Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Nepola.
Jackie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always had the soul of an entrepreneur. I worked my way through college selling old Levi’s at schools and blow pops out of my pack back at clubs throughout Southern California, making just enough money to pay tuition and go out on the weekends.
When my first daughter was born, I started a number of companies but the timing was just never right. It wasn’t until I purchased a struggling beauty school in 2007 that I discovered my true passion, mentoring, inspiring and motivating the next generation of entrepreneurs.
As the school’s owner and director, I spent countless hours working with the students and staff on how to prepare for their future, grow their business and give back to their community.
In 2017, I sold the beauty school and moved on to my next venture, KLEEN HAIR. KLEEN HAIR is a line of stylish and discreet hair accessories and products that repel that ever so cringe-worthy word LICE.
Through KLEEN HAIR, I am still able to give back by donating a portion of sales to schools, foster care organizations and other non-profits.
Great, 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?
I don’t believe any entrepreneur or business owner ever had a smooth ride. There are constant struggles and challenges every day. The only constant with owning a business or starting a company is you are guaranteed to have problems.
I have had many sleepless nights wondering how I would make payroll or how am I going to pay my vendors.
My advice for young women who want to start a business or work for themselves is to make sure you have a good support system. The hours are long, the money can be erratic and stress can be off the charts.
Your friends and family need to know this going in, you will have to work all hours of the day and night, that phone calls and emails are unpredictable and need to be addressed immediately. Most importantly they need to know, sometimes you just need to vent and decompress. With the right support system, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a former beauty school owner turned “Lice Lady.” I’m extremely passionate about bringing value and awareness to the most cringe-worthy word “LICE.”
As parents, we are not taught what to do when the infamous “Lice Letter” comes home from school. Well, now, I’m taking on that role by educating students and parents on the importance of prevention.
I’m currently back on the speaking circuit and I visit schools, organizations and educate them on lice as well as business tactics.
I will always live by my philosophy of MIM (MENTOR – INSPIRE – MOTIVATE). Having spent over a decade working with millennial’s I found there was often a lack of people willing to spend the time, to listen to them and help guide them. That is why I created the MIM Society which encourages others to give back and help inspire them.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
I definitely feel the experiences I had growing up played a huge role in my success today.
I’m from Long Beach, New York and I literally grew up having the beach as my playground. I’m an only child who was certainly lonely at times. So, I surrounded myself with tons of friends until one day I decided it was time to leave the security of the beach.
I moved to San Diego by myself when I was 20 years old and that’s when I learned the importance of hustling to survive.
My parents who were divorced at the time (who are now married to each other again) were my number one fans. Although there were many times they were like “what is she getting into now” but they were always there to lift my spirits when my plan didn’t work.
I truly believe I got my work ethic, drive, ambition, and hustle from my parents. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kleenhair.com
- Phone: 954-372-5785
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kleenhair/ …. https://www.instagram.com/jackie.nepola/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kleenhair/ …. https://www.facebook.com/jackie.nepola
Image Credit:
Kiana Kohut, While on Tour
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