We’re on our third and final week of recognizing some of the business women that we’ve been lucky enough to work with, and this is a true testament to how truly incredible these women are. With that being said, JoAnn is yet another outstanding example of this. Read on to find out what makes JoAnn the exceptional president and CEO that she is:
๐๐ผ๐ฏ ๐ง๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ
President & CEO of SOJO’s Studios INC.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ?
First and foremost, I love being able to help people. During the past 3 years, I have been able to inspire and encourage 135 stylists within Chicago, to start their own business and be their own boss. I love watching all of the businesses grow and become successful. Watching the stylists get out of a toxic salon environment and in control of their own life and then seeing what evolves after- that is super fun!
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฏ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐?
I wanted out of Corporate America and I wanted to be my own boss! I wanted more time with my family and the freedom and flexibility that comes along with the excitement of running my own business. Sola Salon Studios gave all of that to me and I am so thankful.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป?
Being a business woman means standing up for yourself, believing in yourself, and not letting any negativity get to you. Strong business women will always have targets on their back, but it is important to surround yourself with people that support you and are on your team. If you follow your gut, stay positive, and service your clients to the best of your ability, you can succeed.
๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป?
My experience as a business woman has been so fun! It’s also been stressful, exciting, terrifying and thrilling – so many emotions. However, the best thing by far is inspiring my two girls and showing them first hand that they can do anything that they want, as long as they work hard. At the end of the day, I canโt imagine my life with out my businesses. They push me to be a better person, while also satisfying my desire to be constantly challenged.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐?
I measure business success by three things: 1). Customer satisfaction (retainment) 2). Opportunities to grow with a quality product 3). Profits
๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐บ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ด ๐ด๐ถ๐ฟ๐น๐, ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฏ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ?
I would tell a classroom of young girls that being a business woman provides self-fulfillment. If you believe in yourself and what you are doing, you will be happy. โIf you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.โ I believe this quote. Look within yourself and think about what you love. If you believe in what you are doing, it will be easier. The cherry on top is being your own boss – that means thinking for yourself, making your own decisions and following YOUR dreams.
JoAnn Falato
President & CEO of SOJO’s Studios INC.