NAME: Valerie Reynaert
AGE: 44
INSTAGRAM HANDLE: VRBeautyConsulting
JOB TITLE: Founder and CEO of VR Beauty Consulting
MOVED TO THE UAE IN: 2003
Valerie is CEO and Founder of VR Beauty Consulting, a specialist beauty industry consulting firm that partners with aspiring and existing beauty salon owners across the region to create breakout success in their beauty business. Valerie was born in Belgium and has been in the beauty industry for over 20 years, 19 of which have been in the Middle East. Prior to starting VR Beauty Consulting, Valerie worked as a brand director and managing director for leading salon chains in the region.
What her day looks like...
6:00 AM: I usually wake up at around 6:00-6:30 am. I never set an alarm clock as I function best when I have the amount of sleep my body requires. I get up and start my day reading, with a trusty cup of coffee in my hand and listen to some classical piano music on my LP player in the background. By 7:30 am I get showered and once I’m dressed and ready, I write my daily manifestations for the day ahead.
8:30 AM: By 8:30 am I am ready to start my day and I usually work until 7 or 8 pm. I never schedule any meetings before 10:00 am which guarantees I’ll have time to work on any urgent matters, reply to emails and get organised for my day.
10 AM: This part of my day is usually made up of meetings in person or on Zoom. It usually involves the delivery of development plans and growth strategies for my salon-owning clients. Through VR Beauty Consulting I am able to advise on plans and recommendations for staff training, operations management, sustainability, recruitment and managing budgets. I also work with salon owners who are looking to expand or re-brand and set up franchising opportunities. No two days are ever the same and by working with many different clients who each have their own goals and aims, I am incredibly fortunate to be able to use my skillset from over two decades in the beauty industry to deliver expert knowledge, inspire and empower women in the region to start their own business whilst simultaneously developing themselves and their teams.
1:00 PM: Lunchtime. I often schedule business lunches, a great way to combine work and pleasure. However, as with any business owner, my hours vary from 10-12 hours per day and it never really stops, meaning it can often be a bite behind the desk. I really don’t mind though as my work is my passion and hobby, and as the saying goes, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”.
3:00 PM: The afternoon is a mixture of work that can be anything from visiting some of my clients in their salons to develop team skills or shift internal dynamics. Group training sessions on selling, customer service and complaints handling are some of the key topics I work with salons to improve on. To walk the journey with them, guiding them along the way and helping take their business to the next level is truly rewarding. If I am not visiting clients, I am working on our latest development – the industry’s first Online Talent Gateway Platform that will help salons to attract the talent they need to be successful – or developing the next growth plan of the business.
8 PM: After work, I enjoy dining out with friends and visiting some of Dubai’s foodie hotspots. If there is a great show on at Dubai Opera, you can also find me there, enjoying the cultural scene that the city has to offer. Alternatively, I am also very content relaxing at home, reading a book or watching a series on TV to help me wind down after the day.
10:30 PM: I always end my day journaling. This is my chance to reflect on the day, write down what I experienced, how I perceived certain happenings and how I feel about those things, keeping track of my progress and growth. Often journaling can be a great source of brainstorming and finding inspiration – some of my best ideas happen in the evening. After which, it is ‘lights out time! I like to stick to a regular sleep schedule, even on the weekend as this maintains the timing of the body’s internal clock, helping you fall asleep and wake up more easily.
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