Lynn Power on Her Clean, Premium Haircare Brand

Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:

I left the corporate world in 2018 and launched MASAMI, clean premium haircare, with my co-founder, James in 2020. We launched at NYFW in February a month before Covid. I got breast cancer in 2021 and then after a year of chemo, radiation and surgery, I launched the Conscious Beauty Collective in 2022 as a way for small indie beauty businesses to help each other grow.

Who are your customers?

Anyone who is unsatisfied with their hair! Our products were created to work for virtually every hair type and texture. We solve the #1 hair issue, hydration, without weighing hair down. We work best for anyone who struggles with dry, frizzy, unmanageable hair. We work well on colored hair. Men love us too.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I spent almost 30 years in the advertising industry, having worked my way up from a receptionist to CEO of J. Walter Thompson NY.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I felt I achieved what I wanted in the ad world and wanted more freedom to create products that were not just high performing, but good for you and good for the environment too.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Not at all, although my parents were both small business owners. So, I guess I grew up watching how scrappy they were, how hard they worked, but also how much freedom and control they had over their lives.

Take us back to when you first launched your business; what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

We launched a month before Covid lock down, so our initial strategy was to partner with salons. We were in Spoke & Weal when we launched but salons were pretty much closed for a year. So, we ended up focusing on our DTC business and our customers. That was a lesson in pivoting very early on!

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way so far and what have you learned from it?

Well, launching right before Covid was definitely a huge challenge but then when I got an aggressive Stage 3 breast cancer in 2021, that was rough. I was a bald haircare founder for 9 months. I had to reprioritize my business and my life. The silver lining was that I'm much more mindful of doing the things I enjoy and spending time with people I like. I don't have time for toxic people anymore.

What accomplishment are the most proud of to date in your business?

I am super happy to our customers love the brand. We have very high loyalty, 3x industry average. And some of our customers tell me this is the first time they've ever really liked their hair. That's empowering.

Do you have any recent wins from the last year that you'd like to celebrate with our community?

We are launching Conscious Beauty Collective pop-ins like crazy. They are curated shelves of 10-12 brand that we're "popping in" existing retail partners -- boutiques, salons, medspas, even fitness studios. We now have 10 across the US -- New York, Miami, Newport, Knoxville, Palm Springs and more.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

We are continuing to launch more pop-ins with the Conscious Beauty Collective and will be looking to launch a few more MASAMI products over the next year or two.

What is your top productivity tip? 

I love Canva. Super easy and helpful for creating content. AI tools like Photoroom and Lummi are super helpful in making content. And I like Marky for social media scheduling -- it works across all of your channels including LinkedIn.

On the flip side, how do you avoid burnout?

I tap into the Conscious Beauty Collective community -- a great way to find people who are dealing with almost the same issues every day as me. That's been tremendously helpful to my motivation.

What is your approach to work-life balance / integration?

I am a believer in blending my work and personal life. My brother helps me with fulfillment. My daughter does graphics. My husband and I like to travel and I am able to work from just about anywhere (as long as there is wifi!). HomeExchange is a great life hack, especially for bootstrapped entrepreneurs.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

I wish I knew how to juggle cash flow better! That's an ongoing pain point.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

I like to understand what people think their strengths and areas for improvement are. Sometimes it's not always accurate (I've had people think they were superstars at something they clearly weren't) but it helps me gauge self-awareness and potential. I strongly prefer hiring on potential, not on prior experience so behavioral and attitudinal questions are usually better.

If you've raised capital for your business already, what are some of your best tips or lessons learned?

I tried to raise capital when we launched but between Covid and ageism, I didn't get very far. We decided to self-fund the business so we're bootstrapped.

Are you a Mamaprenista? If so, please share your best advice for simultaneously managing a business and a family:

My kids are older (23 and 21) so now they help me. They don't like when I have a "clean beauty emergency" but have come to better understand why I love what I do.

Do you have a co-founder? If so, how did you find the right one for you and what are your best partnership tips?

My co-founder focuses on the formulations and working with our chemist. I focus on the business -- sales, marketing, operations, growth. I believe it's best to find a co-founder that has complimentary skillsets (not a clone of yourself) which works well.

What's the one app on your phone you absolutely cannot live without and why?

Google Maps! I have no idea how I navigated or drove anywhere before. I vaguely remember using paper maps which seems crazy…

What is your favorite business tool or solution and why?

I already mentioned Canva but it's definitely my go-to. It's pretty easy to use and their editing tools are great. I can make just about anything.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Do your homework before you launch a brand. Understand the white space, the market potential, your values, your positioning and get a realistic view of what it will take (finances, time, energy). So many founders I know are shocked at how much of a grind the day-to-day is so make sure you're prepared.

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