Mary Rector

CEO

Host

As the Founder & CEO of behindthechair.com, the world’s largest community of salon professionals, Mary Rector and her dedicated team work to improve the lives of hairdressers across the globe. With more than 10 million members from 90 countries, BTC’s educational website offers tens of thousands of pages of tutorials, color formulas and industry advice. SOCIAL MEDIA

The company incorporates several mediums to speak to hairdressers including BTC’s social following which now reaches nearly 3 million on Instagram (@behindthechair_com) and Facebook (behindthechair), resulting in the company’s unmatched insight and ability to mobilize hairdressers on multiple platforms at one time. In addition, BTC introduced the first-ever hairdresser influencer program 3 years ago to match influencers with haircare manufacturers. Called “The BTC Team,” it is the most coveted “team” to be on with more than 150 paid influencers and over 2,500 content creators.

SHOWS

In addition, BTC hosts two of the industry’s most prestigious events: The BTC Show with more than 4,000 attendees, now in its 10th year, and our #ONESHOT Hair Awards which has had more than 1.4MM entries in its first 5 years, making it the largest global hair competition in the world.

BTCUNIVERSITY.COM

Finally, BTC has built out the largest online education program in the world for hairdressers. Considered the Netflix of hair, BTC University houses over 200 hours of on-demand hairdressing education by the industry’s top educators and has trained over 182,000 hairdressers from 92 countries in the last 12 months alone.

PHILANTHROPY

Since BTC’s founding 21 years ago, Mary is also very proud of her company’s philanthropic efforts, especially in the area of disaster relief. Mary and Vidal Sassoon launched Hairdressers Unlocking Hope in 2007, raising more than $2 million for Katrina victims and building 22 homes in Slidell, LA. Mary was also honored with the NCA’s Humanitarian Award for helping to raise the first $1 million ever for hairdressers affected by natural disasters.

Schedule

Mainstage — Sunday at 3:55 PM
Mainstage — Tuesday at 9:30 AM
Mainstage — Tuesday at 11:00 AM

Mainstage

Sunday

3:55 PM – 4:40 PM

Scaling Success: Jen Atkin with Mary Rector

@marybehindthechairMary Rector

@jenatkinhairJen Atkin

Get ready to pull up a chair for one of the most anticipated conversations in the industry! BTC’s Mary Rector is sitting down with BELLAMI Hair’s Global Ambassador, Jen Atkin, for an exclusive look at her journey as a stylist, entrepreneur, and beyond.

In this candid interview, Jen will reveal the habits, mindset, and pivotal decisions that turned her craft into a powerhouse career as the founder of OUAI, Mane, and Highlight Artists agency.

Jen opens up about her evolution into BELLAMI’s Global Ambassador and why she believes extensions are one of the most powerful tools in a stylist’s arsenal, unlocking six-figure potential.

As with any conversation with Jen, expect real talk. She’ll share her perspective on where our industry is headed with tech, how to stay sane through inevitable change, and how to turn uncertainty into your greatest competitive advantage.

This is your chance to hear directly from one of beauty’s most influential voices, up close and personal. We can’t wait to see you there.

Tuesday

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Booked & Broke: The Truth About Why You're Not Making Money (& How To Fix It! )

@marybehindthechairMary Rector

Business

After disrupting the salon media space 25 years ago, and building five multi-million dollar companies, Mary is going deep into salon & stylist profitability numbers for the very first time to prove why so many salons are booked and broke. She’ll offer innovative strategies that will make you rethink your business behind the chair! What you’ll learn:

Why commission versus booth rental is the wrong debate

Why today’s 3-day work week is strangling salon profitability, (but how it could double it!)

How being fully booked (while generating more revenue) can still leave you broke and what to do about it.

Why systems (over feelings) will leave your team “feeling” more inspired than ever!

How and why the assistant model broke, and some true out-of-the-box thinking to fix it.

Why (and how!) many salon coaches make more money keeping you in victim mode instead of helping you build a better business.

Don’t miss this class! It could be the most important 90 minutes you will ever invest in your business!

Included with every ticket except Base — open seating, doesn’t use a class spot

Tuesday

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

How To Build an Iconic Personal Brand

@marybehindthechairMary Rector

@mrchrismcmillanChris McMillanFounder

@kevinmurphyhairKevin MurphyFounder

Business

What does it take to build a name that remains relevant—not for a moment, but for decades? Kevin Murphy transformed his work as one of fashion’s most respected session stylists into a globally recognized product brand. Chris McMillan created some of the most influential haircuts in pop culture—including “The Rachel”—and has been on top for more than 30 years in the most competitive market in the world, Los Angeles!

Three iconic careers. More than four decades of lessons! What we’ll cover:

Becoming known for something unmistakably yours

Building a reputation that outlasts trends

Turning your talent and point of view into a brand

Staying relevant without losing what made you different

Knowing when to evolve—and what should never change

Creating longevity instead of chasing virality

This is one conversation you won’t hear anywhere else!

Included with every ticket except Base — open seating, doesn’t use a class spot

Sponsored by

Schedule

Mainstage

Scaling Success: Jen Atkin with Mary Rector

Booked & Broke: The Truth About Why You're Not Making Money (& How To Fix It! )

How To Build an Iconic Personal Brand