Welcome to the first special episode of our August Takeover, “Women in Business.” Hosted by Samantha Cusick, owner of both Samantha Cusick salon in Notting Hill and Sta Studios.

This series shines a spotlight on the trailblazing women redefining what it means to lead in our hair industry. Kicking things off features a compelling conversation between Samantha and her special guest Ashleigh Hodges, the youngest female president of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing and founder of MASH Studios London, a creative space for freelancers.

In this insightful episode, Ashleigh shares her journey from working in her mother’s salon to becoming a leader in a male-dominated industry. Explore the challenges women face, including self-doubt and microaggressions, and discover how mentorship and community support can make a difference.

Gain valuable leadership insights as Ashleigh emphasises the importance of authenticity, creativity, and passion. This episode is a must-listen for aspiring female leaders and hairdressers!

Join Samantha again next week for more inspiring conversations celebrating women in business, with Jordanna Cobella.

Chapters

Links to todays episode

Samantha Cusick salon website click HERE

Sta Studios visit sta-studios.com

Silly Little Girls Club podcast on Spotify click HERE

Samantha Cusick on Instagram @smantha.cusick

Sta Studios on Instagram @sta__studios

Fellowship for British Hairdressing visit HERE

Ashleigh Hodges on Instagram @ashleigh_hodges_hair

Ashleigh Hodges website visit HERE

Mash Creative visit mash-creative.co.uk

Today’s Guest

Ashleigh Hodges is a leading British hairdresser, Colour Expert, Session Stylist, and activist. She’s thePresident of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing and owner of Mash Creative Studio, a sustainable creative space. Known for her vibrant colour work, Ashleigh has had  Global Ambassador roles for Matrix and Davines. She champions sustainability and inclusivity, using her platform to advocate for positive change within the industry and beyond

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