Empire Educators Empowered by Mizani Training
In partnership with Mizani, a select group of Empire Beauty School educators were given the exclusive opportunity to travel to Los Angeles, CA for a one-of-a-kind experience. This experience included a two-day education event at the L’Oréal ProLab, featuring hands-on training, product knowledge, and team-building activities. This opportunity allowed educators to expand their expertise, enhancing their ability to share cutting-edge techniques and industry knowledge with students.
The trip was awarded to educators from schools with the highest Mizani sales across Empire Beauty Schools. The contest also embraced schools that championed launching a new Mizani product line. Educators were selected randomly, giving eligibility to all educators and not only those placed on the salon floor. The educators selected were based on their embodiment of Empire’s Core Values, especially Integrity. They demonstrated leadership when they believed no one was watching.
The educators selected for this trip were: Tierney Gramling in Shamokin Dam, PA; Elianna Stewart in Lebanon, PA; Desarae Dumas in Speedway, IN; Ebony Wilson in Charlotte, NC; Kimberly Rankins in Northlake, GA; Dorothy Madaris in Morrow, GA, and Deborah Wiese in Tucson, AZ.
The L’Oréal ProLab in Los Angeles, California, held from December 6th-8th, 2024, offered two days of customized education, with hands-on training, product knowledge, and exclusive team-building opportunities, including a special dining experience at Manhattan Beach.
Amanda Lucas, Senior Director of Educational Development at Empire Beauty School, had the opportunity to accompany the educators on the trip. She shares:
“This opportunity aligns with our commitment to provide ongoing training and development to our Educators. They not only had hands-on experience, but they also learned the science and ‘why’ behind the products and techniques. It was incredible to see the Educators bond and share so much with each other. It was the first time they met and made great connections, they were able to share best practices and experiences. They were excellent representatives of Empire and displayed the Core Values throughout the entire weekend. They are so excited to share what they learned with their students.”
Each of the seven educators had the opportunity to share their insights and reflections from the trip. Here’s what they had to say about their experience:
Tierney Gramling, Educator at Shamokin Dam, PA:
“For our campus to be acknowledged and to have been given this unique opportunity means so much to me, it’s almost hard to put into words just how grateful and appreciative I am for this amazing chance of a lifetime. I was in good company with my incredible fellow educators. After 20 years of being in this profession, this was an adventure full of firsts for me. I’ve spent the last week really trying to reflect on my unbelievable experience and I’ve walked away from it with so much more: more knowledge, more confidence, and more courage. It was very much an empowering journey from start to finish. I feel I brought a strength back with me that I never had before. Maybe I did, I just hadn’t been able to discover and utilize it until I had this experience. I was able to share the ‘Words Matter-Never/Always’ list with the entire school so we can all work to equip our future generation of stylists with the correct texture terminology. I was able to assist a student stylist with his first silk press, using all the techniques we had been taught that Saturday with Alexander. I was able to share the knowledge and the confidence I had in the products and the procedure with the student which in turn gave him the courage to perform that service and gain the confidence he so deserved when he successfully completed it and saw how happy his client was and how proud I was of him. It has been an absolute honor being a part of this amazing group and experience. When we were told how and why each of us was chosen it was an awe-inspiring moment to know we were part of something so big and so positive. It just reinforced and proved what I already knew was true of my campus, my ED, and my co-workers, as we all lead and inspire by example here. I’d like to extend my appreciation and gratitude to everyone who was a part of making this dream come true.”
Elianna Stewart, Educator at Lebanon, PA:
“Empire has allowed me to continue my education in the field, they offer classes and inform us of opportunities. This trip however has been an unparalleled experience. It has given me a new level of confidence and excitement surrounding the topics discussed. Beyond learning new techniques and refining my skill set, I feel this experience has given me new ways to approach educating my students. It gave me new ways to approach certain topics, and new tools on how to present such information in a way that the students will be able to connect with a lot easier. Most of all, this trip has made me feel like I am part of something greater. I am not a number or a statistic, but a human who is being valued for what they do. This trip helped me to foster new connections, stepped me out of my comfort zone, and expanded my support network.”
Desarae Dumas, Educator at Speedway, IN:
“I absolutely appreciate this great training and education from Mizani. It was one of the most honorable and memorable events I have experienced in my 7 years with the company. The team building was amazing. I met some of the best educators in the company! The overall impact of the content for the trip itself was very well planned and executed by all 3 parties (Empire, Mizani & L’Oreal) who worked together to make this happen. I am so excited to transfer my training and knowledge to my co-workers and the student body here at our Empire Speedway location. Our core values shone as we all were appreciative and sponges to the education given to take back to our peers, students, and beauty culture aboard! I also used many examples from this trip in my EIT class this week to demonstrate leadership, unity, and professional growth for our future educators.”
Ebony Wilson, Educator at Charlotte, NC:
“Empire has supported my professional growth by giving classes via Zoom and in person on product knowledge. During professional development days, I look forward to the hands-on product knowledge that we receive as well. The Prolab experience was so refreshing and helpful. I came back with a better understanding of Mizani products and new techniques. My students loved the knowledge I was able to share. I’m truly excited and thankful!”
Kimberly Rankins, Educator at Northlake, GA:
“This experience has influenced my vision for the future of the school by trusting that the school is choosing the right products to be used by the students. When the Educators are well-educated about the products, it makes it much easier to relay the information to future professionals. They will be with an advanced level of knowledge and skill set on Mizani.”
Dorothy Madaris, Educator at Morrow, GA:
“The opportunity was a great privilege. The skills taught were great to share with our Future Stylists. Product is so very important for a professional to be well-versed in. Sharing the experience and the knowledge given with the students gives them an expanded vision of what can be done in the industry or encourages them to broaden their views of the career field. I’m very thankful and will continue to educate all who come into my space whether class or hallways.”
Deborah Wiese, Educator at Tucson, AZ:
“I’m always open-minded to learning something new but this was THE most amazing learning experience I have ever endured. It completely changed my perspective on textured hair. It raised my awareness of the demand for services in caring for textured hair and also that the majority of people have some sort of texture in their hair. It helped me with the proper terminology when referring to textured hair and the amount of money that can potentially be made. I cannot wait until our next module, which is Chemical Texturizing. I not only plan on creating new lesson plans packed with all this new knowledge, but I also plan on including as many educators as I possibly can to share this information with them as well. I know this trip has changed me in many ways. The confidence I now have when it comes to the subject of textured hair is indescribable. I am confident in my ability to cover all aspects of this subject and I am super excited about sharing it. Now that I have a deeper understanding, I will be able to direct students and answer their questions with confidence. Knowledge is Power! I thank Empire for this life-changing experience!”
This trip was more than just a learning opportunity, it was an immersive experience that allowed educators to refine their craft, explore new techniques, and gain fresh perspectives. As these educators return to Empire Beauty School, they bring back a wealth of knowledge and excitement to share with their students.