Being a woman and a company manager: the success criteria seen by Aïda M'dalla, at the head of 35 salons

Aïda M’DALLA is at the head of a group of 35 salons. She gives us her point of view as a company manager about the potential of women to complete their professional projects.

1. Aïda, could you describe us your career in a few words
I have hairdressing training (CAP and Brevet Professionnel). I started as a hairdresser during three years then one year as a salon manager. Very fast, I started my first business at the age of 23, I created my first salon (1998), already under the name of ALLURE.
In 2003, I created the holding of the group ALLURE COIFFURE.
In 2010, convinced that training is a very determining element, I created a training center for my teams. In 2011, I launched the range of products of the brand.
Today, the group ALLURE COIFFURE , it is 35 salons and 150 partners.

2. Have you ever felt that your being a woman was an obstacle ? What about today?
Yes I have, particularly in my relations with the bankers in one hand and the backers in the other hand. At the beginning, is wasn't so easy, and apart from being a woman I was also young when I opened my first salons. I had to fight to be trusted by my partners and to demonstrate that my projects made sense.
If a door got closed, I would try another one until I achieve my goal. Never give up, this is my philosophy !
But actually, with the benefit of hindsight, I realize that all these difficulties were a blessing in disguise, to affirm my determined and industrious personality but also to be fulfilled in what I started. The difficulties have only strengthened my rage of success.

3. In what way do you consider that being a woman is an asset to run up a group like yours ?
A bit bossy, I like managing like a man, using sensibility and humanism that just woman have. While being a company manager, I feel like a mother of a great family, with a strong personality but who gathers around her and promotes unity and solidarity within the group. I developed that sense of responsibilities within my family.
I know the name of my 150 employees and often some aspects of their private life. I don't hesitate to give them advice and I encourage them to move forward and to have projects both personally and professionally when the occasion arises.

4. Thanks to your experience, could you say that the chance of success are the same for a woman as for a man ?
I think that, nowadays, the chance of success of women are better than before.
The greatest difficulties today is based on the fact that succeeding as a woman implies making sacrifices. In some way, a woman who wants to succeed must be capable of putting her woman life aside: waking up early, coming back home late, dedicating herself to her work are essential to succeed, and all of that, apart from the risk taking when you're a manager; you must then make choices because there's no real success without giving your all ! Indeed, these are the first criteria noticed by the bankers nowadays.
Bus, as I always say, you're actor in your life o a spectator…

5. You've decided to open your group to franchise. What are the reactions of your contacts when they discover you're a woman ?
Apart from some cases of « female jealousy », the reactions are actually very good because once the effect of surprised is in the past, we go directly to the heart of the subject which is to think about the way the group proposes to transmit and to share its assets with its future franchised. I think that when the speech if both professional and clear, the notion of woman or man disappears to be replaced by the notion of company manger.

6. Finally, which advice of professional success could you give to our readers ?

• To reiterate, a woman must make choices and accept the part of sacrifices linked to her success.
• Be always financially independent so you're not dependant on anybody no even on your husband.
• Follow your dreams and don't let others intoxicate yourself. Starting a new project means taking risks thinking positively without never considering a failure.
• Believe sincerely in your talents as a woman without questioning yourself too much !
• Follow your instinct and give up. Stay strong, accepting sometimes moments of weakness but always pick yourself up. A woman always find a solution to her problems when she is determined.