On this episode of The Walk Of Life podcast, Cheryl Thibault plays an interview she took part in with Phoenix Van Dyke from Ask Beauty Questions about Mirage Spa Education Inc and having a career in the nail and beauty industry.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• I started developing my businesses in 1981, when I graduated. My first job out of school was in a hair salon doing hair and aesthetics. I was trained under a fabulous Brazilian woman who had trained in Europe and had so much more experience than me and she ran a tight ship. From there I went into semi-independent business in a salon owned by another woman who did ‘space-age facials’ with little suction cups where I learned about muscles and toning. Then I went into room rental where I had a room out the back of a hair salon, this was where I learned how to run a business. Then I moved into my own salon in a hotel and that was a nightmare because you can’t just install a sink in a commercial building, you needed permits, so that stretched my tiny budget.
• My school went online literally by accident. I’d had an accident and was in a wheelchair for almost a year and spent several years in rehabilitation therapy, so I could no longer do school because there were stairs. The internet was just starting to become the internet, so I thought about making videos and selling the DVDs to people who can learn from them at home and then go and take an exam or become an apprentice. We had more students online – some from isolated rural communities who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend a school – than we did in the actual school by 2012, so we went online only.
• The entire world closed down during the pandemic. Ours didn’t. I honestly think we were the only school that didn’t close, and that made a big difference to us making a mark because, up until this point, online education was taboo – especially in the beauty industry where you have to touch that person, fell their face. I was nervous I’d be ostracised and it was difficult for me to gain a foothold until Doug Schoon came on board and endorsed my school, mine is the only school he’s endorsed, that was a turning point.
• When people come into the course, they learn from an international textbook which will take them literally into any country the textbook is accepted, even if they graduate out of Canada they can still take their credentials and pretty much work wherever they’re accepted.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I had to go to school 400 miles away from my family, in another state, to learn to be a nail tech. This inspired me to open my own school in Saskatchewan (the first school in the state).’

‘I had the first tanning salon in the city of Regina and I hired my Mom to be the receptionist!’

‘My friends have never told me: “You can’t do it”, quite the opposite. They’ve always been my biggest support, without them I know I wouldn’t be where I am, we all need a strong support group.’

‘My kids were THE motivation.’

ABOUT THE GUEST

Phoenix Van Dyke is an Education Specialist at Wildflowers Nail Academy.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoenix-vandyke-31b062147/ 

ABOUT THE HOST

Cheryl Thibault is a visionary, entrepreneur, multi-business owner, educator, influencer, and game changer in the beauty industry. A student of life, who will never stop growing and learning. She is assertive and an uncompromising beauty professional, and has been for over 40 years.  As a long time founder/owner of beauty spas and education centres since 1981, 

An Author, Co-Author and currently penning a series of books dedicated to telling her life story, overcoming struggles, and gaining life and career success. She is a true trail blazer and actively integrates love, understanding and compassion into all areas of her life as she influences thousands around the world to carry that forward.

CONTACT METHODS

Website: www.misscheryl.com 

Instagram: @cherylthibault1

Facebook: Cheryl Thibault

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylthibault/ 

Podcast website:  www.thewalkoflifestories.com 

CONTACT MIRAGE SPA & LEARN MORE: http://miragespa.ca/