Women Making it Work #4
5 Jan 2021

Welcome to part four of our Women Making it Work series. Following in our ethos of empowering women, we want to help support you beyond a great fitting bra. With the rise of the female entrepreneur, what better way than showcasing their companies and offering inspiration to other budding business hopefuls. This month we meet Berkhamsted-based make up artist and beauty expert Zoe Kennedy. Award-winning Zoe has over six years experience in the beauty industry and has worked behind the scenes for TV shows, films, theatre productions and at London Fashion Week. Before taking the leap into freelance in 2017, Zoe was a make up and brow artist in a hair salon while also collaborating with high fashion brand Face-Lace. Since then, she has built up a substantial clientele for herself; over a thousand customers have sat in the chair in her very own salon. With the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s no secret that the beauty industry has been incredibly hard hit. Zoe gives us her top tips for keeping your business going through the toughest of times.
What made you want to go into the beauty industry?
I knew I wanted to have a career in make up from a really early age as I was always very creative and I loved drawing portraits and eyes. I suffered from awful skin when I was a teenager and found make up was the one thing that would make me feel confident in myself. I wanted to get into make up and brows because I fell in love with the feeling that make up gave me and how it meant I could have an outlet for my creativity while making women look and feel fantastic.
What traits do you need to succeed in your field?

What are your proudest business achievements so far?
Opening up my own salon aged 25 and having an amazing team working alongside me with make up artists trained up by myself and seeing their talents grow.
How did you set up your own salon?
I set up my own salon after two years of freelance working from a space in my parents’ home and doing weddings. I missed working with a team like I did in the hair salon I worked at so decided I wanted my own salon and to rent chairs to other talented self-employed people in the industry. It took me a long time to find the right space but I am over the moon with my space I have found as there is unlimited free parking and it overlooks a beautiful pond.
How have you kept your business going through the Covid-19 pandemic?
” To succeed in the beauty industry, you need to be willing to put in the work, you must learn to be a one-woman band and know how to utilise social media to promote your work. Talent is one thing but you need to have the work ethic to go along side this, as it is not plain sailing.

What advice would you give others who are looking to set up their own business?
Do you feel empowered as a female entrepreneur and why?
” Invest in upskilling and training, make sure you don’t get stuck in the past with your techniques and continue to refresh your knowledge on your craft.