IBS New York 2025

Join industry veterans, Oliver Adams and Thomas James for an engaging conversation exploring DEI and how it affects the industry and YOU. This interesting and entertaining coffee table discussion will offer insight, open eyes and spur riveting questions, answers and a variety of perspectives you don't want to miss!

This panel explores the challenges and triumphs faced by Black barber and beauty educators in a space where they often feel underrepresented and underestimated. Through candid discussions, we aim to unpack feelings of inferiority, imposter syndrome, and systemic biases in education and employment. The session will also shed light on actionable strategies for empowering educators of color, creating inclusive hiring practices, and fostering solidarity through initiatives like #solidHAIRity. Featuring personal insights from Rodrick Samuels and other industry leaders. This panel is a call to action for cultivating talent in the Historically Marginalized Groups and driving change in the industry.

Being a beauty or barber entrepreneur is hard enough with all the rules, regulations, mandates, tax codes and now, with dealing with the effects of the pandemic. The stress beauty pros endure is enough to break anyone mentally. Mental illnesses can affect a person’s thinking, mood and behavior. It’s time we remove the stigma from mental illness by bringing awareness to this serious topic.

How do people of color take steps to improve their wellness and mental health?

Join Justin Kace, a multi-award Beauty Industry Platform Artist, Educator and Military Veteran along with panelists, Charmaine Cooper, Marsha Cox and Thomas James, to discuss the many aspects of mental health, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, bipolar and anxiety.

The team will share:
Learn self-help techniques
How to support ourselves or those around us that struggle with mental illnesses
Motherhood, love, death, and racism
Mental health crisis in the Black community
How to combat stigma
Spot potential mental illness
Practice emotional wellness
Getting the best care possible in a system steeped in racial bias

This panel dives into the urgent need for representation and inclusion in beauty media. Industry leaders will explore how celebrating all hair textures, skin tones, and cultural aesthetics can transform the narrative around beauty. Through authentic storytelling and actionable strategies, attendees will learn how to challenge outdated standards and create a media landscape that reflects the true diversity of the world.

Let’s get real and talk finances! Your loudest voice in almost any room is your dollar. It can also be the biggest thing holding you back. Money isn’t EVERYTHING but you can’t do ANYTHING without it! Join industry veteran Thomas James and renowned industry educators to talk the ups and downs or finances in the beauty industry and how we can maximize them.

Join industry heavy-hitters to explore the journey of Black beauty entrepreneurs discussing how to build sustainable and impactful brands. This discussion, moderated by Stephenetta Isis Harmon, founder of Sadiaa Black Beauty Guide, will give you insight and wisdom into how to begin your journey and make a name for yourself in the beauty industry.

In an era where the beauty industry faces significant shifts in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, this panel explores the ripple effects across the beauty ecosystem. From independent salon owners to major retailers, these changes are reshaping how we approach beauty, service, and representation. This discussion will examine how recent corporate DEI rollbacks are impacting Black-owned beauty brands, salon operations, professional training, and product development and access. We'll analyze the immediate implications for beauty professionals, brand owners, and consumers while discussing strategies for maintaining inclusive practices in a changing landscape. Join Keya Neal and guest industry experts as we unpack this critical conversation at the intersection of beauty, business, and belonging.

Join some of the most well-experienced industry experts to discuss the various career opportunities available within the beauty sector beyond traditional roles, such as beauty entrepreneurship, social media influencing, and product development.

Through this topic, industry legend, Dr. Dave Ray and other notable panelists will delve into how black and brown students can feel confident and authentic in forging their career paths in the beauty industry. If you are a student or educator, don't miss this discussion!

This discussion isn’t just about learning the technical skills of beauty and barbering—it’s about transforming lives. We’re not only preparing students for success behind the chair, but also for success in life. We’ll dive deep into life skills that set students up for long-term growth, helping them build the mindset to thrive in this fast-paced industry. For instructors, this is a chance to refine your ability to teach and inspire, so you can instill these vital skills in the next generation. We’re all about creating a culture of continuous learning, growth, and impact. It’s time to level up.