Today we’d like to introduce you to Arely Rodea.
Arely, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a native Houstonian that was exposed at a very young age to the beauty world. As little as I can remember, always trying to help my family members keep a trendy hairstyle. I was fortunate to be accepted to an internship at the age of 13 for a prestigious Hair Salon in the River Oaks district and shortly after completing the internship, I discovered my calling, Hair, and Beauty. I saw the satisfaction of each and every client enter the salon and their happiness. I noticed that a simple change in their hair could personally enhance their outer and inner beauty. I then pursued my passion and graduated and earned my Diploma from Beauty school, while still in high school. I then was able to work for various locations that enjoyed my style from Local TV Networks in Houston, commercials, fashion shows to traveling abroad and styling celebrities. I gained experience and exposed my talents to many places across the world. I have since then opened my own business and have had the opportunity to develop many relationships and endure life long clients. On my spare time, I give to the community and have committed many years to a foundation a part of the Mexican Consulate to help victims of abuse and have advocated for their legal rights. I also additionally have partnered with low-income high schools to create workshops in Beauty for students who wish to pursue Beauty school. I have always loved to give back to my community and as a mother of two children, I only hope to give the opportunities to everyone as those I hope for my family.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Definitely, not. Everything in my career I have worked extremely hard for and I only keep on pushing forward when an opportunity arises. The biggest struggle I have phased is being apart from my children. I have been very fortunate to have traveled the world, but the hardest part is not being able to bring my children to work. Balancing the mom life is definitely something I did not know was going to be so challenging, but I try my absolute hardest to make it work, and it works. The key is to never take your time with your children for granted. Seeing them grow up is definitely rewarding and I try to make the most out of my mom time. My advice to all the ladies out there is to not let your career become an obstacle with your family but to also manage your time wisely and give your very best daily.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am proud to say I am a savvy businesswoman that specializes in Beauty, from Hair to make-up, I can do it all. My passion is to make the person that sits in my chair leave with the biggest smile on their face when they leave my salon. The brand that I carry is to make my clients feel extremely comfortable with me and to always request what they prefer in terms of style and preference. I believe in providing a luxury experience for everyone and making a positive change in each individuals self-esteem and confidence. My experience and diversity gives me the inclusivity to always stay on trend with styles and peoples choice.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
My advice for everyone, and not just those in my branch of business, is to always keep your doors open to every professional you encounter. Keeping an open mind with others you work with will only allow growth in your future career and opportunities. I have always been and will be very grateful for all the mentors I have had in my life. They have given me the ability to broaden and understand the eye for beauty in a much more elevated perspective.
Contact Info:
- Address: 901 Kipling St
Houston, TX 77006 - Website: www.arelyrodea.com
- Phone: 8325189576
- Email: arely@ymail.com
- Instagram: arelyrodea
Image Credit:
CZ Photography
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