Meet Philippe Schaedler

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Philippe Schaedler a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Philippe, 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?

I developed my confidence and self-esteem through a journey of self-discovery. By setting small, achievable goals and celebrating each accomplishment, I gradually built a sense of self-worth. Over time, these small wins helped me trust in my abilities and believe in myself.” Even if for some reason I was not able to meet one of my goals, I reset the goal with slight adjustment and I am back on track 🙂 Never get discouraged.

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

At MOND™, one of our core focuses is product development and conceptual innovation. This passion for creating new ideas is actually one of the key reasons MOND™ was founded. Over the years, I’ve heard countless clients express frustration when a product they loved was suddenly discontinued. Having spent more than 30 years in the beauty industry, I also found myself searching for that perfect product—something tailored to the unique needs of different hair types—but I was never fully satisfied with what was available.

There was one company that stood out to me: TIGI, which was known for its slogan, “Products created by hairstylists for hairstylists.” They had an impressive lineup of products that I admired and supported for years. However, in 2015, the company was sold and the company pretty much vanished from the beauty salons and outlets across the country. After this I felt a sense of loss after dedicating so much effort to promoting and using their products. This turning point led me to establish my own brand, MOND™, in 2017.

At the start, I didn’t have much knowledge about product formulations—I only knew what I wanted the final product to achieve. My search for the right chemistry lab was challenging, especially since I was considered too small of a client for many labs in the U.S. Eventually, I found an excellent partner in South Korea, a country known for its extremely high standards in product formulation and production.

The journey to create our first product, the LRM Luminous Repair Masque, took about three years of on-and-off development and involved the invaluable input of 32 women. This hair masque was carefully tweaked and formulated to serve multiple purposes: a 20-minute deep repair masque, a 2-minute in-shower conditioner, and even as a leave-in treatment. People told me that creating such a versatile product wasn’t possible, but today, I hold that very product in my hand. Moments like these are what makes MOND™ so special and exciting.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Persistence has been one of the most important qualities that has shaped my journey. The path to success is often filled with obstacles, and the ability to stay resilient and push through challenges is crucial. When I was searching for a lab to create my first product, I encountered many rejections before finally finding the right partner. My advice to those early in their journey is to never give up, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Learn from setbacks, adapt, and keep moving forward.

One of the guiding principles that kept me going, even during the toughest times, is something I learned from a tree. Sounds a bit crazy, right? But let me explain. I used to live in a house with a garden that had a huge tree, and I would often sit and admire it. In the spring, new leaves would begin to sprout. By summer, the tree was full, with leaves that rustled in the wind, creating a gentle whisper. Then, in autumn, the leaves would turn brown and fall, leaving the tree bare once again.

This tree taught me a valuable lesson: progress is often slow and imperceptible in the moment, but with consistent effort over time, growth becomes undeniable. When I started my business, which was next to my day job and which took years to plan, launch, and establish, I made a promise to myself, and that is to do one thing every day that would bring me closer to my goal of building my product company. No matter how small, I committed to making daily progress. Whether it was spending 30 minutes designing a business card, researching trademark attorneys, working on the website, business card design, or even just making a single phone call—every day, I took one step forward.

This mindset gave me the strength to persevere through difficult times, discouraging news, or setbacks. By doing something, however small, each day, I ensured that I was always moving toward my goal. I truly believe that if I hadn’t learned this lesson from observing that tree—its strength, its growth, and its patience—I might have given up somewhere along the way.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

One of the biggest challenges we’re currently facing is the increased production costs compared to when we started the company seven years ago.
To address this, we are negotiating and constantly searching for ways to cut costs while not compromising quality. Currently, we are developing two exciting new products: a Sulfate-free shampoo designed to provide deep moisture to dry hair, giving the hair a youthful, vibrant appearance, plus a lightweight shine oil that serves as a finishing product. This shine oil can also be cocktailed with other MOND™ finishing products, allowing any woman to truly outshine the competition and become the star of the scene!
Currently, our online store is temporarily offline as we are in the process of redevelopment, with plans for a new product launch in 2025.
Despite these challenges, our past successes and the resilience of our management have led us to secure investment from a new partner. As a result, we’ve transitioned to an LLC, positioning us for continued growth and innovation including a European distribution partnership in the Netherlands.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All Photographs taken by Philip A. Schaedler

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