empowering the next generation: my salon suite & the suite relief program at ‘from chair to boss live!’

There are moments in this industry when you can feel the energy in a room shifting from simple excitement to true transformation. Being in Oak Brook, IL, for Mireya Villarreal’s From Chair to Boss Live! The event was undeniably one of those moments.

Brought to life alongside the Pink Pewter Foundation, the event gathered beauty professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs for a high-octane day dedicated to business acumen, leadership, and long-term career success. At My Salon Suite, our core mission has always been to elevate beauty pros from dreamers to thriving business owners. Through our Suite Relief Program, we knew we had to show up big to back that mission with tangible action.

room for 50 future bosses

Transformation starts with access. To ensure the next generation of talent had a seat at the table, the Suite Relief Program sponsored 50 cosmetology students, 3 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture campuses including; Tricoci Elgin, Glendale Heights and Chicago Northwest, covering their full attendance for the event. Seeing 50 future beauty leaders sitting in the audience, that we were able to sponsor, was heart warming. They were surrounded by 1200+ attendees, soaking up business strategies, networking with industry veterans, and envisioning their future potential was an incredible highlight of the day.

big wins live from the stage

Years of planning alongside Mireya to invest directly in these professionals was an unforgettable experience. On behalf of the Suite Relief Program, we were honored to have awarded:

• 5 “Pathways to Education” Grants: Providing direct support to help stylists continue their professional development and master their craft through enrollment on the From Chair to Boss Full Digital Course + Workbook
• 3 “Pathways to Success” Business Grants ($1,000 Each): Delivering direct business funding to three ambitious entrepreneurs ready to take their next step toward independent salon ownership.

“The energy when those grant recipients were called was electric. Knowing that this seed funding will help launch real businesses and change real lives is exactly why the Suite Relief Program was built.”

the buzz continues online

The momentum didn’t end when the stage lights went down. The social media response from the community—including shoutouts across From Chair to Boss, Mireya Villarreal’s platforms, Modern Salon, and Beauty School Bobbi—has been overwhelming.

Most rewarding of all has been seeing personal posts from our $1,000 Pathways to Success grant winners tagging @mysalonsuite and sharing what this support means for their future businesses:

To every student who attended, every grant recipient, and to Mireya, Paolo, the team, volunteers and the Pink Pewter Foundation: thank you for reminding us what happens when an industry rises together. We can’t wait to watch these future bosses grow!