Inspiring Conversations with Sheena Morning of Civella Beauty Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheena Morning. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Since being a cosmetologist for 19 years, Sheena Morning has been granted the opportunity to work in different salon structures. Beginning with salary, commission, booth rental, studio suites, salon ownership to now being the owner of her own Cosmetology School, Civella Beauty Academy. Although Sheena spent years as an Independent Contractor, she’s been given the mandate to expand into school ownership and make a notable difference within the Cosmetology Industry and community at large. Working in those salon structures allows Sheena the opportunity to educate other stylists on the benefits that each salon structure offers; as well the importance of being a hairstylist that is also a true businessman/woman. Her most recent accomplishment is that her academy has graduated over 30 students since opening nearly three years ago. She believes her years of service in this great industry have equipped her with the necessary skills and leadership to share creative ideas that will help future leaders and current professionals in this industry. Sheena looks forward to contributing her time, knowledge, resources and efforts for the betterment of the cosmetology field and beyond, which is in direct alignment with her mission statement: positively affecting lives through the avenue of hair.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all! Prior to starting the school, I did create a very detailed business plan that was meant to serve as a smooth sailing blueprint. However, my initial plan did not work out nowhere near the way I planned it. There was a lot of interest in what Civella offered, just no initial commitment from potential students. June 22, 2018 was the date planned to begin our first day of class but again, no one officially enrolled. So, I had to go back to the drawing board and pivot and our first class began August 27th, 2018. Through this whole experience, I’ve learned that there is power in the Pivot! Once we had our first student to officially enroll, I had to continue marketing to build momentum. As the owner/operator and the visionary, I had to be willing to wear all the hats and do whatever needed to be done to get the ship sailing. Many, many late nights, early mornings and long weeks… I would not trade it though. I’ve learned and still learning that in order to fulfill purpose and destiny, there is first a price to be paid then the rewards come.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Civella Beauty Academy is a post-secondary learning institution which offers courses in Cosmetology and Natura Hair Care. Our students complete our programs anywhere from 6-15 months. At Civella, we prepare them to sit for their written and practical North Carolina State Board Exam. Once our students successfully pass their boards, they are licensed to practice by the state of North Carolina. I would say that Civella’s superpower is the learning and growth environment. The student don’t just learn about beauty and hair. They also learn more about who they are as individuals that foster a beautiful growth experience. Very rarely are they the same person when they exit Civella. What I would love people to know about Civella is that our students gain working knowledge and practical skills that allow them to contribute to mankind by way of providing services that promote beauty, self-confidence, self-love and so much more to the men and women they service. Also, the trade of cosmetology positions them to become successful and productive entrepreneurs. The skills they take away allows them to provide for themselves and their current/future families. Civella Beauty Academy is all about planting seeds in the lives of our students that will one day blossom into amazing legacies.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
When it comes to finding a mentor, I suggest being open-minded. If you are like me, I love to have mentors that I have one on one relationships with. However, I often come across people that I admire in my industry or in business that may live far from me. If that is the case, I research to see if they have written any books, articles or if they have any online content and I began to study them from afar. Even though I may not know them personally, I still consider them to be a mentor. That has worked well for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.civellabeautyacademy.com
• Instagram: civellabeautyacademy
• Facebook: Civella Beauty Academy