Wella professionals business network live inspires and motivates

[caption id="attachment_86216" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Lord Digby Jones[/caption] A host of speakers took to the stage for the 2016 Wella Professionals Business Network Live, which continued its legacy of providing inspiration and motivation for salon owners and their teams from outside the hairdressing industry. The event, which was held at the Belfy Hotel in the West Midlands, was hosted by TV hairdresser Michael Douglas who kept proceeding flowing smoothly with his unique brand of cheeky professionalism. Speakers for the two-day event included former Minister of State Sir Lord Digby Jones, who drew on his lifetime of unique achievement. He thanked the audience of salon owners and managers for creating a great wealth in the industry.  Talking the Millennial generation and how we market to them was the role of Dr Eliza Filby. She spoke with authority on what employees can expect from this generation in terms of attitude to work and their consumer habits. “This generation is multi-tasking and obsessed by media. Understand them and talk to them in their language”. Dr Javier Bajer a cognitive psychologist and one of the foremost specialists in leadership performance, behavioural change and culture spoke how to get people engaged to make things happen. Offering a personal account of working under the most intense pressure, was the next speaker, Major Chris Hunter, a former bomb disposal expert. Chris's overiding message was to "never underestimate how much a team can achieve when no-one gets the credit." Finishing off day one was PR legend Lynne Franks, who shared her thoughts on how salons can build brand equity and move forward in an every changing world. Kicking off day two was Baroness Karren Brady CBE, first lady of football and Alan Sugar’s aide on The Apprentice. The Baroness talked about the importance of resilience and focus in business, advising on how to combat fear of failure and energise a team. Next John Bird took to the stage. The globally admired social entrepreneur and founder of the now world-famous Big Issue magazine shared how he has helped lower crime while giving something back. Finally TV personality and former Queen of Punk, Toya Willcox, spoke on reinvention and shared some of her famous hair looks throughout the years.