Lessons from 10 years leading one of the UAE’s leading hair and beauty salons
“Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” Simon Sinek
For me, leadership wasn’t born in a boardroom. It was shaped in quiet moments behind the salon chair. In conversations no one saw and in setbacks that forced me to grow before I could lead.
This week marks 10 years since I opened the first Tara Rose Salon. But my journey started long before then – as a young girl in the UK, underestimated by the system, dismissed in classrooms, and told I wouldn’t make much of myself.
I never set out to be a CEO. I just wanted to create a space that felt different – not just for clients, but for the women who would one day join my team. A space where people were seen. Heard. Valued. That was the beginning of my leadership philosophy. Over the last decade, I’ve learned that great leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about building something bigger than yourself.
Let me share the lessons that changed me — and that might help shape your own path.
Leading with purpose
“People don’t buy what you do. They buy why you do it.” – Simon Sinek
My salons were never just about hair. They were about helping women feel confident in who they are – and giving my team the tools to grow, not just skill-wise, but personally.
When you build a business around why you exist, rather than just what you sell, everything changes. Your people buy into the mission – and they stay.
Emotional intelligence over ego
A leader’s job is to listen, not just speak. I’ve seen firsthand how emotional intelligence – the ability to read the room, check your ego, and meet people where they are – transforms team culture.
In the salon, that might look like noticing when a stylist is emotionally drained. Or checking in when someone seems off. Strong leadership is less about commanding the room and more about holding space for others to thrive.
Resilience is quiet, not loud
We glamorise resilience as a badge of honour. But in reality… it’s messy. Lonely. Quiet.
I’ve found it’s showing up on the days no one claps. It’s staying late to fix what broke. It’s trusting your gut when others doubt your vision In my early days, I had no investors. No roadmap. Just belief. And that was enough – because I turned every setback into a stepping stone.
Culture over everything
Your brand is not your logo, it’s your people. How they feel when they walk in. How they’re treated when no one’s watching. How you, as a leader, make them feel seen, heard, and supported.
In our salons, we train in emotional wellness as much as we do in technical skill. We have an 8-step consultation process, not just to talk about hair – but to understand the person behind it. That’s the culture we’ve built – and it’s why we’ve grown.
Empowerment is the new authority
The days of top-down leadership are gone. I’ve learned that real power comes from empowering others. At Tara Rose, we’re not just training stylists – we’re growing future founders. Educators. Leaders in their own right. Because true leadership is about building people up, so they no longer need you – but still want to stay.
Final thoughts
Today, I lead a team of 100+ across multiple locations and an academy, but I still show up every day with the same mindset I had when I started:
To lead with purpose.
To listen more than I speak.
To build something human, not just scalable.
Leadership, I’ve learned, is not a destination. It’s a daily decision. And every decision you make as a founder – from the culture you nurture to the conversations you have – is shaping your legacy. So, whether you lead a salon, a start-up, or a team of one:
Lead with heart. Lead with humility. And always – lead with the intention to make someone feel better because of you.
