Morgan Roy educates hairstylists at various skills levels throughout Canada at Aveda, a job she has known would be her career since her days working part-time at a salon during high school. What’s her definition of success? Find out in today’s YPDaily…
Describe your job in a nutshell:
I educate hairstylists at various skill levels throughout Canada, the U.S. and abroad, presenting the latest trends and techniques at hair shows, working on photo shoots, backstage at New York Fashion Week and taking clients behind the chair.
Why did you start working for your company?
Aveda is aligned with my beliefs and lifestyle; I wanted to work for a beauty company that values their guests, cares for the environment and gives back to the community.
What was the inspiration for this career route?
I took hairdressing at the same time as high school and worked part-time in a salon. I thought hairstyling would be my career before it was my career. When I was in high school there was always pressure to go to university, to get a degree, and that a trade wasn’t able to get you into a successful career like a university education would. I now know that’s not true. I quickly felt a sense of belonging in the beauty industry and wanted to be the best at my craft.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis?
Making meaningful connections with my guests, networking with other creative types, and mentoring other stylists to feel good about their skills. I’m thankful that my days are never the same and that I am able to interact with so many different types of people from different walks of life.
The most challenging part?
I think the most challenging is also the most rewarding: Learning how to empathize in a conflict to produce a resolution. I’ve learned to be patient when I’m listening so I can really hear what my guest or my student is trying to communicate.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Learning never stops. There is always room to better yourself and better your craft. I’d like to travel more – although I travel quite a bit – to places I haven’t been to. Five years is a lot of time, and in an industry that moves as fast as the beauty industry does, the sky is the limit.
What does success look like to you?
Success is loving your job so that it never feels like work; being able to live comfortably and being proud of what you do.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Being chosen to join the Aveda Canada creative team and working the shows backstage at New York Fashion Week. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to produce looks for designers like Jason Wu, Rodarte, Christian Siriano and Betsey Johnson.
Do you have any advice for young professionals?
I moved to Toronto 10 years ago from Winnipeg with only two suitcases and a ton of ambition. Being young is about working hard and being poor. It will make you grateful for the things you can eventually achieve one day.
Do you support any charities? Which ones, why is it important to you?
WaterCan and Because I am a Girl are both organizations close to my heart. During Earth Month, the Aveda network of salons & spas in Canada work together to raise funds to WaterCan to provide developing nations with access to clean water, basic sanitation and hygiene education. Working in a predominately female-oriented industry, supporting women to reach their full potential to help others around them is really important to me.
Blackberry, iPhone, or android?
iPhone