2025 Industry Leader Roundtable Research

In May 2025, 85 top executives across the beauty, barbering, nails, and wellness sectors gathered for the third annual Beauty Changes Lives Industry Leader Roundtable, facilitated by Pivot Point. Held before the organization’s annual fundraising GALA, the invitation-only event has become a critical platform for candid dialogue, cross-sector collaboration, and the identification of industry-specific solutions.

This year’s theme—Technology 3.0—explored the impact of technology. Moderated by Edwin Neill, President and CEO of Neill Corporation, the program began with a keynote conversation between Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist and one of the “Fathers of the Internet,” Dr. Vint Cerf, and Charles Brown, Founder and CEO of CLICS.

Advice from Dr. Cerf

Dr. Vint Cerf’s discussion reflected on the development of technology, AI, quantum computing, interspecies communication, and even the Interplanetary Internet.

He emphasized the importance of transparency and trust, particularly in client-facing industries, like ours:

“If you can’t communicate, you can’t build trust. That’s true whether you’re in a salon—or a server farm.”

He also urged leaders to embrace lifelong learning and remain curious:

“You can’t assume what you learned at 22 will carry you through a 60-year career, the pace of change is accelerating. Be ready to reinvent.”

“If someone’s going to disrupt your business,” he warned, “let it be you.”

This was followed by facilitated breakout sessions where industry leaders representing schools, salons, brands, distributors, and associations worked in small groups and explored four sub-topics:

• Preserving the Human Connection
• Making Smart Technology Choices: Partners, Priorities, and ROI
• Driving Internal Buy-In and Adoption
• The Role of Industry Associations

Key Working Group Takeaways

Technology Should Enhance, Not Replace, the Human Experience

Participants agreed that beauty is, at its core, a human service. Technology should streamline operational inefficiencies to create more space for creativity and personal connection— not substitute it. From AI-supported consultations to 3D haircutting education, the goal is to empower professionals, not automate artistry.

Smarter Tech Starts with Smarter Strategy

Vendor overload and siloed decision-making continue to plague the industry. Leaders called for shared evaluation frameworks, centralized data sources, and more collaboration. Several suggested the creation of a vetted, industry-specific tech cohort to guide adoption and support
accountability. They explored the “negative ROI” of not embracing technology.

Internal Buy-In Requires Leadership and Empathy

For successful adoption, leaders must communicate the “why,” involve teams in decision-making, and commit to sustained rollout. Benchmarks, feedback loops, and phased implementation all emerged as critical to building trust and reducing tech fatigue.

AI Is a Growth Accelerator—If Used Responsibly

Tools like ChatGPT, digital asset managers, and AR/VR education platforms are rapidly transforming how we teach, communicate, and scale. But caution is needed as AI can’t replace context, emotional intelligence, or ethical leadership.

The Impact of the Roundtable Discussions on the Participants

Pre and post-event surveys revealed a measurable change in participant attitudes:

• Increased confidence in the industry’s tech readiness
• Less concern about losing the “human touch”
• Greater comfort in the use of AI in customer retention and education

As one participant put it, “We’re all navigating seismic change—this event helped us see that we’re not alone, and we’re not behind.”

The message to leaders was clear: Technology is here—and it’s time to engage with purpose.

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Roundtable Photos >>

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Research – Pivot Point International

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