The Truth About Hiring in Beauty: How to Lead a Team That Actually Stays With Jess from JM Medi spa

In today’s episode of the She’s Unstoppable Podcast, Leanne sits down with the amazing Jess from JM Medispa in Blyth, Nottinghamshire an award winning salon owner with nearly 20 years in the industry and a team of seven. Jess takes us back to the very beginning, sharing how she got into beauty as a teenager, the stigma that used to surround becoming a beauty therapist, and how she made a bold decision at just 16 to leave home, train intensively at a private beauty college, and qualify fast. From there, Jess opens up about her early career in strict, high-end spa environments, working abroad and on cruise ships, and how those experiences shaped her resilience, work ethic, and relationship with leadership including the moment she realised the “old school” style she’d grown up in wasn’t the kind of leader she wanted to be.Jess then shares her real business journey starting completely from scratch as a mobile therapist with no local client base, building through graft, leaflets, door knocking, and consistency, and slowly watching her diary go from one £5 brow wax to fully booked weeks. She walks us through the natural evolution of her business from a room in her mum’s house, to converting a garage, to employing staff, and eventually opening her three storey medispa. Jess also speaks honestly about the pressure of trends in the beauty industry, the thousands spent chasing “what’s hot,” and how success has completely changed for her over time from believing she had to do everything and be everywhere, to understanding that true success is working on the business, not being chained to the treatment room.One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is Jess’s passion for team culture and leadership. She explains why her team are the most important asset in her entire business, what she’s learned from her past mistakes, and how creating a safe, supportive working environment impacts everything staff retention, client experience, and business growth. Jess shares exactly how she nurtures her team now, from daily check-ins and emotional safety, to structured feedback through Q&As and 1:1 meetings, and why being open to your team’s voices is non-negotiable if you want a thriving salon. If you’re a beauty business owner who wants to build a team, improve leadership, or stop feeling like you have to carry everything alone, this episode will leave you feeling inspired, grounded, and full of belief that it is possible to create a business that’s successful and feels good. Jess also shares where you can find her on Instagram if you want to connect, learn from her, or ask questions about team growth and leadership. https://www.instagram.com/_jm_medisphttps://www.instagram.com/_jessica_mee_