How a Laid-Off Marketing Executive Became a Beauty Mogul and Career Coach in 7 Years

Published on July 24, 2020 at 3:37 PM

Seven years ago when she was working as a marketing and sales executive in Denver, CO, makeup was just a side hustle for Tiyana Robinson. Now she's one of the most sought-after entrepreneurs in the beauty industry, and she's helping aspiring beauty professionals follow in her footsteps.

Robinson segued into makeup after unexpectedly losing her job at a hair-extensions startup in 2013. After spending the bulk of her career in the industry as a makeup artist based in Washington, DC, she created Makeup Mogul University, an online business school through which she coaches fellow makeup artists on how to scale their businesses and diversify their incomes. The school is the first of its kind, and it was inspired by Robinson's personal experiences in beauty.

"I felt like I'd hit a glass ceiling in my business that I just couldn't break through."

"I felt like I'd hit a glass ceiling in my business that I just couldn't break through, even though I was doing all the things that we're 'supposed' to do to grow," she told POPSUGAR of feeling stuck in her career. "I was inspired to create Makeup Mogul University because I know that so many beauty pros feel stuck and overwhelmed when it comes to growing their businesses, just like I did. I want [them] to know that they're not doing anything 'wrong,' they're just aiming at the wrong target!"

According to Robinson, one of the biggest mistakes beauty professionals can make in their careers is being too reliant on physical services, and considering the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic rendered in-person beauty services unsafe when it first hit the United States, her classes are especially necessary now.

A number of beauty professionals, Robinson included, aren't able to service clients in the same ways they were before. "They're not allowed to have multiple clients in close proximity, they have to sanitize their space between clients, and they have to wear and/or provide PPE to their customers," she said. "All of this affects their bottom line!"

As the pandemic persists and further causes professionals in the beauty industry to pivot, Robinson is leaning further into creating digital solutions for all of her clients.

Of course, even though she's made a career out of passing down business tips, not all of what she wants people to take away from her classes has to do with money and revenue. More than anything, she's hoping her students walk away from her courses with the confidence to bet on themselves in an industry that isn't the easiest to navigate.

"I know that fear of failure and fear of judgment are the biggest obstacles that hold beauty pros back."

"I know that fear of failure and fear of judgment are the biggest obstacles that hold beauty pros back," she said. "Not to mention that our industry gets a bad rap for being 'catty' and 'clique-ish,' so as you're growing, it can feel like no one is willing to help and provide real information."

Robinson continued, "My mission is to completely disrupt that narrative. When people take my classes and trainings, I want them to have the confidence that they'll not only walk away feeling inspired but also empowered with the step-by-step process for growing their business or artistry."

Online enrollment for Makeup Mogul University is currently closed, but anyone still interested in learning a few valuable lessons from Robinson can join the wait list.