Meet Anna Rounds

We were lucky to catch up with Anna Rounds recently and have shared our conversation below.

Anna , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

My confidence and self esteem come from walking through challenges I genuinely didn’t think I’d survive — then realizing that “Oh.. I’m still here, and somehow stronger.” Nothing builds belief like evidence. Faith taught me my worth isn’t defined by circumstances (or by a bad day, a bad season, or a bad hair appointment.) Every win and every failure proved I’m capable of more than I imagined; especially the failures, which tend to humble you and upgrade you at the same time.

My fiancé, Travis, and my family have been anchors in this journey. Travis is constantly reminding me who I am on the days I forget. When I was opening the studio, Travis had this way of catching my self- doubt before it fully took over. He’d look at me and ask “Who are you?” If I answered, “Anna” he’d shake his head and say “No, Kobe.” To him, I carried that same Mamba Mentality. Kobe believed in himself before anyone else did. He didn’t move based on critics or noise; he moved to prove it to himself. Travis would remind me that confidence isn’t arrogance; it’s alignment. It’s knowing you’re good before the applause confirms it. These moments reframed everything for me. Self belief stopped being optional and started becoming part of my responsibility. If I expect other people to trust my vision, I have to trust in it first.

Over time, confidence became less about feeling ready and more about trusting that I can handle whatever comes — even if I have to pray first, cry a little, and then circle back like a boss.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a woman who built confidence the hard way. My story isn’t one of overnight success; it’s one of resilience. I’ve walked through seasons that tested my faith, my identity, and my strength. There were moments I didn’t recognize myself, and moments where self- doubt was louder than belief. But, every challenge became a refining fire. I learned that confidence isn’t something you wait to feel– it’s something you choose to walk in.
Faith is my anchor. It taught me that my worth isn’t tied to circumstances, applause, or outcomes. It’s rooted in who I am, not just what I achieve.

Professionally, I’m focused on building more than a studio. I’m building a standard.
In my industry, it’s easy to focus on aesthetics. And, yes– beauty matters. But, what matters more to me is how people feel when they leave my chair. I want them to feel seen, powerful, and reminded of who they are. I’m intentional about creating an environment where excellence, warmth, and leadership coexist.
Right now, my focus is scaling on integrity. That means refining systems, elevating client experience, mentoring other woman in business, and stepping fully into leadership without shrinking. I’m deeply committed to growth; not just revenue growth, but personal growth. The better I become internally, the stronger my business becomes externally.

I’m in a season of alignment. Building boldly. Leading softly. Trusting that the same resilience that carried me here will carry me forward.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the most impactful parts of my journey weren’t accidents; they were decisions. I decided early on that average would never be enough for me.

One of first impactful decision was taking a “Becoming a Daymaker” class with David Wagner. It was a turning point. It forced me to realize that technical skill alone doesn’t build legacy – Intention does. I stopped viewing my work as appointments on a schedule and started seeing it as influence. Leadership isn’t loud; it’s precise. It’s how you make someone feel in the small moments. That awareness sharpened me.

In my first year, I took 53 classes outside of the salon. That wasn’t about insecurity; it was about obsession with growth. I understood quickly that talent might open doors, but discipline keeps them open. Since then, continuing education has been non-negotiable. I commit to at least four advanced classes every year because mastery is a moving target. The industry evolves; I evolve with it.

Then, there was blonding; the thing that intimidated me the most. I was afraid of it. My mentor saw it immediately and pushed me straight toward it. No avoidance, no excuses; I had to study it, fail at it, refine it, and repeat it until it became second nature. That season built more than skill; it built toughness. Now, dimensional color and blonding are some of my strongest services. The area that once exposed my weakness became proof of my discipline.

I’ve learned that fear is usually a signpost. If it challenged you, it’s probably meant to grow you. I’ve built my career on walking towards the things that stretch me; not away from them.

For anyone early in their journey, my greatest advice is simple; don’t wait to feel ready. Invest in yourself before you think you “deserve” to. Take the classes, ask the questions, volunteer for the service that scares you. Find mentors who challenge you, not the ones who keep you comfortable. Growth is uncomfortable, but, comfort is expensive. It costs you potential.
If you commit to learning relentlessly and walking towards things that intimidate you, you won’t just build skill- you’ll build confidence that no one can take from you. Confidence isn’t something I was given. It’s something I earned, one uncomfortable decision at a time.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I believe it’s better to go all in on your strengths; and then refine them until they become undeniable.

There’s a difference between being capable and being exceptional. When you focus deeply on your strengths, you build mastery. Mastery creates impact. I think people dilute their potential trying to be great at everything instead of becoming elite at what they’re naturally wired for.

That doesn’t mean you ignore your weaknesses. It means you strengthen them enough to be competent; but, you don’t have to turn every skill into a specialty. Life evolves, and your strengths evolve with it. The goal isn’t perfection across the board; it’s clarity.

In my career, I specialize in color. That’s where I’ve chosen to go deep. If a client wants extensions alongside their color, I have no problem collaborating with another stylist who specializes in that area. Could I do it? Yes. But, I’d rather ensure they receive the absolute best result possible. Excellence sometimes means knowing when to partner instead of proving you can do it all.

That mindset has not only elevated client experience; it’s strengthened relationships within my industry. Collaboration over competition has created some of my most valuable friendships and growth opportunities. When everyone leans into their strengths, we sharpen each other.
Going all in on your strength builds authority. Being humble enough to collaborate builds legacy. I’ve learned that when you honor how you’re uniquely built, you make room for everyone else to do the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://CredereStudio.GlossGenius.com/
• Instagram: credere_studio

Image Credits

Anna Rounds