Melissa Hibbert: How I Became A Beauty Mogul

melissa hibbert

Jamaican born Beauty Expert, Melissa Hibbért‘s love affair with all things Glam started at an early age. While in her teens, Melissa began experimenting with makeup on her friends and family and decided to take Cosmetology courses while completing High School. After obtaining a graduate degree in Media Management, Melissa worked in Corporate Marketing for over 14 years with leading brands such as; Nike Inc., Jordan Brand Division, BET Networks, UniWorld Group Inc., Los Angeles Times Media Group, Burger King Corporation, Ford Motors Co., Coca Cola to name a few. But the pull of her first love proved too strong, so she decided to shift her career path and began a journey to reinvent herself – to follow her true passion: Beauty.

Since leaving Corporate America to pursue her true passion, Melissa has launched multiple brands including SHEEQ Cosmetics, the Beauty and the Business Empowerment Conference, is creator and Executive Producer of Behind The Glam docu-series and founder of The Glam Agency.

We caught up with the mogul to seek some much needed inspiration and find out how it’s possible to reinvent yourself and get noticed in today’s world where everyone is an entrepreneur!

What inspired you to take the leap and leave Corporate America to become an entrepreneur?

My inspiration was freedom. I truly wanted to fully express myself creatively, I wanted to live with autonomy and passion. Beauty has been a part of my life since my teens when I took Cosmetology courses throughout High School, once I went on to college, while pursuing my Pre-Law degree, I was glamming my friends in the the dorms and doing makeup for weddings for friends and family only. My corporate life was thrilling and by all accounts successful, I was at the top of my game, but Entrepreneurship was calling me and I had to answer.

Did you have an exit strategy or did you just leave your 9-5 and start working for yourself?

The road to entrepreneurship was not paved in gold, by no means. The “shift” as I like to call it – the voice in my head and body calling me to my higher purpose started to happen during my last corporate position at Los Angeles Times, I was working in Entertainment Marketing.

I was making an incredible contribution in that role and exceeding the benchmarks. However, I was laid off, along with 300 others during a tough time in print media. Although I felt the “shift” instinctively, I thought I should apply to another position. Well after applying to over 250 jobs in 3 months to no avail, it was clear God was shutting me out for a reason. Not because I was not qualified, but because that season was over and I needed to get the “lesson”.

My strategy was to scale back, live below my means, make personal sacrifices for the dream and make the investment in the things that would ensure a successful future in Beauty.

To that end, I did begin to start my planning and mapping out the next phase. I ventured into Marketing consulting for some entrepreneurial brands, but ultimately, I took a break and retreated to my parents house for a much needed vacation and created my master plan to do what I love. While on vacation, it was clear to me that I am most happy when I am working in the realm of Beauty, it makes my heart sing.

My strategy from there – I took a look at my expenses – the luxury car, the expensive townhouse etc., and made the decision that once I got back to Los Angeles, I would downsize in every area – I had to make a conscious sacrifice for one year to put everything into launching my future as a Beauty professional. I got rid of my luxury car and purchased an “economical” vehicle with cash, I downsized to a moderate one bedroom apartment, I did absolutely no unnecessary shopping – clothes, shoes etc., I did not take a trip nor spend frivolously – for one year.

So ultimately, my strategy was to scale back, live below my means, make personal sacrifices for the dream and make the investment in the things that would ensure a successful future in Beauty.

How were you able to build your celebrity clientele? Any tips for up-and-coming make up artists?

melissa hibbertThe success of my celebrity clientele has everything to do with those sacrifices I mentioned earlier. I laid a solid foundation for myself when I entered the industry. I ensured that I invested in myself by taking some advanced training courses that would allow me to be on par with the latest techniques.

I invested in my own portfolio shoot that would allow me to create images that I would essentially use as my resume to demonstrate the quality of my work. I ensured I had a professional website, business cards, strong social media presence and the absolute best products and brushes in my makeup kit.

In addition, I took my personal image very seriously which allowed celebrity clientele to be confident in me. They could see that I was not only professional and competent, but I also looked the part – my hair, makeup and clothing are always on point. I feel good about myself when I walk into a room and that gives them comfort to know that I will take care of them just the same.

Too many up-and-coming makeup artists skip the fundamentals or don’t have the “foundation” as I mentioned, so they get frustrated, chasing the celebrity client, not realizing, it does not happen that way. Your work will lead you into the right place and space where opportunities lie. It’s not just about having makeup and brushes in a kit, it’s about knowing who you are, what sets you apart and how you handle yourself and your business as a Makeup Artist in this competitive environment.

Can you share three lessons you’ve learned that would help other budding beauty entrepreneurs?

Lessons? Oh, I have many, but since you asked for three, here they are:

1. Be Grateful at all times. When it’s good, when it’s bad, be grateful, because wisdom will teach you, nothing happens to you, it happens FOR you and that is Grace.

2. Be Humble. No one is going to give you anything in this life and in business, but when the opportunities start to flood in, and they will, if you stay the course, you must remain humble. With humility you have the awareness that every experience is a gift – embrace the moment.

3. The third and final lesson is to surround yourself with people who will lift you higher, people who make you happy, people who will be there to help you when in need, people who genuinely care and want to see you succeed.

What was the inspiration behind launching SHEEQ Cosmetics?

My inspiration for launching SHEEQ Cosmetics was to provide an option to women of color for luxury makeup. The name SHEEQ, which stand’s for “She’s Exquisite”, is an aspirational brand. I truly believe that every women has something unique, distinctive and yes, exquisite about herself and if embraced with utilizing the right products, shades and colors to compliment her features, she can appreciate and love herself even more. There’s a sense of discernment that is inherent in the SHEEQ woman, she is not afraid to discover new things and is willing to set outside the box.

Now on to that AMAZING hair of yours! How long have you been natural?

I have been natural since 1998. I did the “big chop” even though it was not called that then, back in my last year of college. I was natural, long before it became the phenomenon it is today.

Between that time and now, I have blown it straight here and there, experimented with alternative looks, but have never returned the the chemical treatment.

I love being natural. I love the versatility to rock my hair and feel good about who I am. I have fully embraced being creative with my hair, even rockin’ twists out, fro hawk, protective styling with the chunky twists out that I adore and wear as my signature look.

What are your 5 must-have beauty and hair products?

Beauty:
• Botanical based Face Wash & Moisturizer from SHEEQ Cosmetics
• Volumizing Mascara by Diorshow
• Mattifying Powder by Urban Decay
• Golden Bronzer by Laura Mercier
• Full coverage Lipgloss/Lipstick by SHEEQ Cosmetics

Hair Products:
• Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Reconstructive Finishing Elixir
• Alikay Naturals Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo
• Koils by Nature Ultra-Moisturizing Deep Conditioner
• Ann Carol Beauty Coconut Lavender Hair Oil
• Felicia Leatherwood Detangling Brush

For many naturals it’s a journey to fully understand their hair. It’s a process of trial and error. What was your “Curls Understood” moment (the moment you felt like, “I’ve got this!” or any essential advice you wish you’d known at the beginning of your natural hair journey)?

My “Curls Understood” moment happened when I truly accepted and embraced the texture God gave me. I am a bonafide 4C/kinky haired girl, and I had to learn what products and styles best worked for my type of hair. I fully understand my curl/texture and it is divine. I know how to work, rock it and accessorize it to make it all my own!

At the end of the day, no product can alter it in its natural state. It’s best to understand and appreciate what you have, it will save you a lot of time, experimentation and certainly money by understanding your unique hair.

What’s next for Melissa and your brand?

The Melissa Hibbert brand is always on the move, striving to continue to make an indelible mark in the Beauty industry. My makeup & skincare line SHEEQ Cosmetics will continue to grow with new products over the next year.

I am in the early stages of the recent launch of my firm The Glam Agency and I will be announcing major partnerships and opportunities with that venture.

I am writing, yes, Melissa will be an author by 2016 and I am excited about that because this is a passion book and it will be a game-changer! I am equally excited about doing more public speaking in the name of Beauty, I am booked to speak and a few Beauty Expo’s in the near future and I am grateful for the platform to add some substantive content to the industry.

My Beauty and the Business Empowerment Conference has been a blessing and 2016, in its third year, will be remarkable because I have some strategic partnerships that will take the event to a whole new level.

I am really looking forward to season 2 of my show, Behind The Glam, it was a such a pleasure creating it and serving as the Executive Producer, with its success from season one, we now have the opportunity to leverage the momentum and expand viewership. At the end of the day, God is so good and I am truly blessed to do what I love, every single day, in whatever capacity, I choose – that’s the Beauty of Entrepreneurship.

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