Growing Into Leadership: A Mother, A Daughter, A Legacy

International Women’s Day is more than a date in the calendar. It is a celebration of strength, resilience and ambition - and a powerful reminder to pause and reflect. To reflect on the paths we have chosen, the ones we have resisted, and the unexpected turns that quietly shape who we become.

This year, our Managing Director shares her own story - an unplanned journey into the world of hair that became a lifelong passion and purpose.

Joanna says

"For me, International Women’s Day is deeply personal. I cannot think about it without thinking of my mother - a determined female founder who built Jo Hansford from the ground up with vision, courage and unwavering standards. I never intended to follow in her footsteps. In fact, it was the last thing I imagined for myself. Yet somehow, that unexpected path has led me to the greatest privilege of my professional life: leading the very business she created."

Falling Into the Family Business

I never planned to join the business. In fact, I was determined to become a beauty journalist. I was still at school when the salon first opened, and like any new venture, it was completely all-consuming at home. I saw first-hand how much energy and focus it demanded.

At the time, the only obvious route into the salon felt like training as a hairdresser  and as I have always said, I am not particularly creative in that way, so it did not appeal to me. After finishing my A-levels, I planned to travel and worked a variety of different jobs. Before I left, my mother asked if I would help out on reception for a couple of months as they desperately needed support.

What was meant to be temporary changed everything - when I started, we were a team of just eight. Our receptionist had gone on maternity leave, so everyone was simply relieved to have help. I saw it as short-term position, I did not worry about expectations or what anyone thought of me. I just got on with it and, thankfully, I loved it.

After a year away travelling, I returned to find the business growing and once again in need of support. I stepped back into the role, and from there things evolved naturally. I ran the reception team for several years, moved into a PA role, worked closely with our PR team and product partners and eventually took on the role of Managing Director after my father sadly passed away.

That was, without question, the hardest chapter, he was an exceptional businessman with incredibly strong relationships across the team. Alongside the personal trauma of losing him, I had enormous shoes to fill. I had to build trust, reassure the staff that I could lead, and prove that I could take the business forward while maintaining the standards he had set. It was a defining moment- both professionally and personally.

The Reality of Running a Salon

Today, with over 70 staff, the challenges are constant - but so is the motivation. You have to be passionate in this role, I am naturally driven and endlessly curious about the world around me. I am always looking at what we can improve, what we can refine, and what new ideas or technologies might benefit the business.

The reality of running a London salon is that rising costs, taxes and increasing pressures on SMEs require constant auditing and careful decision-making without ever cutting corners. Behind the glamour, there is an enormous amount of hard work, structure and financial responsibility.

The industry itself has evolved dramatically over the last 30 years. Digital platforms, social media and now AI all play a part in our daily operations. Systems and software are integral to how we run - but fundamentally, our values remain unchanged.

Our core focus will never shift:

• Looking after our staff and clients 
  

• Maintaining the highest possible standards

Without our team and our clients, we do not have a business. Consistency is everything,  Every touchpoint of the client experience has to feel seamless and exceptional.

I am incredibly fortunate to have a strong management team around me, we work closely together to ensure that every detail reflects the standards we stand for.

The Misconceptions - and the Magic

Like any industry, there are politics, and that can be frustrating. What truly grinds my gears is the outdated perception that hairdressers are somehow uneducated or incapable.

It could not be further from the truth- Our team is exceptionally talented. I listen to our colourists discussing complex formulas and our stylists talking about shape, balance and structure - and it often goes straight over my head. This is a skilled, technical, highly creative profession that deserves far more recognition.

What I love most about the hair industry is the passion and energy- it is infectious. There is nothing quite like the feeling in a busy salon when everyone is working in sync.

Education: Our Responsibility to the Next Generation

Education is a huge priority at Jo Hansford. We run weekly in-house training alongside our assistants’ external NVQ programme. Whether someone qualifies with us or chooses a different path, I am confident they leave having received the very best training and support possible.

Unfortunately, fewer school leavers are choosing hairdressing, and the cost of taking on apprentices has become increasingly difficult for many salons. I do believe both government and schools should do more to highlight how rewarding this career can be.

Hairdressing offers so many opportunities- travel, session work, photoshoots, building a loyal clientele and earning a strong income. There are not many careers where you are told almost daily how wonderful you are and how fantastic you have made someone feel- sometimes I joke that perhaps I should have trained after all.

Leadership, Respect and Balance

People often ask whether women have to be tougher at work to be taken seriously. I do not believe it is about being “tough” at all. It is about how you handle difficult decisions and how you communicate. Leadership is built on respect - and that has nothing to do with gender.

Becoming a mother certainly changed my perspective. I have always had an open-door policy and been accessible to my team at all times. However when my girls were young, I realised something had to shift. I could not be on a 30-minute work call while trying to bath them and get them to bed.

I still respond to emails and calls as quickly as I can, but I also learned that family time is precious and you do not get it back.

Now that my daughters are almost through school, life feels different again. I am grateful to have a passion and focus that keeps me energised and fulfilled, and equally proud to watch them begin carving their own paths.

The Bigger Picture

Running a salon is not just about having a strong client base and opening the doors. It requires business acumen, resilience, and relentless attention to detail.

But at its heart, this industry is about people- confidence, trust, relationships and transformation.

And despite never planning to be here, I could not imagine being anywhere else.