{"id":139668,"date":"2024-02-21T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/?p=139668"},"modified":"2024-02-22T00:46:55","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T00:46:55","slug":"alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/","title":{"rendered":"Between Alienation &#038; Belonging, Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em><em>\u201cYou\u2019ll be on in roughly 10 minutes.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>the Salon Owners Summit A\/V team tells me quietly. Here I am, after a little over six months of brainstorming, ideation, research, and preparation culminating in a keynote on the power of cultivating inclusive spaces for clients and employees alike. As the adrenaline starts rushing through every cell of my body in anticipation, my heart rate reaches what feels like a cardio training zone. I\u2019m seriously considering logging my now incessant pacing as my official workout for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Desperately trying to block out Nina Tulio\u2019s content so as not to blank on mine, I count my breaths, waiting for my cue. The irony of it all is that I could very much use some of Nina\u2019s advice for taking steps to move from fear to confidence in this moment. She\u2019s talking about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Knowing who you are and what you stand for<\/li><li>Creating actionable core values to drive motivation and guide your course of action<\/li><li>Focusing on the things that you can control<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Round of applause. Nina exits the stage, leaving an energised, motivated, and uplifted crowd behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cAll you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Equipped with a synthesised account of my experience as a trans, queer, biracial, neurodivergent person, data and my hope for a more accountable, inclusive future, I\u2019m ready to turn the room into a space of mutual, kind, compassionate learning. Mutual because I would be learning, too \u2014 to let myself be truly perceived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the beginning of the session, I invite everyone to get uncomfortable with me, to have a real conversation about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). I ask, <em><strong>\u201cCan we make this a brave space together?\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What happened next? I&#8217;m not quite sure. But it felt like I was on a train that couldn&#8217;t stop, dancing between anecdotes from my life, report findings, questions and actionable takeaways. Here are some of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Impact vs Intention<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When the words we choose and the experiences we create are criticised for their lack of understanding, compassion, or inclusiveness, and we prioritise comfort over learning, it becomes easy to hide our shame behind our intentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In his book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/blog\/eat-this-not-that-acknowledge-vs-defend\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cThis vs That: Better Thinking, Better Choices, Better Leader,\u201d<\/a> Jay Williams explains that <em>\u201cWhen we defend and explain, our emotional brain has usually hijacked our rational brain in an attempt to protect us.\u201d <\/em>He continues to say, <em>\u201cDefending and explaining is about self-preservation and is often motivated by fear, guilt or self-doubt.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If, instead of choosing to defend and explain ourselves with our intentions, we decide to meet what has been brought to our attention with curiosity and accountability, we will be better able to defuse negative emotions, find understanding, build connection, show empathy and create a favourable environment for forward-looking and productive conversations.&nbsp;I invited the audience to engage in the Learning one (also called Growth Zone).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Three Learning Zones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21154141\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-ThreeLearningZones.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-139912\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21154141\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-ThreeLearningZones.png 960w, https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21154141\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-ThreeLearningZones-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21154141\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-ThreeLearningZones-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Rich History of Providing Opportunities to Those Otherwise Excluded<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Blending personal experiences with compelling statistics and even some historical facts about the industry, the next segment of the keynote touched on how the hair and beauty industry was built on affirming people:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Elizabeth Arden: <\/strong>her signature salon was founded on the idea of offering makeovers to her clients<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And giving opportunities to those whom society deemed outsiders, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Martha Mathilda Harper<\/strong>: a domestic servant sent away by her father at age seven, Martha Mathilda Harper launched modern retail franchising and built an international network of 500 franchised hair salons that emphasised healthy hair care<\/li><li><strong>Madame CJ Walker: <\/strong>born on a plantation, orphaned at age seven, married at 14, struggling financially, facing hair loss, and feeling the strain of years of physical labour, Madame CJ Walker found&nbsp;a sense of purpose and belonging through the launch her own line of hair products and straighteners for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/ca\/blog\/keep-learning-all-year-long-black-history-month-in-the-hair-and-beauty-industry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">African American women<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Remembering and learning about the hair and beauty industry\u2019s long history of welcoming and providing opportunities to those typically relegated to the margins of society can be a powerful guide or north star for salon professionals looking to take more steps within the DEIB space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>All Identity Groups Cover, but Some Cover More<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After sharing more stories and personal experiences, I introduced the audience to the concept of covering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Covering: <\/strong><em>\u201cWays in which individuals downplay known disfavored identities to blend into the mainstream.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Individuals will often \u201ccover\u201d regardless of their identity and environment, and sometimes by proxy. It can be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Appearance-based<\/strong>: altering the way you present<\/li><li><strong>Advocacy-based:<\/strong> not defending or promoting the interests of one\u2019s group<\/li><li><strong>Affiliation-based: <\/strong>minimizing behaviours associated with one\u2019s identity often to negate common stereotypes<\/li><li><strong>Association-based:<\/strong> avoiding contact with other group members<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When I say between alienation and belonging, I mean by that: <strong>will the hair and\/or beauty business I walk into continue to make me anxious, hyperaware and self-conscious, much like many other spaces I walk into in the world? Or will it feel welcoming and safe?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21155002\/1IMAGE_20240108_8150-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-139918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21155002\/1IMAGE_20240108_8150-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21155002\/1IMAGE_20240108_8150-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21155002\/1IMAGE_20240108_8150-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21155002\/1IMAGE_20240108_8150-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21155002\/1IMAGE_20240108_8150-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Deloitte\u2019s report <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/us\/en\/pages\/about-deloitte\/articles\/uncovering-culture.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Uncovering Culture: A Call to Action for Leaders<\/a>, <strong>\u201cDespite the increased attention paid to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion over the past ten years, 60% of US workers report covering at work in the last 12 months.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those with more marginalised identities were more likely to cover at work. However, more than half of those with no discernable marginalised identities still reported covering at work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Percentage of respondents who cover broken down by the number of marginalised identities reported:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>5-9: 71%<\/li><li>3-4: 57%<\/li><li>1-2: 56%<\/li><li>0: 51%<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pausing before diving into the actionable steps for salons and spas to take in their business to foster a culture of belonging, I invited the audience to reflect on the following question \u2014 which you can reflect on, too:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>What is one way or one type of pressure that your salon or spa might be unknowingly imposing on your staff or clients to minimise their identities?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Between Alienation and Belonging: Ronan Perceval in Conversation With Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/1Q5gBMNbMvSbDNd6Gnco2f?si=d6fa234dee3445f3&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>Listen to this special PhorestFM podcast episode kickstarting Season 8.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21163855\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-RonanPercevalQuote.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-139930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21163855\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-RonanPercevalQuote.png 960w, https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21163855\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-RonanPercevalQuote-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21163855\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-RonanPercevalQuote-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We all seek to look on the outside how we feel on the inside, but not everyone receives the same treatment by society for pursuing that. Unfortunately, the thing about anxiety and hyperawareness that comes from having felt othered and marginalised on big and small scales is that it can make it hard to move through the world and show up fully in every space for safety reasons. Because let\u2019s face it: the world is inherently unsafe for many folks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Navigating a world systematically designed to cause me discomfort or make me question my worth \u2014 being enough to be truly understood and appreciated, for my feelings to be considered, to be cared for\u2026 or truthfully, even loved \u2014 has not been easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, as I mentioned on stage, uncovering was transformative for me. Uncovering, unmasking, coming out as trans and loving the parts of myself I never knew how. But there was still one gap to bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that meant reintroducing myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Alex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What if you could, through your beauty business, not only make someone feel good and look great but also help them feel like they belong, at the very least within the vicinity of your walls?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Takeaways, Steps You Can Take &amp; Further Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Takeaways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Centering the experiences of marginalised communities in policies, processes and design choices can help salons and spas better approach inclusivity and meet the needs of all their staff and clients<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/4ukQqr4ba03qzTTgroCFoc?si=75c428cfa4bf433d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Building psychological safety, relationships<\/a> and trust with staff and clients is crucial for creating a supportive and inclusive environment<\/li><li>Covering (downplaying disfavored identities) is still prevalent in the workforce, and businesses should strive to create an environment where individuals feel comfortable being their authentic selves<\/li><li>Workers and inclusive teams, compared to those in non-inclusive teams, are 7x more likely to report the workplace has positively or very positively impacted their mental health (46% vs 6%) <sub><sup>1<\/sup><\/sub> <\/li><li>Diverse workplaces generate 19% more innovation revenue than less diverse environments <sup>2<\/sup><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><sub>1 Diversity Council Australia \/ \u201cInclusion and Equity for Workers with Disabilities\u201d by Serena Huang<\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><sup>2 Boston Consulting Group<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7 Steps You Can Take Towards Inclusivity:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Audit and make changes to your policies and processes based on equity rather than equality<\/li><li>Adopt inclusive language as the default in your salon or spa<\/li><li>Normalise asking about someone\u2019s pronouns and sharing yours \u2014 use your pronouns in email signatures, social media, and when introducing yourself.<\/li><li>Don\u2019t assume someone\u2019s gender identity and use \u201cthey\u201d when you don\u2019t know what pronouns someone uses.<\/li><li>Audit and educate yourself on any perspective you do not have in your circles<\/li><li>Seek out collaborative work with transgender organisations and advocates, disability advocates, LGBTQIA+ charities and organisations, occupational therapists, sensory integration specialists, ASD professionals, DEIB experts and\/or gender specialists<\/li><li>Commit to moving from passive allyship to active allyship<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21173923\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-ConcreteIdeasUpdated.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-140001\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21173923\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-ConcreteIdeasUpdated.png 960w, https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21173923\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-ConcreteIdeasUpdated-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21173923\/AlexBelisle-Springer_-Between-Alienation-Belonging_-ConcreteIdeasUpdated-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Industry Organisations:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dresscodeproject.com\/\">The Dresscode Project<\/a>, helping salons and spas become gender-affirming spaces<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/strandsfortrans.org\/\">Strands for Trans<\/a>, bringing gays, straights, women, men \u2014 anyone \u2014 together to create more trans-friendly barbershops and hair salons<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.probeauty.org\/texture-education-collective\/\">Texture Education Collective<\/a>, an alliance of professional hair industry leaders working together to influence cosmetology state board licensing requirements and curriculums to be inclusive of all hair textures and all hair types<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/thesensorysafesalon.org\/\">Sensory Safe Solution<\/a>, empowering industry professionals by providing a research-based curriculum which gives them knowledge and skills designed specifically for supporting guests with autism or sensory differences<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And of course, Phorest Salon Software, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/case-study\/house-of-quirk-salon-case-study\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a great partner to have with gender-inclusive features<\/a> for your software!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Books:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong><em>Beauty Imagined: A History of the Global Beauty Industry<\/em><\/strong> by Geoffrey Jones<\/li><li><strong><em>The Architecture of Disability: Buildings, Cities, and Landscapes beyond Access<\/em><\/strong> by David Gissen<\/li><li><strong><em>The Transgender Issue: Trans Justice is Justice For All<\/em><\/strong> by Shon Faye<\/li><li><strong><em>I\u2019m Afraid of Men <\/em><\/strong>by Vivek Shraya<\/li><li><strong><em>People Change<\/em><\/strong> by Vivek Shraya<\/li><li><strong><em>Biased<\/em><\/strong> by Jennifer Eberhardt<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Feeling the Salon Owners Summit FOMO?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to make sure you\u2019re in the room to hear insightful talks like this next year? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salonownersummit.com\/\">Get your tickets <\/a>for the next Salon Owners Summit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep Learning from the Experts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/blog\/salon-owners-summit-2024-recap\/\">Read more of the 2024 Salon Owners Summit Recaps<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cYou\u2019ll be on in roughly 10 minutes.\u201d the Salon Owners Summit A\/V team tells me quietly. Here I am, after a little over six months of brainstorming, ideation, research, and preparation culminating in a keynote on the power of cultivating inclusive spaces for clients and employees alike. As the adrenaline starts rushing through every cell &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":139961,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5489,12912,5440,5466],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-139668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-events","category-productivity-au","category-salon-owners-summit-news-events","category-staff-management"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Between Alienation &amp; Belonging, Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service | Phorest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Alex delivered a powerful blend of first-hand experience and compelling statistics about the power of cultivating inclusive spaces for clients and employees alike.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Between Alienation &amp; Belonging, Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service | Phorest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Alex delivered a powerful blend of first-hand experience and compelling statistics about the power of cultivating inclusive spaces for clients and employees alike.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Phorest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/phorestsalonsoftware\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-02-21T09:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-22T00:46:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1-150x150.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1266\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1-150x150.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@thephorestword\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@thephorestword\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#\/schema\/person\/ffd80693198c2f00b7eb7a39d1894c55\"},\"headline\":\"Between Alienation &#038; Belonging, Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-21T09:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-22T00:46:55+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/\"},\"wordCount\":1688,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News &amp; Events\",\"Productivity\",\"Salon Owner\u2019s Summit\",\"Staff\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/\",\"name\":\"Between Alienation & Belonging, Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service | Phorest\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-21T09:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-22T00:46:55+00:00\",\"description\":\"Alex delivered a powerful blend of first-hand experience and compelling statistics about the power of cultivating inclusive spaces for clients and employees alike.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1266,\"caption\":\"Phorest - Salon Owners Summit 2024 Dublin Royal Convention Centre Date: 07 &amp; 08 Jan 2024 Photographer: 1IMAGE\/Bryan Brophy 1IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY Studio: +353 1 493 9947 Mob: +353 87 246 9221 (Bryan) 1image.ie eventimage.ie Copyright: 1IMAGE Photography\/Bryan Brophy\u00a9 All Rights Reserved\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Between Alienation &#038; Belonging, Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/\",\"name\":\"Phorest\",\"description\":\"Salon Software for Hair, Beauty, Barber &amp; Spa Businesses\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Phorest Salon Software\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/24141402\/phorest-acorn-logo1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/24141402\/phorest-acorn-logo1.png\",\"width\":201,\"height\":202,\"caption\":\"Phorest Salon Software\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/phorestsalonsoftware\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/thephorestword\",\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/phorest_salon_software\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/phorest?trk=company_name\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/phorestss\/\",\"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/u\/0\/b\/101418954139594616916\/101418954139594616916\/posts\/p\/pub\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#\/schema\/person\/ffd80693198c2f00b7eb7a39d1894c55\",\"name\":\"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/09222339\/AlexBelisle-Springer_Headshot_2026_byHannahCoveyPhoto-8759-150x150.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/09222339\/AlexBelisle-Springer_Headshot_2026_byHannahCoveyPhoto-8759-150x150.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer\"},\"description\":\"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer is the Producer\/Resident Host of the PhorestFM podcast and the Global Education Content Lead at Phorest Salon Software. In his global education role at Phorest, he serves as an advisor for education-focused content and is a key co-creator of business education online courses for Phorest Academy, collaborating with owners, industry coaches, and consultants. As a recognized podcaster, writer, and public speaker, Alex's signature is his intentionality, his profound, thought-provoking questions, and his commitment to helping bring the industry closer together. You can find some of Alex\u2019s written pieces on the\u00a0Phorest Blog,\u00a0Beauty Launchpad,\u00a0WellSpa 360 Magazine,\u00a0SalonEVO,\u00a0Salon Today,\u00a0Professional Beauty UK,\u00a0Thrive Global,\u00a0and\u00a0Authority Magazine.\u00a0He\u2019s also delivered webinars and workshops for The Fellowship for British Hairdressing, Creative Head Salon Smart, and spoken at conferences including the Salon Owners Summit 2024 &amp; 2025, Modern Salon\u2019s Digital Summit, the Thrive Sessions, Seattle Interactive 2018, and Uppercase.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/a.belspring\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/alexbelislespringer\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/author\/zoe-belisle-springer\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Between Alienation & Belonging, Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service | Phorest","description":"Alex delivered a powerful blend of first-hand experience and compelling statistics about the power of cultivating inclusive spaces for clients and employees alike.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Between Alienation & Belonging, Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service | Phorest","og_description":"Alex delivered a powerful blend of first-hand experience and compelling statistics about the power of cultivating inclusive spaces for clients and employees alike.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/","og_site_name":"Phorest","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/phorestsalonsoftware","article_published_time":"2024-02-21T09:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-02-22T00:46:55+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1266,"url":"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1-150x150.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_image":"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1-150x150.jpg","twitter_creator":"@thephorestword","twitter_site":"@thephorestword","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/"},"author":{"name":"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer","@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#\/schema\/person\/ffd80693198c2f00b7eb7a39d1894c55"},"headline":"Between Alienation &#038; Belonging, Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service","datePublished":"2024-02-21T09:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-02-22T00:46:55+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/"},"wordCount":1688,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1.jpg","articleSection":["News &amp; Events","Productivity","Salon Owner\u2019s Summit","Staff"],"inLanguage":"en-AU","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/","url":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/","name":"Between Alienation & Belonging, Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service | Phorest","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1.jpg","datePublished":"2024-02-21T09:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-02-22T00:46:55+00:00","description":"Alex delivered a powerful blend of first-hand experience and compelling statistics about the power of cultivating inclusive spaces for clients and employees alike.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-AU","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21171134\/1IMAGE_20240108_8107-1.jpg","width":2000,"height":1266,"caption":"Phorest - Salon Owners Summit 2024 Dublin Royal Convention Centre Date: 07 &amp; 08 Jan 2024 Photographer: 1IMAGE\/Bryan Brophy 1IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY Studio: +353 1 493 9947 Mob: +353 87 246 9221 (Bryan) 1image.ie eventimage.ie Copyright: 1IMAGE Photography\/Bryan Brophy\u00a9 All Rights Reserved"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/alex-belisle-springer-between-alienation-belonging\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Between Alienation &#038; Belonging, Never Just a Haircut or Beauty Service"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/","name":"Phorest","description":"Salon Software for Hair, Beauty, Barber &amp; Spa Businesses","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-AU"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#organization","name":"Phorest Salon Software","url":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/24141402\/phorest-acorn-logo1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/24141402\/phorest-acorn-logo1.png","width":201,"height":202,"caption":"Phorest Salon Software"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/phorestsalonsoftware","https:\/\/x.com\/thephorestword","https:\/\/instagram.com\/phorest_salon_software","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/phorest?trk=company_name","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/phorestss\/","https:\/\/plus.google.com\/u\/0\/b\/101418954139594616916\/101418954139594616916\/posts\/p\/pub"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#\/schema\/person\/ffd80693198c2f00b7eb7a39d1894c55","name":"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/09222339\/AlexBelisle-Springer_Headshot_2026_byHannahCoveyPhoto-8759-150x150.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/d2dfxqxblmblx4.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/09222339\/AlexBelisle-Springer_Headshot_2026_byHannahCoveyPhoto-8759-150x150.jpg","caption":"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer"},"description":"Alex B\u00e9lisle-Springer is the Producer\/Resident Host of the PhorestFM podcast and the Global Education Content Lead at Phorest Salon Software. In his global education role at Phorest, he serves as an advisor for education-focused content and is a key co-creator of business education online courses for Phorest Academy, collaborating with owners, industry coaches, and consultants. As a recognized podcaster, writer, and public speaker, Alex's signature is his intentionality, his profound, thought-provoking questions, and his commitment to helping bring the industry closer together. You can find some of Alex\u2019s written pieces on the\u00a0Phorest Blog,\u00a0Beauty Launchpad,\u00a0WellSpa 360 Magazine,\u00a0SalonEVO,\u00a0Salon Today,\u00a0Professional Beauty UK,\u00a0Thrive Global,\u00a0and\u00a0Authority Magazine.\u00a0He\u2019s also delivered webinars and workshops for The Fellowship for British Hairdressing, Creative Head Salon Smart, and spoken at conferences including the Salon Owners Summit 2024 &amp; 2025, Modern Salon\u2019s Digital Summit, the Thrive Sessions, Seattle Interactive 2018, and Uppercase.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/a.belspring","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/alexbelislespringer\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/blog\/author\/zoe-belisle-springer\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139668"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140020,"href":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139668\/revisions\/140020"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/139961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}