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

In this episode of The Dressing Gown CEO podcast, I sit down with Tom Hendrick, founder of Tom Hendrick Public Speaking, co-director of Talent Academy, and father of two littlies, to explore how to speak with confidence, clarity, and impact.

Tom shares his journey from practising as a top-tier tax lawyer to becoming one of Australia’s most sought-after public speaking coaches. We discuss the strategies he uses to help leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives prepare for high-stakes moments - whether it’s delivering a keynote, handling panel questions, or pitching to win business.

Now, this episode is content heavy, but I have added some fun elements to it that you will have to listen and/or watch to find out!

In this jampacked episode, you’ll learn:

1. How to structure your message so your audience remembers it

2. The secrets to staying calm and in control during live Q&A sessions

3. Why audience-centric communication is the key to connection

4. How repeat and count will change your life!

I also share my own experience working with Tom to prepare for the Australian Hairdressing Council’s Industry Day, where his coaching helped me deliver a speech that earned enthusiastic applause and glowing feedback and my appearance on the Real Talk panel for the Hair Festival ended in a successful session where the audience walked away having learnt something!

Beyond his professional expertise, Tom offers a grounded, real-world perspective shaped not only by his career but also by his life as a father - bringing empathy, patience, and a human touch to every coaching session.

Whether you’re preparing for your first panel discussion, a major conference presentation, or just want to speak with more confidence at work, this episode is packed with actionable tips you can start using right away. Oh, and Tom is a really funny guy, so be prepared to laugh a bit too!

It’s been six months since Emily and Ili (aka the husband-wife duo behind Foil Me) sat down to record a podcast together; and let’s just say, a lot has happened.

In this episode of The Dressing Gown CEO, we pull back the curtain on the messy, beautiful, often stressful reality of running a business, raising a family, and staying married after 23 years, while still choosing each other every day.

We talk about what’s shifted in business, what we've learned from hard conversations, navigating big changes like selling a house, hiring new team members, and the emotional toll of carrying stress between work and home.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to live and work with your partner; or if you just need a reminder that you’re not alone in the mess; this one’s for you.

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, I sit down with Fiona Beamish — interim CEO of the Australian Hairdressing Council (AHC) — to unpack what it really means to lead in today’s hair industry.

With a career spanning apprentice to salon owner, educator to CEO, Fiona brings a grounded, future-focused perspective on the challenges and opportunities salon owners face right now. Together, we discuss the evolving definition of success, the importance of community, mindset, and the bold reforms underway at the AHC — including the long-awaited updates to the national training package.

But this isn’t just a business chat.

Fiona and I also explore parenting teenagers in a social-media-saturated world, how to support Generation Alpha as they become employees, and the personal practices that keep them grounded amidst it all.

If you're a salon owner, a creative, or a parent trying to do life and leadership more consciously — this one’s for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Fiona’s journey from apprentice to interim CEO of the AHC

2. What’s changing in the hairdressing training packages — and why it matters

3. How to lead with purpose, not just pressure

4. The power of surrounding yourself with the right people

5. Why salons must adapt to generational shifts (hello, Gen Alpha!)

6. Honest conversations about parenting, mindset, and self-worth

7. What success really means — beyond the flash cars and holidays

Events Mentioned:

1. Friday 27th of June: AHC Industry Day – Training reform and collaborative panels

2. Saturday 28th of June: AHC Leadership Summit – Generational shifts, AI in salons, and future forecasting followed by the famous Schmoozefest – The industry’s favourite networking event.

To book tickets, visit here: https://theahc.org.au/industry-day-2025/

Connect:

Learn more about the AHC: https://www.theahc.org.au

Follow Fiona Beamish on Instagram: @fionabeamishceoahc

Follow Emily: @foilme.thedressinggownceo