Award-winning salon owner Michaella Blisset Williams is the founder and CEO of Salon 718, with eight locations across Brooklyn. A passionate industry leader and ICA Board member, Michaella brings a powerful perspective on leadership, culture, and team building that is highly relevant to the future salons.

Award-winning editorial stylist and texture artist Naeemah LaFond is known for blending fashion, culture, and creativity into bold, unforgettable looks. She has appeared on runways around the world as well as in Vogue, Glamour, Allure, ELLE, and WWD. The Global Brand Ambassador for Olaplex and Shark Beauty is Founder & Creative Director of Texture on Set, an annual conference focused on artistry and building community. Naeemah joins Gordon for an inspired conversation.

Michael Cole, one of the leading and most innovative voices in salon business education and coaching for over 30 years, is the co-founder of Salon Summit Business Center ("Summit") and the founder of the Salon Development Corporation. In 2023, Michael joined  the PCI Academy Leadership Team where he works with future professionals pushing the boundaries of innovation and education as it relates to coaching being foundational to every professional's future success. His Instagram profile, @MichaelColeInspires is a must follow account for any professional looking to thoughtfully grow their careers and/or larger businesses.

Tabatha Coffey is, without question, one of the most iconic, well-known, and most respected hairdressers on the planet today.  Her no-nonsense take on building a successful career and business in our industry has inspired countless professionals to greater success. Tabatha joins host and ICA General Manager Gordon Miller to discuss the power of our mindsets to impact our careers, businesses, and lives in profoundly positive ways.

Known throughout the industry as an absolute master of the art, craft, and business of hairdressing, Candy Shaw is also among Intercoiffure's most recognized and respected members. The 2025 NAHA Educator of the Year has been changing careers and lives for decades. In this episode, Candy brings us some of the stories, beliefs, and practices behind her most iconic career.

A member of the iconic Neill family (owners of Neill Corp, Serious Business, Aveda Arts Institutes, Paris Parker Salons), hairdresser, and founder of Elevate Hair, Tatum has made his unique mark on the industry. He joins Gordon to discuss leadership in 2026, the state of social media, and even a dive into hair trends.

Sam Brocato returns to share more of his very practical perspective on AI's power to transform salons. Sam Brocato Salon uses AI across virtually every area of the business. From staff training and 24/7 customer support to financial and business analysis, we dig into some real-world examples of how AI is benefiting Sam's team, clients, and larger business.

AI Artistic Director Sonya Dove joins The Connector to preview “The Power of Connection.” She shares how creativity is shaped through collaboration, culture, and community—and why the relationships we build, behind the chair and beyond, are essential to growth, inspiration, and lasting success in today’s evolving salon industry.

Aveda’s Senior Vice President of Global Artistry Antoinette Beenders is arguably one of the most iconic and masterful hairdressers of the modern era. Last year, she was named PBA’s North American Hairdressing Awards Legendary Icon, “paying tribute to a prolific career of sophisticated, experimental, and boundary-pushing hair, makeup, and fashion”. Antoinette joins Gordon to share her thoughts on the evolution of creativity and collaboration over the course of her 40+ year career.

In this episode, we sit down with Alain Audet, SalonInteractive's KIM Report, to break down what’s really happening inside the salon industry right now...informed through the lens of real data from real salons. More importantly, KIM helps to connect the dots between insight and action.