Today we’d like to introduce you to Maisha Christian Hagan.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Beauty & the Boss is a professional development and career coaching service for women in male-dominated industries. As the owner and head coach, my mission is to help women learn strategic soft-skills and strategically position themselves for career growth.
My entire professional career has been in the AEC industry. I had various administrative jobs from my early 20s as a receptionist, office manager, accounting clerk, project coordination, etc. I was also attending college but I hadn’t declared major. It wasn’t until I was exposed to marketing in school and through a chance work assignment that I realized it was for me.
I started my marketing career as a coordinator and eventually advanced to a director role. In each role, I learned how to leverage people’s experience, personality, and strengths. Additionally, I learned the aspects of business – how important decisions are made and how to “work the system.” Beauty & the Boss was born from the intersection of personal marketing and business acumen.
In my last job, I had an amazing boss who allotted me the freedom and flexibility to branch out into areas of personal passion. So, even though I was a marketing director for a construction company, I also spoke at conferences and ran a mentorship program for four years. That eventually led to individual coaching and strategic consulting with small businesses. Fast forward to November of 2018 and after a season of personal transition and reflection, I decided to resign from my job and pursue coaching full time.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s still so early in the formation of my company (and let’s be honest- entrepreneurship is hard) but I’m proud to say I already have clients – and they even pay me! The thing I’m most proud of is the reputation and brand I’ve established within my community and network; so many of my leads and opportunities come from referrals and I think it’s because people trust I’m always going to be professional, honest and fun to work with.
The exposure I got while working in professional business environments has also helped a lot. In addition to marketing, I learned about accounting, client service, relationship-based sales, HR and operations.
Any person considering entrepreneurship needs to understand the difference between their craft and their business. A person may be exceptional at their craft (flower arrangements, photography, IT, hair design, etc.); however, that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be a good business person. I spend the least amount of time coaching; the majority of my time goes to all of those other areas. If a person isn’t comfortable with that, I would encourage them to find a great job or focus on building a side hustle, which are both equally respectful and honorable options.
We’d love to hear more about Beauty & the Boss.
Most of my coaching arrangements are virtual. Virtual coaching is more convenient and private than meeting in a public location and it helps me serve women who are outside of my immediate area. In a typical hour-long session, we focus on the client’s goals. Each interaction is unique to the person, their goals and their landscape; I don’t have a generic, one-size-fits-all approach.
I’m working with three clients right now who are looking for better job opportunities. Two of them struggle with nervousness in job interviews, so I’m helping each of them improve their confidence and personal presentation. The other client has submitted her resume to a number of companies with no response. I’m doing a resume review for her as well as some coaching to improve her networking skills.
I do a lot of public speaking and presenting for companies, professional associations, and non-profits. I love speaking to groups. The energy and engagement from the group makes it a different experience each time. It’s important to me that people leave a workshop or seminar with tactics they can use right away. That’s my brand. You’ll be entertained, engaged AND educated.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Read EXPECT TO WIN: Proven Strategies for Success from a Wall Street Vet, by Carla Harris. It will teach you how to present your best self at work, how to develop a career strategy and how to influence people’s perception of you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bosslady.coach
- Email: admin@bosslady.coach
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maishachristian/
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