We’re looking forward to introducing you to Hanna Riaboshapka. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Hanna, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Who are you learning from right now?
One interesting thing about me is that I am currently studying leadership and communication through the example of Donald Trump. I recently reread one of his books that I first discovered early in my career, watched a documentary about his life, and began analyzing his interviews. I pay close attention to how he answers difficult questions, how he carries himself in challenging situations, how he listens, and how he communicates with confidence and precision.
This practice helps me better understand strategic communication, emotional control, and persuasive speaking—skills that I actively apply to my professional growth and daily life.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hanna Riaboshapka
International Hair Stylist · Spa Management Professional · Founder of Salon Miami LLC
My name is Hanna Riaboshapka. I am an international hair stylist born in Ukraine, with a global professional background, currently living and working in Miami, USA.
With over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, I am a licensed cosmetologist specializing in hair design for both women and men. My career combines hands-on artistry with strong leadership and management experience in the luxury wellness sector.
From 2019 to 2024, I worked in the premium spa industry aboard international cruise lines. During this time, I served as a Spa Manager with the Royal Caribbean Group and led the Spa Department for Silversea Cruises, overseeing operations, teams, service standards, and high-end guest experiences for an international clientele.
Today, I operate my personal studio, Salon Miami LLC — a boutique space dedicated to individual style, modern techniques, and refined aesthetics. My professional focus includes precision haircuts, advanced coloring techniques, professional styling for everyday wear and special occasions, barbering, and hair extensions.
I am a proud member of the Professional Beauty Association (PBA USA). I received my foundational education in fashion and beauty in Ukraine and continue to refine my expertise internationally, including advanced training at the London Wellness Academy. I am also a Brand Artist for Bellami Hair Extensions and a certified Redken and Kérastase specialist, working with premium professional products.
I see beauty as art. A beautiful person is a living masterpiece, and my creative expression lies in bringing that beauty to life. This philosophy defines my work and my approach to every client — creating not just a hairstyle, but a reflection of personality, lifestyle, and inner confidence.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the most transformative experiences in my life was working on international cruise ships, where each contract lasted approximately ten months. During that time, the ship became my entire world. We lived, worked, ate, rested, and celebrated together as one community made up of crew members representing more than 48 nationalities.
This environment naturally evolved into a space of constant cultural exchange. We learned from one another—about traditions, values, habits, and ways of thinking shaped by different countries and backgrounds. That experience taught me to see the world through many perspectives, not just my own. I began to understand why people think, behave, and make decisions the way they do.
Working onboard also meant serving guests from all over the world. They shared their personal stories, lifestyles, and perspectives on what they consider meaningful, successful, or challenging in life. These daily interactions made me more adaptable and intuitive as a professional—especially in understanding clients and tailoring my work to diverse cultural expectations.
Fashion and style played a similar role in my development. Studying fashion and learning how to adapt aesthetics across cultures further expanded my mindset. It trained me to remain open, flexible, and observant—qualities essential not only in creative work, but in life itself.
At the same time, I am currently pursuing an MBA at an American university, where I study effective collaboration within international teams and analyze successful global business cases. This academic experience continues to shape my worldview and strongly influences who I am today as both a professional and a leader.
Through extensive travel across the globe—from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere—I have witnessed the full contrast of our world: poverty and wealth, simplicity and luxury, diverse cultures, cuisines, and ways of living. These experiences have deeply expanded my perspective, forming new ways of thinking—what I see as new neural connections. As a result, I have become more empathetic, flexible, and open-minded. I adapt more quickly, embrace differences with ease, and approach people with curiosity rather than judgment. This global perspective is one of the most valuable foundations of who I am today.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Success brings comfort and confidence, but it is crisis that demands action—taking responsibility, choosing direction, and moving forward without the option to step back. Crisis teaches you to value time, rely on inner strength, and transform uncertainty into deliberate, concrete steps.
The war in Ukraine fundamentally changed the course of my life and my work on international cruise ships. When I completed my contract, there was nowhere for me to return. My country was under martial law, and it was a time to leave—not to come home to rest and recover after months at sea. In that moment, I made a conscious decision to place a point on the map—to choose solid ground beneath my feet rather than water beneath a ship.
Choosing to live in Miami was a thoughtful and strategic decision. The city is home to the headquarters of major cruise companies and also where I studied spa management. I returned to a place that had already felt familiar and began building a new chapter of my life with clarity and intention.
Crisis accelerates clarity and action. Within the first six months of my time in the United States, I opened my personal studio, Salon Miami LLC, in Downtown Miami. This was an investment of both time and resources made with purpose—directed toward growth rather than hesitation or doubt.
This experience, and the resilience forged through it, has made many Ukrainians highly valued in the United States. We have learned to adapt quickly, work with discipline, and deliver excellence under pressure. I am one of them. In my work, I strive to offer clients an experience defined by care, quality, and professionalism—one that makes them feel valued and inspires them to return.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Those closest to me would describe kindness and loyalty as core elements of who I am. I value leadership, creativity, and responsibility, along with a strong hunger for knowledge and an interest in advanced technologies. Continuous growth, learning, and discipline are not ambitions for me—they are a way of life.
Honesty matters to me above all—honesty with myself and with others. I am not afraid to say no when necessary, nor to say yes when commitment is required. I take responsibility for my mistakes and accept their cost. For me, theory only has value when it is tested and proven through real practice.
I also believe in humility and respect for structure. In environments that require hierarchy or clear direction, I work calmly and constructively. I learn from everyone, choosing to speak less and listen more. I observe experts closely, attend conferences, and capture ideas, knowing that wisdom often comes from attention rather than volume. I do not expect fairness from others. Instead, I focus on performing my work at the highest level possible, regardless of circumstances. I value healthy relationships—staying close to my parents, avoiding unnecessary conflict, and protecting my personal space.
Beauty is essential to me—in people, nature, architecture, and ideas. I consciously choose to see the world through beauty and meaning, as this is how I sustain inner balance and strength.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I experience the greatest sense of inner peace when I am in demand as a professional and fully immersed in my work. Calm comes from order—when everything is in its place, the space around me is clean and organized, and my day is structured in a way that allows progress without rush or chaos.
Peace also comes through meaningful collaboration—when clients seek me out, when I work with people I respect, and when mutual trust is present. I feel a particular sense of fulfillment when I see a beautiful result and satisfied clients. In those moments, there is harmony, and the quiet satisfaction of a day lived with purpose.
It is equally important for me to be surrounded by professionals I trust—lawyers, accountants, doctors, fitness trainers, and other specialists who support my life and work. Knowing that each person is confident in their role and performs it with integrity gives me a strong sense of stability, inner calm, and balance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vagaro.com/salonmiami
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesalonmiami
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSalonMiami
