Meet Akosua Ajabu

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Akosua Ajabu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Akosua below.

Hi Akosua, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

There have been many times in my life when I have been the only one in the room that looks like me. For some, they feel uncomfortable. For others, they feel insecure or self-conscious. I consider being the only person in the room that looks like me to be a huge gift and opportunity to learn and educate. I believe that you have to adopt the mindset that you belong here, on the planet, in any room. I believe that if this is an area that makes you feel uncomfortable then, it is a time to reflect on why you feel that way, explore it and gain growth from the experience. As I mentioned before, there have been a numerous amount of times that I have been the only Black girl in the room when everyone else was white, and I know that I was able to make an impact because my life experiences, and perspectives were different from everyone else. I was a new stylist working in and Aveda Salon in Alpharetta, GA. The majority of clients that would frequent the salon were White, and anytime someone that was a different ethnicity and had a curly or coily hair texture, everyone looked to me to service the client. I came to understand that everyone else avoided curly hair because they had never been taught and did not understand how to achieve a certain result. I made it my business to start to teach and educate people on how to work with hair textures that were different from their own. I helped them to adopt the mentality that it’s not hard, it’s just different, and different is AMAZING! I have been effective and successful being the only one in the room that looks like me because I was approachable. Simply, eye contact and a warm smile works wonders! I showed an interest in educating and guiding the other stylist without making them feel judged. We as humans are drawn to each other’s differences and it is okay to learn and appreciate those differences.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Akosua Ajabu is the Owner of Akosua Artistry Salon, located in Peachtree Corners, GA. Akosua Artistry Salon specializes in hair color correction, haircuts, and natural hair length retention with an emphasis on hair health education. She has been a Licensed Beauty Professional for over 13 years and is dedicated to her mission to serve, educate and inspire clients to love and understand their hair’s need. Akosua encourages salon professionals to diversify their clientele by teaching them how understand and nourish the individual needs of all hair types and textures to expand their reach and impact. Her passion for hair began as a kitchen stylist long before she knew she was going to lead a successful Cosmetology career. After spending a lot of years doing hair just for fun, Akosua took her talents to the next level enrolled into Aveda Fredric’s Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2011, she acquired her Cosmetology License and began her professional career at Aria Salon Spa Shoppe in Alpharetta, Georgia. She entered the salon as a junior stylist/ assistant and earned her way to a Senior Stylist and Education Mentor. In May of 2019, she opened her salon business in My Salon Suites Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Akosua’s love of learning lead her to become student at Health and Style Institute in Buckhead, Georgia to pursue her Master Cosmetology Instructor’s License. She is extremely passionate about continuing her education, and is excited to launch a new beauty tech product that will aid in doing her part to make an impact on new beauty industry professionals that are entering our amazing world of beauty!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that have impacted my journey the most are resilience, integrity and grace. I think the key to building resilience, grace, and integrity starts with self-awareness and a commitment to growth. When it comes to resilience, I believe it’s important to embrace failure. Early on, you have to realize that setbacks are part of the process. They’re not signs of defeat but opportunities to learn. By approaching challenges with a growth mindset, you can train yourself to adapt and bounce back stronger. Building a support system is also crucial; having people around you who lift you up during tough times makes a world of difference.

When it comes to grace, patience and empathy are essential. It’s important to practice holding space before reacting to situations. Give yourself time to reflect and respond thoughtfully, rather than reacting impulsively. Empathy plays a huge role as well—understanding where others are coming from allows you to approach situations with kindness, even when it’s tough. I also think humility is a big part of grace. We all make mistakes, and being willing to admit when you’re wrong goes a long way.

For integrity, it’s really about knowing your values and staying consistent with them. Early on, I recommend reflecting on what you stand for and letting that guide your decisions. Consistency in your actions builds integrity over time—doing the right thing, even when no one is watching, sets a strong foundation. It’s also important to hold yourself accountable, always evaluating whether your actions align with your values.

At the end of the day, it’s a continuous journey. Commit to improving daily, lead by example, and celebrate your progress.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

The book that has played the single most important role in my development is for certain, without a doubt the Bible. The Bible is full of invaluable nuggets that will always be true and will always guide and give me reassurance no matter the circumstance. The principles of life are there to give me knowledge and wisdom. All the answers are there in one book! All I have to do is read and apply it! One of my favorite verses is from Ephesians 3:20 which reads, ” God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think.” What this means to me is that all my needs, wants and desires that are God’s will are already met. I just have to do my part and follow through with my actions and take advantage of every opportunity granted. There are things that I want for myself, meanwhile, God has a bigger vision for me that I could not have even seen in my wildest dreams! Whatever I think I want, God has an even bigger plan!

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Image Credits

Gregory Fleming
Patrick Torrance
Michael Lima
KqPhotography

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