Bedenbaugh and have shared our conversation below.
Kayla , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?
When it comes to our educational system the preparation for the real world is so important. We also need more CATE (career/ technology/ education) and STEM (Science/ Technology/ Engineering/ Mathematics) programs within the school system so that our students get ahead of the learning curve with skills to prepare them for the workforce or entrepreneurship early. Things like: personal finance, accounting, baking and culinary, IT, health science, construction and entrepreneurship to name a few. Majority of the school systems are stuck in our old ways of educating. A lot of the material is outdated or irrelevant to what we need in the current time. The times have changed! The economy has changed! There are more career paths now than ever before. People no longer have to be successful by pursuing the military or medical school. There should be courses on life skills, navigating through adulthood, parenting, marriage, grief and rejection. These basic skills and educational programs can really change the narrative for an entire generation to soar!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Summer of 2009, I was torn between two options of either pursuing culinary or cosmetology, which would ultimately determine which highschool school I would be attending to for my sophomore through senior year. I just so happened to run into the cosmetology instructor at the mall and knew from our first interaction Cosmetology would be my path! It was like I was destined by fate.
In 2010, upon enrolling into Cosmetology and entering my sophomore year, I found out I was pregnant by my high school boyfriend at the time. I struggled with continuing my dreams in cosmetology or whether I should quit. By graduation, in 2013, my daughter was walking, and I was excited about my college acceptance letters and scholarship I was getting but something deep down inside of me said, stay home for your daughter and go to a local technical college and so I did. I enrolled at Midlands Technical College pre-nursing program on a full ride with no money out of pocket along with scholarship money raised at my church home.
While in college, I struggled with handling the responsibilities of being a young parent, working, taking anatomy and physiology, and the extensive and demanding schedule that pre-nursing came with. I started to rethink if nursing was for me. Although, the main goal was for me to help people because I loved helping people, I soon realized that nursing was not the field for me. I disenrolled myself after 3 years and began to fully pursue my career in Cosmetology and Esthetics.
In 2016, I went to my local Cosmetology school and completed their esthetics program to became dual licensed. Esthetics was just becoming popular during that time and noticed amongst the community. Fortunately for me, I was a part of their second class of graduates and passed my state-board exam at the early age of 21.
As word started to spread, my work spoke for itself. My brand began to grow rapidly. I had so many clients, students, out of towners seeking my service. I stayed innovative. I always stayed set apart from my other competitors. Some days I had so many people wanting to get services I had to turn them away. Oddly, it was always said most businesses don’t last past year one or two but mine spiked and lasted consistently for my first 5 years! I was even able to manage a 5-star rating by the grace of God.
It was not until halfway through 2020, that things started to change and “all non-essential businesses had to close” as the world shut down for the pandemic. Things have not been the same since.
It was not until then; I had my first experience of adversity within my business. I was looking to renew my lease, I had clients ready to book even through the shutdown, but I felt like there was no way my business could sustain through a shut down and for how long exactly? No one really knew…
I decided it was best to discontinue my contract and pivot into teaching because I already trained over 300 students by this time. I finish and pass my exam that same year as a Cosmetology Instructor with hopes to continue to impact and help other licensed professionals and future professionals like I originally dreamt of. I later got an amazing job opportunity working as an Esthetics instructor with competitive pay because of my experience and expertise, which I absolutely loved.
Fast forward, 2021-2023, due to me working full-time there was no time to work my business. I began to notice a decline in clientele, a lot of my clients were walking in my path of becoming entrepreneurs and aspired to become estheticians. My entire audience changed. Where I was targeting mostly college students and business owners, I now was targeting the working professionals and more mature crowd. As I began to reinvent myself, my income declined, I struggled with my mental health, I started working part-time at a salon paying booth rent while an instructor full-time to still accommodate my loyal clients. Although my circumstances changed I did not waiver on my dreams or in my faith. I kept going, kept praying and kept serving.
More recently, in 2023, I lost my dad, a friend from high school and my grandmother all within 2 months. I never felt so much pain! I am still grieving every day, but I thank God for strength. Romans 8:28 says ” All things work together for the good of those called and who love God. I know God has a plan. In Jeremiah 29:11, God says “For I know the plans I have for you, Declares the Lord. Plans to proper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
If there are any words, I can share for anyone going through adversity, confusion, pain or darkness it would be to read Psalm 23 every day. It’s one of the most powerful prayers in the bible and watch you see changes to your life and circumstances.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I really enjoy watching podcast and reading books! One thing about me is I’m always seeking information and knowledge. I love being the student and the teacher. Something speaks to my soul when I get to hear other people’s perspective in business. I’m a junkie for business conversations. I am so passionate about turning ones passion into profit! One of my favorite podcast is Earn Your Leisure (EYL). They bring business professionals on to discuss financial literacy, entrepreneurship, real estate and investing. Being a black woman and minority, it is so important for me to create generational wealth for myself, my family and my community. One book in particular that I read recently was The Perfect Day to Boss Up by Rick Ross. He discussed the adversities he faced and overcame during the pandemic. He shares what he did to pivot and stay relevant in order to continue to make an income while making an impact. This was a really good read especially since a lot of entrepreneurs businesses have not been the same since shutting down and could benefit from finding new ways to pivot and reinvent themselves. Podcast and Reading I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
When I first started in business I was totally uneducated in how to secure funding outside of using your own resources. In 2016, if you can remember there was not as much buzz about business credit and funding as it is now! I literally self funded my brick and mortar. I saved from the income I was producing and eventually opened my own salon. At the time, if I knew better I would have gone the business funding route in order to secure a larger place and keep my money in my pocket. You live and you learn. Gratefully, I was blessed to get a beautiful space with a super affordable lease. It worked out so seamlessly. I don’t regret it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shekluxe.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/shekluxe
- Facebook: facebook.com/shekluxe
Image Credits
sent more pictures via email.