Bobbi Powell: Beauty School, Survivors, and Giving Back the Right Way

Bobbi Powell: Beauty School, Haven House, and Building Something Nobody Asked For

She cold emailed a press team, showed up with no connections, and built something the industry didn't know it needed.

Recorded live at ABS Chicago with co-host Geno Chapman, Corey sits down with Bobbi Powell (@beautyschoolbobbi) for a conversation that covers beauty school ownership, community service, self-advocacy, and what it actually means to show up for people. Bobbi is co-owner of Tennessee School of Beauty, a fifth generation school opened in 1934, and has been partners with the family for seven years after walking in to do admissions and operating like she already owned it.

How She Got Here

Bobbi grew up near Pittsburgh in a close-knit Italian family and almost became a high school English teacher. After one semester of observations in inner city Akron middle schools she knew it was not the path. She followed her mom to Knoxville, connected with a salon owner tied to Tennessee School of Beauty, and took the admissions job with zero beauty industry experience. She fell in love immediately. Seven years later the fourth generation owner made her a partner.

Own the Space You Are In

Bobbi did not wait for permission to build something at ABS. She emailed the press team cold, showed up with a small crew, and asked if they could have a bigger presence the following year. That became what it is today. Own every space you are in regardless of whose name is on the door. Whether you are behind the chair on commission or running a media operation at a hair show, treat it like yours.

Haven House

Bobbi partners with Haven House, an organization that supports girls in foster care who have experienced sex trafficking. Multiple times a year those girls come into the school as clients. Students work on them. Bobbi handpicks which students are in the room because she knows who needs to be there. Every time without fail those students walk out changed. The girls get to be normal teenage girls for a day. The students get a perspective shift that no classroom can manufacture.

The Tennessee Beauty Professional Awards and a New Nonprofit

The Tennessee Beauty Professional Awards happen August 16th in Knoxville. The first year benefited the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network with a scholarship in honor of her business partner's son who died by suicide. This year Bobbi is announcing a new nonprofit to fund real product and hands-on training in underfunded public school cosmetology programs. Corey is going to be a judge.

Find Bobbi at @beautyschoolbobbi on all platforms. Listen to the Beauty School Bobbi podcast every Monday. Follow Geno at @genochapman.

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lLnEgr3UFY7lFDixapkrZ?si=36231da1a5264815 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-day-off-hairdustry-a-podcast-about-the-hair-industry/id1327156219 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairdustry ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hairdustry

This episode is brought to you by Serious Business. January 16-18, 2027 in New Orleans. seriousbuisness.net