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

Stacie , appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Success is such a powerful and complex word because we all view the definition of success differently. I think a lot of people equivocate it solely to money. An amazing friend of mine just recently made me realize it’s so much more than that. I was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school, how ironic is that. The younger version of myself I think would have looked at this in terms of money too, but maybe I had it all wrong all along. And maybe so did my classmates who voted me into this “title”. I have learned that achieving success starts with facing fears and dabbling into the unknown. It’s about taking chances, accepting risk, failing miserably, learning, getting back up and moving on to the next adventure. Ultimately, it’s about how you deal with what is in front of you. Choosing to accept the things you cannot change and having the courage to change the things you can! I’ve been dealt an interesting deck of cards over the years, but I now realize I have done just this and because of that, I am happy. I have two kids I love, a career I adore, a beautiful home, a positive outlook on a healthy and active life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a hair and makeup artist who has a team of amazing and talented artists who specialize in Bridal. We do hundreds of weddings a year, mostly at my favorite place, Walt Disney World! I started working on my craft with Cabbage Patch Kids and Barbie dolls in the early 80’s, then kicked off a professional career with MAC cosmetics in 2007. I now have 15 years of experience. I’ve been doing weddings full time since 2014. What sets me apart number one honestly, is my personality. I can start a conversation with a brick wall. I have a lot of “life experiences”, I guess you can call it, and I can easily find something in common to talk about with literally every client that sits in my chair. I form friendships with my brides, I am not just another wedding vendor. So our time spent together is always easy going and fun! Then the actual act of doing hair and makeup just brings me so much joy. I truly love it! I love that every day is different. Everybody is unique and has different skin, different hair, different personalities. There’s nothing better than finishing with a client and watching them light up when they see themselves. It’s magical what a little makeup and hair spray can do to our confidence. I’m so proud of my team, because each and every one of them are kind hearted, reliable, trustworthy and insanely talented people. They are my people, they always have my back and I feel like we are always supporting and lifting each other up, having fun and learning from each other. When someone books with my company, no matter what artist they get, they are going to look amazing and have a stress-free and fantastic time!

Any advice for managing a team?

I LOVE my team! They are my people, they are my friends, they are people I trust. The number one thing I always instill in each and every one of them is that I appreciate them! Not just around the holidays, but all year long. Simple things like, “thank you”, “that was some beautiful work”, “I appreciate you”, go a long way. I am a huge fan of learning about the love languages and I realize that everyone receives love in different ways. I try to accommodate as many as I can even in the workplace. Hearing phrases like the ones above for my words of affirmation people. Sending Starbucks gift cards or a little Venmo bonus to those that love gifts. Scheduling a dinner with my quality time people. Sharing a hug with my physical touch people. Offering to help clean up, carry something, wash a brush for my acts of service people. Everyone is different and I try my hardest to make sure everyone feels appreciated as much as possible. I also believe that supporting everyone as individuals is important. I know that my artists do not just work for my team and that is ok! That is the definition of a freelancer and I want everyone to succeed because I know that there is enough of work out there for all of us and we can each have a piece of it. I believe in personal and professional growth and if I can help someone achieve that, it also comes back to me in a positive way.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Everyone has a different journey. Sometimes I look at my personal journey and see “more than average challenges” I guess you could say. My second child was born almost 10 weeks premature and spent 44 days in the NICU. I went through a tremendously stressful divorce. Both of my son’s were diagnosed with Autism. Covid turned my income to zero. And many other challenges in between. But, I always pick myself back up. My family, my friends and my team are my rock and are always there for me. I believe now, that we are handed what we can handle. And as hard as some of my life experiences have been, they have made me who I am today. They have connected me to others I never would have met. They have made me stronger. They have helped shape the person I have become and most importantly they have made me realize how lucky I truly am to be where I am today. Now, when something not so great happens, I take a deep breath and figure out how to get through it. Because of this, I can also help others along the way. My life is so full of joy and I love each and every person who is a part of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stacieotto.com
• Instagram: Stacieottohairandmakeup
• Facebook: Stacie Otto Hair and Makeup
• Yelp: Stacie Otto Hair and Makeup
• Other: TikTok @stacieottohairandmakeup

Image Credits
The Roots Photography by Nate and Jensey Root Caldwell Photographic Studio by Stephanie Caldwell Regina Hyman Photography David and Vicky Arndt Photography Bella Allure Imagery by Brittany Miller Jess Collins Photography