As the professional beauty industry becomes increasingly complicated, navigating a career path can feel more challenging than ever. Recognizing this, the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is stepping up to guide the next generation of industry leaders.
The nonprofit advocacy organization has unveiled its 2026 Future Leaders Task Force alongside a refreshed iteration of its PBA Future Leaders platform, an industry-wide initiative designed to develop, connect, and empower emerging talent across the beauty ecosystem.
Rather than focusing on job titles, the program aligns participants by career stage, creating a vibrant, cross-sector community that brings together professionals working behind the chair, within brands, across distribution and education, and in salon leadership roles.
PBA Future Leaders provides tools and connections that help participants navigate the demands of a fast-evolving industry — where creativity, entrepreneurship, technology, and regulation intersect — while preparing them for leadership.
“PBA Future Leaders is a key pillar of PBA’s commitment to strengthening the professional beauty industry,” said Emily Hegdhal, Director of Programs & Events at PBA.
“By providing a dedicated platform for early- and mid-career professionals to learn, connect, and grow, we are investing in long-term leadership, workforce retention, and the continued credibility of licensed beauty professionals.”
The 2026 Task Force brings together experts from brand leadership, creative entrepreneurship, salon technology, and distribution, offering practical insights into how careers are built today.
Led by Chair Zoe Hyams, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Keratin Complex, the task force is driving a modernization of the PBA Future Leaders engagement model.
“PBA Future Leaders is not just a program. It’s infrastructure for the future of professional beauty,” Hyams says.
“As our industry grows in complexity and opportunity, leadership development must grow with it.”
Rounding out the 2026 Future Leaders Task Force are:
- Vice Chair: Jalia Pettis, Visionary, 3Jay Productions (Creative Entrepreneurship)
- Immediate Past Chair: Will Simpson, Head of Partnerships, Vish (Salon Technology)
- Member: Dessirae Sands, Assistant Vice President of Education, L’Oréal (Brand Leadership)
- Member: Matthew Hagler, Business Development Manager, Paramount Beauty (Professional Beauty Distribution)
- Member: Aimee Gonzalez, Director of Business Development, Market Defense (Commerce & Digital Strategy)