Building a brand depends on various key parameters. However, it is imperative for the brand to inculcate a culture of leadership that echoes authenticity.
Lynn Power along with her Co-Founder James Hammett have integrated the same values to build their haircare brand – MASAMI.
MASAMI is a premium hair care line that was designed for superior hydration, texture, and shine. In this Exclusive Interview, Lynn Power talks about building her brand and her journey as an entrepreneur.
What according to you makes one a powerful woman? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?
Self-confidence is powerful, but it can be elusive for many women. It really is about trusting your own instincts and eliminating any thoughts of “imposter syndrome”. I know that’s easier said than done, but many woman already possess incredible leadership skills like communication, empathy, collaboration – they just need to embrace these skills and get comfortable with a different definition of power. One that’s based on vulnerability, resourcefulness, and integrity, not based on the traditionally masculine and aggressive definition of power. I got to a point in my career where I decided to embrace my own style, despite the fact that there were very few leaders like me. I think people respond to authenticity and it’s ok to be different.
Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as an entrepreneur that you remember?
My parents were both small business owners and entrepreneurs, so I have always been surrounded by a strong work ethic along with a sense of freedom, responsibility, and determination. It’s not easy being an entrepreneur and I saw first-hand that it can be a 24/7 job. There were years where my parents struggled more than others. And years where business was great. It definitely gave me a sense that entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. And that it’s a long game, it’s not a sprint.
As a child, I remember going into my parents’ office on the weekends and cleaning. They instilled a sense of responsibility in me and my brothers at an early age. As I got old, I took over the bookkeeping for them. While not sexy, those skills are helpful in knowing how to manage the basics of business.
What prompted the start of MASAMI? What was the market gap that you wanted to address?
MASAMI is all about clean premium haircare that delivers weightless hydration for every hair type and texture. I met my co-founder, James, in 2018 and he had been working on our formulas for almost 10 years. It’s really hard to make haircare that’s super high performing but also doesn’t have parabens, phthalates, or sulfates.
We use Mekabu powder to create formulas which are massively hydrating but also weightless. The inspiration for Mekabu came from James’ husband, Masa, who is also our muse (we named our brand after him – and it also means truly beautiful in Japanese). Luckily, our consumers love our products. We have really high repeat purchase and that makes us happy.
As the Co-Founder and CEO, what role do you play in the day-to-day proceedings of the company?
I am involved in everything! We are still very small, so we don’t have the resources to bring in a dedicated team. My background is in marketing and advertising, which comes in very handy. I not only manage the business operationally, but we are constantly testing out new tactics to see what works. We dabble in livestreaming, social selling, content creation, and more. It’s our belief that you have to be where the customer is, so that means being active in many channels.
Having worked with some of the biggest brands and agencies, what was the biggest challenge and advantage when you started your own venture?
The good news is that I have an open mind and healthy perspective on learning and figuring out what works (I’ve seen lots of models, some better than others). I recognize that there are many paths to achieve our goal and we’re willing to experiment. But I am used to having many more resources available to me than I currently have. While I don’t mind getting my hands dirty (some days I even like it), it can be lonely and difficult not having many other experts to bounce things off of. Cash flow is also an on-going challenge as a CPG brand. Inventory is expensive and we are always juggling expenses, trying to grow the business without overextending.
Looking back at your journey, what would you have done different when starting out?
We launched in February 2020, so we really had no idea what was coming. That is both good and bad. We also had some people on the team who were not really as capable in certain areas as we had hoped. So, I would have shored up the capabilities early on and scrapped the plans to get into salons since that was really a lost cause for a year anyhow.
What would be your advice for women entrepreneurs and leaders trying to stand out in their market?
Know your brand values and make sure everything you do pays them off. It’s easy to become enamored with a product but that can lead you astray if you’re not careful. Also, build a team with people who you trust. Being an entrepreneur is hard so it’s important to surround yourself with people you can count on. Finally, don’t feel you have to be an expert in everything. There are so many ways to tap into capabilities so that you can be leading, not just executing.
Finally, what does the future look like for you and MASAMI?
We are continuing to champion clean beauty, build our community of founders through the Conscious Beauty Collective, and hopefully launch more products that people love. We are passionate about giving back to the ocean so we would love to be in a position to leave the world a little better than we found it.
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