We’re looking forward to introducing you to Barbie Ritzman . Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Barbie, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Yes, I would. I work in digital, but I do not lose the human side of things. I am old school in the sense that I pay attention, communicate, and stay engaged while still embracing change. Many people rely completely on technology and forget that real interaction matters. When things get busy, I believe in giving a quick update or acknowledgment because it shows respect and attention to detail, and people appreciate that.
I take the time to understand what clients are looking for so we start on the same page. Most issues happen when expectations are unclear, so I make a point to clarify what is needed from both sides. When everyone understands what is being offered, what it can achieve, and what is required on their end, everything runs smoother.
I also adapt quickly to new tools and processes, which is important in tech. To me, a strong working relationship benefits both sides. A client is hiring me, but I am also choosing to work with them. Mutual respect, consistent communication, and shared goals are the foundation of the way I work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Barbara Ritzman (a.k.a. Barbie Ritzman), founder of Barbie’s Beauty Bits, which I like to call “The Beauty Business, Behind the Beauty Business.” I help beauty, skincare, and wellness brands, from med spas and plastic surgeons to indie beauty companies, get seen, found, and heard online.
Barbie’s Beauty Bits started as a creative outlet to relieve stress while I was working as a marketing director for a business with more than nine locations. What began as a side project quickly grew into a full-time brand that lets me blend my love of beauty, writing, and digital marketing to help others succeed.
I am based in Virginia and work with clients throughout the Hampton Roads and Tidewater region, including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg, Suffolk, and surrounding cities, as well as with beauty and aesthetic professionals nationwide. My services include digital marketing, SEO content writing, social media strategy, email marketing, branding, and influencer outreach.
More recently, I’ve been helping brands evolve with the rise of AI and its impact on visibility. AI is transforming how people discover information online, so understanding how AI-driven search works is now just as important as traditional SEO. I’m also working on new brand collaborations and educational content to help beauty professionals adapt and thrive in this new era of digital marketing.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
That would be my former boss, who I worked with for about 15 years. He had a huge impact on how I approach my career. He was patient, open-minded, and truly believed in teaching rather than just managing. He encouraged curiosity, creative thinking, and finding better ways to do things instead of sticking to what is comfortable.
One thing he always said has stuck with me: “If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.” That mindset taught me the importance of innovation and growth, to keep learning, adapting, and improving rather than settling for the same results. It is a lesson I still apply every day in my work and in how I help clients evolve with change.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Take more risks while you’re young. It’s not about chasing dreams or looking back with regret; it’s about timing. When you’re younger, it’s easier to take those chances, to move to a big city, start something new, and figure it out along the way. You can share apartments, live on ramen, and bounce back if it doesn’t work out. Once you’re older and more established, those same risks come with a lot more responsibility. I’d remind my younger self that it’s okay to take those leaps early, because even if it doesn’t go perfectly, you have your whole life to make it up.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in marketing is that you need a bachelor’s or master’s degree to be successful. That’s just not true. Experience, creativity, and results matter so much more than a diploma. Of course, having both is great, but the idea that a marketing degree alone prepares you for the real world doesn’t hold up anymore.
And it’s not even the perception of the person applying for the job. It’s often the people hiring who are so focused on degrees that they overlook those who actually have hands-on experience. They don’t give them the opportunity, and as a result, they end up going through multiple people in the same position. If they focused on someone with proven experience from the beginning, they’d likely have a better outcome.
Marketing changes every single day. You learn by doing, testing, and adapting, not by memorizing theory. Real-world experience teaches you things no textbook ever could, and adaptability will always be the real skill that sets great marketers apart.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m doing what I was born to do, but it didn’t start out that way. In the beginning, I did what I thought I was supposed to do and followed a more traditional career path. It wasn’t until I was in my 40s that I decided to truly follow my passion for beauty and creativity.
I’ve always been drawn to the beauty industry. Even when I was younger, I dreamed of moving to New York and working in fashion and beauty, but at the time, people didn’t see that as a realistic path. Now, I get to bring that lifelong interest full circle through marketing, writing, and helping beauty and wellness brands tell their stories. It’s where I was meant to end up, even if it took me a little longer to get here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.barbiesbeautybits.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbiesbeautybits/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbararitzman/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bbeautybits
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbiesBeautyBits
- Other: https://www.wikihow.com/Author/Barbie-Ritzman
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