The Dressing Gown CEO

In this episode of The Dressing Gown CEO, I sit down with the brilliant Mackenzie Hayward; a WA hairdresser-turned-inventor who’s been in the industry since she was 15 and is now changing the way we work at the basin.

We talk about why she left school at 15, how she found hairdressing through pure instinct (and a careers teacher who actually listened), and what it really takes to leap from salon life into freelancing, especially when you’re leaving behind a team you love. 

Mackenzie shares the behind-the-scenes of building The Attachè Line, from sketchy mood boards and 3D-printed prototypes shipped across the country… to finally finding a manufacturer who believed in the vision and helped bring it to life.

We also get honest about copycats, pricing misconceptions, the pressure of being a small Australian brand in a market flooded with cheap imports, and why Mackenzie is passionate about supporting local, not just as a slogan, but as a value.

Plus: fertility and future motherhood plans, success as freedom, and what’s coming next for Attachè (including a new glove design made for dermatitis girls and basin life).

If you’re a hairdresser, founder, creative or you’ve ever had an idea and thought “too hard”… this episode will light something up in you.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify / Apple Podcasts.

What does it really take to build a purpose-driven business and a meaningful life?

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Emily sits down with business and marketing strategist Olivia Jenkins; also known as The CEO's Wingwoman, to unpack the story behind her multi-7-figure consulting business, the impact of being raised by a single mum and entrepreneur, and the mindset shifts that helped her scale while juggling three young kids, a husband, and a health crisis.

They talk:

• Why intuition is every founder’s secret weapon (if you dare to follow it)

• Growing up in business, and how it shaped her approach to mentorship

• What it really means to support visionary CEOs (hint: it’s not for the faint-hearted)

• Navigating burnout, boundaries and a mystery illness that seemingly had no answers

• The moment Olivia realised peace, not just profit, is her ultimate version of success

You’ll leave this episode feeling seen, inspired, and reminded that behind every powerhouse brand is a human who chose not to give up.

✨ Listen now to learn why success isn’t always loud; but it’s always personal.

Plus: Don’t forget to check out Olivia’s micro-episodes on her own podcast, linked below.

Welcome to the first episode of The Dressing Gown CEO for 2026.

In this relaxed, honest conversation, I’m joined by a familiar voice; my husband and business partner, Ili; as we kick off the year by sharing the simple yet intentional changes we’re making to improve our lives in 2026.

We walk through five habits we’re actively introducing this year, from daily movement and stretching to hydration, mindset shifts, and breaking through fear. We also share the habits we’re carrying forward from 2025; things like strength training, meditation, conscious parenting, nourishing our bodies, and refusing to make ourselves smaller.

This episode isn’t about perfection, hustle, or radical overhauls. It’s about realistic habits, self-awareness, and doing what genuinely supports your health, mindset, relationships, and energy as you move into a new year.

If you’re looking for a grounded, motivating start to 2026, one that feels human, practical, and achievable, this episode is for you.

We’d love to know: what’s one thing you’re committing to this year to improve your life?

In this solo episode of The Dressing Gown CEO, I slow things down and invite you into that in-between space. The days just before Christmas, where you’re still doing life, still showing up, but your mind has already started wandering toward what’s next.

Right now, it feels like the right moment to pause. Not in January; and not once the fireworks have gone off. But now, while we’re still sitting in the energy of the year that shaped us.

In this episode, I reflect not on what I achieved this year, but on who I became. Because for me, that’s where the real growth lives. I share how this past year truly felt like the Year of the Snake. A year of shedding, releasing, and letting go of people, expectations, and versions of myself that no longer aligned with my happiness or my values.

I talk about moving through the uncomfortable, murky moments. The ones that stretch you, test you, and quietly do their work beneath the surface before clarity appears. And how learning to trust myself more deeply changed the way I lead, how I parent, and how I show up in the world.

As we prepare to step into the Year of the Horse, this episode becomes an invitation to build momentum with intention. To stop shrinking. To stop holding back. And to recognise that what you shed this year becomes the fuel you move forward with next year.

I also want to take a moment to thank you. For listening, for sharing, for messaging me, and for showing up for yourselves this year. And I share a glimpse of what’s coming next for The Dressing Gown CEO, with some incredible conversations lined up for the year ahead.

If you’re craving a moment of reflection, clarity, and grounding before the year ends, this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Dressing Gown CEO, Ili and I (and at times, Leo our cat) sit down for a raw, behind-the-scenes chat about Black Friday; why we almost skipped it this year, and what made us change our minds.

We unpack what really goes into prepping for a week-long sale event when you're a small business. Some of the things we discuss are: consumer expectations and luxury branding, logistics of website updates, team comms, email marketing, warehouse ettiquette, and,  like always, nothing is off limits.

Whether you’re a salon owner, product-based biz, or just curious how brands handle Black Friday while staying true to their purpose, their branding and their values, this one’s for you.

Inside, they chat:

• Why they nearly said no to Black Friday this year

• How discounting can impact brand perception (and why it matters)

• The systems and planning that go into making it run smoothly

• Lessons learned from last year’s launch

• Why boundaries still matter… even during the biggest sales week of the year

Stay calm, stay classy, and stay connected to your values, even during the chaos.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple or your fave platform

What really happens behind the scenes of building a powerful brand in the hair industry?

In this episode, I sit down with my long-time friend and inspiring business woman, Yovanka Loria, founder of Yovanka Loria Extensions, for a raw, honest, no-BS conversation about what it actually takes to start and grow a brand that disrupts, withstands backlash, and actually uses it drive the business forward.

We talk about:

• Why loyalty in business is getting harder to find

• The moment she almost walked away from it all

• Managing a team (and the messy people problems that come with it)

• How perimenopause, motherhood, and business collide

• The viral curly hair launch that sparked backlash, and why she wouldn't change a thing

• What it's really like working with your partner

• Your why and why it’s one of the most important things to understand

• And the unexpected spiritual awakening that changed everything
  

If you're navigating growth, leadership, or just need to hear from someone who has been through it and gets you, then tune in!

"Everyone wants a blessing, but no one wants to go through the fire." Says Yovanka. And trust me, she’s been burnt a few times, yet she still shows up with purpose, passion and such power.

This is one of the most unfiltered convos I’ve ever had on the podcast.

** Pre-warning: There are a lot of ‘f bombs’ in this one!

https://www.instagram.com/yovankaloria/

Ever wondered what it takes to pivot from the salon floor to running a creative agency, leading a team, launching new ventures and staying deeply rooted in your purpose?

In this episode of The Dressing Gown CEO, I chat with the brilliant Hayley Mears; founder of Six Underground Media, host of the Cutting Through The Noise podcast, creative director, and multi-hyphenate business owner who's carved her own path from hairdressing into high-impact marketing, design, education, mentoring, and more.

We cover:✨ The real reason Hayley left hairdressing✨ Building a business that’s driven by purpose, not popularity✨ Balancing family, business, and Friday night rituals✨ AI in the creative industry; why it’s essential and not scary✨ Lessons in leadership, trusting your team, and letting go of control✨ Her honest take on copycats, intuition, and ignoring the noise

This episode is raw, energising, and a must-listen for anyone navigating business pivots, team leadership, and building something that lasts. Whether you're in the early stages or you’ve been running your business for a long time, Hayley's story is packed with perspective that can help you make decisions or confirm you’re on the right track.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to check out Haley’s podcast Cutting Through the Noise too.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Connect with Hayley: @sixundergroundmedia

• Listen to Cutting Through the Noise

• Follow Emily: https://www.instagram.com/foilme.thedressinggownceo

• Subscribe to the podcast for more real, raw business convos

In this episode of The Dressing Gown CEO,  I sit down with the stylish and soulful Zebulen Hair; an Aussie-born creative making his mark in the UK hair industry.

From moving to Melbourne with just $250 in his pocket to navigating the emotional and physical toll of Bell’s Palsy, Zeb’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and real talk. With honesty and humour, he shares how hustle culture nearly cost him his health… And how he's learning to build a career with boundaries, not against them.

Together, we talk about:

• His fearless leap from Queensland to Melbourne to the UK

• The reality of burnout and the wake-up call he didn’t expect

• Healing through acupuncture, meditation and self-awareness

• Why grounding rituals (like ocean swims) matter just as much as technique

• What keeps him creatively inspired behind the chair

This episode is a reminder that success doesn’t always look shiny. Sometimes, it’s about pausing. Re-evaluating. And starting again, with more softness, more clarity, and more heart.

You'll leave this one feeling braver, steadier, and a little more you.

🎧 Tune in for a conversation that’s equal parts funny, moving and deeply real.

In this solo episode of The Dressing Gown CEO, you’re getting me, no guest, no script, just real talk.

I’ve been asked how I manage running a business while navigating perimenopause, so here it is.From planning work around my cycle to the symptoms no one talks about, this episode is for anyone who’s felt off and wondered, “What’s wrong with me?” (Spoiler: nothing is.)

And if you’re a man and you’re thinking this doesn’t affect you so you’re going to ignore it…don’t because if you have a partner, wife, sister, daughter… this episode is for you.

Inside, I share:- Why I stopped pushing through and started working with my cycle- The four phases I now plan my work (and life) around- How I manage symptoms without HRT- And the one mindset shift that changed everything

This season of life isn’t the beginning of the end… It’s a reset. A chance to get clearer, softer, stronger.

And if you ask me? That’s not a weakness, it’s where wisdom lives.

In this episode of The Dressing Gown CEO, I sit down with the incredible Anna Haldane; master colourist, Behind the Chair One Shot finalist, a founder of our official Foil Me community and the newly appointed Educational and Technical Manager for Eco Heads.

Anna shares her journey of building an international profile, pioneering techniques for Asian, coarse, brunette hair, and navigating big personal and professional transitions with honesty, grit, and humour.

We discuss:

1. The art (and science) of colouring brunette hair

2. Why water quality may be the hidden villain behind hair struggles

3. Building authentic community in the hairdressing industry

4. Juggling motherhood, leadership, and creativity

5. Doing it scared, and finding courage to just do it anyway

It’s real, it’s raw, and it’s a must-listen for hairdressers, working mums and dads, creatives, and anyone reinventing themselves.

🔗 Connect with Anna Haldane

1. Instagram: @annahaldanehair

2. Eco Heads: https://ecoheads.com/

🔗 Connect with Emily Ciardiello (The Dressing Gown CEO)

1. Instagram: @foilmefoils | @foilme.thedressinggownceo

2. Website: https://www.foilme.com.au

3. Podcast: The Dressing Gown CEO on Spotify | Apple Podcasts