Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Cornell.
Hi Amber, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I first fell in love with this industry working as a receptionist in my grandmother’s salon at age 13. I’ve since spent 8 years behind the chair and 14 as an educator with Paul Mitchell schools. Training is by far my favorite as it allows me to educate (and hopefully inspire) the next generation of difference-makers in our salons.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing worth having is EVERRRRR a smooth road! But the roughness is where I have grown the most. When I first started with Paul Mitchell Schools, I set a personal goal to achieve all available certifications in our cutting, color, and texture curriculums. Like any good curriculum it has evolved and grown to so much more over the years, and this goal ended up taking me nearly 12 years! I like to share with my students (we call them future professionals) that “it’s more about who you become in the process.” I also am constantly expanding my goals to be the best version that I can be for them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I, in collaboration with our amazing team, develop amazing future professionals in the areas of cosmetology and esthetics! While safety and state board preparation are a huge part of what we do, I also take great pride in growing artists, business owners, industry leaders, and salon professionals. I am able to share my experiences from behind the chair, salon management, freelance work, platform artistry and connections from nearly 3 decades in this big, beautiful industry! There’s a lot of debate right now about the future of our craft and whether or not licensing should continue to be a part of it. We train people how to use strong chemicals, sharp objects, and hot tools. Doing so safely requires the kind of repetition and detail that professional beauty schools have to offer!
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Despite a July 7th birthday (lucky sevens!) and an Irish heritage, I personally do not believe in luck. I spent the 2nd half of my adolescence in foster care. This could have been viewed unlucky as I had several negative placements before finding the family I stayed with until I aged out at 18. But without the highs and lows of that experience, I wouldn’t have the career, opportunities, or family I have now. Remember the grandmother that owned the salon I worked at as a teenager? Technically, she is my foster-grandmother and the reason I love cosmetology. It’s also worth noting that all of the success I had in business (growing salons, recruiting award-winning teams, winning national contests, etc.) all came from a willingness to work really hard and an optimism that things can always get better!
