Issue link: https://www.ahpindiestylist.com/i/1511260
60 indie stylist Volume 4 Issue 2 MEET ANNA MANUKYAN Manukyan immigrated to the US when she was 9 and entered the workforce at the ripe age of 12. This early venture into employment taught her important lessons of working hard, but also the inherent joys of bringing in income and the freedom it afforded. Naturally, she was drawn to working in beauty. "At 15, I found myself working as a receptionist in a salon, and I was amazed by how warm, rewarding, creative, and entrepreneurial a career in beauty could be," she says. "I loved the idea of making my own schedule, being able to make people feel great about themselves, and having great relationships along the way." Manukyan wrapped up her high school career early and attended beauty school. Shortly after, she was hired as an assistant to a global artist and celebrity hairdresser who opened Manukyan's eyes to the endless possibilities the beauty industry could offer. She stuck with it, working as a brand educator, spending time in business development, and serving in leadership positions with brands across the US. The journey eventually led to her current role at Ulta Beauty. "I have the honor of leading education and creative direction with some of the best talent in the industry," she says. "Our pro and design teams, field education, shows and events, and working with publication partnerships showcase the many possibilities within our industry." THE INTERSECTION OF FINANCE AND BEAUTY Anyone pursuing a beauty career should have their finger on the pulse of finance and beauty if they want to succeed. "Our industry is one of the hardest working ones I know. We spend our careers taking care of others and often neglect to financially take care of ourselves," Manukyan says. "In my 23 years in this industry, I have seen countless people lose everything because of an unforeseen event or not be able to retire because they weren't taught how to invest and protect their income along the way." The reality is that as a beauty professional, you can set yourself up for success, pursue the career you're so passionate about, and retire comfortably. But if you aren't equipped with the tools to get you to a place of financial stability, it's a long, uphill battle. The truth is, the mean annual wage for those in the beauty industry is just shy of $40,000. 2 That's why Manukyan invested her time and effort into finance. "I founded Beauty Finance As a beauty professional, you can set yourself up for success, pursue the career you're so passionate about, and retire comfortably. Anna Manukyan, senior director of education and creative at Ulta Beauty and founder of Beauty Finance Group.