#36 Christina Kirkey: Grit, Glam, & Girl Power

Buckle up, beauties! In this episode, we’re diving deep with Christina Kirkey, founder and owner of Pin Up Studio in Raleigh, NC—where inclusivity, empowerment, and killer hair come together! From her early ambitions to building a salon that’s more than just a business (it’s a movement), Christina gets real about the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hustle behind her success.

🌟 What’s Inside This Glow-Up of an Episode?
💋 How Christina turned her passion for beauty into a thriving salon
💋 The emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship—miscarriages, losing key employees, and rebuilding with resilience
💋 Creating a safe and empowering space for women in the beauty industry
💋 The magic (and madness) of coaching younger stylists & leading with patience and accountability
💋 Social media vs. reality—navigating perceptions, expectations & industry pressures
💋 Balancing fun, creativity, and structure in a fast-paced, high-energy environment
💋 The unfiltered truth about motherhood, grief, and the power of community support

🎧 Whether you're an entrepreneur, a beauty industry pro, or someone who just loves raw, real, and inspiring convos—this episode is for you! Get ready for a mix of laughs, life lessons, and leadership gold.

🔑 Boss Babe Takeaways:
✨ Ambitions don’t always follow a straight line—but they do lead to greatness.
✨ Therapy isn’t just self-care; it’s a power move for growth.
✨ Resilience and adaptability are the real MVPs of entrepreneurship.
✨ Communication is the secret sauce for business, relationships, and leadership.
✨ Social media isn’t real life—authenticity wins.
✨ Boundaries aren’t selfish—they’re necessary for your sanity.
✨ Success isn’t about what society says—it’s about what feels right for YOU.

💫 Hit play, get inspired, and remember—your story is yours to write. 🎧🔥

👉 Follow & Subscribe to Diaries of a Boss Babe for more fearless, unfiltered conversations with powerhouse women!

 

To learn more about your host, Katelyn Gerhardt: 

Cultivate with KG: Katelyn is a business coach, consultant and speaker specializing in help women build their empire as a fierce and loving woman! She helps you bridge the gap between where you are now and where you dream to be. With a focus on building the woman who makes her daydreams a reality, she helps you get crystal clear on what you want and helps you implement the plan to get there one step at a time. If you're looking to start or build a business, grow your team, expand, hire, or create an intentional company culture; let's do it. She's helped hundreds of women master their time so they can build the life they desire. She offers self paced courses, 1:1 coaching and workshops!

Independence Academy: In 2015, Katelyn co-founded Independence Academy a private Montessori and Reggio inspired school serving children 2 yrs through elementary. Sitting on 13 acres, Independence Academy is a place where children are immersed in nature and are taking back their childhood. With a team of 30+ women, (and her smokin' hot and oh so wise husband), Katelyn's mission is to create a ripple affect that will impact the lives of the children that attend, their families, and her team to give them skills and a mindset that will forever serve them on their journey. 

Diaries of a Boss Babe Podcast: The passion project! Cultivating community is the main mission of this podcast. To connect, to relate, to create magic one conversation at a time. Come follow along on Instagram where we keep the conversation going and need YOUR input!