In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears is joined by Soul Hair co-owners Andrea MacKellar and Ash Lennan for an honest conversation about career growth, partnership, motherhood, and building a values-led salon in regional New South Wales.

Andrea shares her journey from starting hairdressing at 15 to relocating from Sydney to Gunnedah for a slower pace of life — a move that unexpectedly led to opening and scaling a thriving salon. What began as a small, personal space evolved into a fully structured business, shaped by strong leadership, clear goals, and a commitment to team culture over rent-a-chair models.

Ash reflects on her unconventional career path, returning to hairdressing as a young mother and using her ambition to set an example for her daughter. Her progression from team member to salon manag ...