L&M Hair Studio
In Portland, Oregon, L&M Hair Studio transcends the typical hair salon – and not just because they’ve added cosmetic tattooing to their list of luxurious services. The salon, led by owner and founder Melody Brown, is where financial literacy weaves empowerment, passion braids community, and stylists become catalysts for change. And through the Key4Women Pitch Contest, Melody was determined to take her mission to the next level.
Opportunity
Driven by her unwavering commitment to hair and community, Melody seized the opportunity to participate in the Key4Women Pitch Contest. Winning the award would help fund her community initiative, the Textured Hair Program, which educates her employees and community members on financial literacy and stability. In preparation for the pitch contest, her natural passion was complemented by the proactive support of her Key4Women team, including pitch contest community partner, Micro Enterprises Services of Oregon, which diligently coached her in public speaking, collaborated on shaping her narrative, and provided continuous mentorship along the way. Melody reflects, “Key4Women has increased my confidence in public speaking. I feel like it also gave me more confidence in myself moving forward.”
Key4Women has increased my confidence in public speaking. I feel like it also gave me more confidence in myself. – Melody Brown, Owner, L&M Hair Studio
Results
In the end, Melody won the Key4Women Pitch Contest, securing $20,000 that she plans to use to fund her program. Beyond the financial support, the contest also served as a networking event, facilitating connections with fellow female business owners and extending her reach beyond Portland. The contest, a pivotal opportunity, propelled her business forward and equipped her with essential resources to continue her business journey and deepen her community impact.
When it comes to Key4Women, I feel passionate. It’s where I feel like I’m making the most difference. – Camryn Mort, KeyBank Senior Consumer Analyst
About Key4Women
Through Key4Women, women business owners and entrepreneurs are provided regular opportunities to network, build their brands, and grow their businesses. Key4Women provides contact with Bankers that are Certified Key4Women Advisors that are trained in helping members with financial solutions. Due to this contact, we have been able to approve more than $12 million in loans to Women-owned businesses. Exclusive member events and forums with industry experts help foster professional and business development while creating lasting connections. And timely thought leadership content covers the latest financial and business trends to help our members succeed.
For more information, visit key.com/key4women
To learn more about L&M Hair Studio, visit lmhaircompany.com.