Kadi Lee is a celebrity hair colorist and the co-founder of Highbrow Hippie, a luxury beauty and wellness brand rooted in clean ingredients, intentional rituals, and timeless beauty.
Growing up in a small town outside New York, Kadi learned to care for her own textured hair at just eleven, sparking a passion for beauty that would shape her life. That passion took her from a college side hustle to training at Aveda and working in some of New York City’s top salons. In 2019, she and her longtime friend Myka Harris brought that experience to Venice Beach, launching Highbrow Hippie — a beauty and wellness destination that embodies clean living and a laid-back California vibe, which we’re going to talk all about today. She’s become a go-to for celebrity clients from Julia Roberts to Meghan Markle to Gwyneth Paltrow.
In today’s episode, you’ll hear how Kadi built Highbrow Hippie from the ground up, learning every part of running a business completely from scratch. She went from figuring out fundraising to creating products with zero prior experience — all while trusting her instincts at every turn. We talk about how her early life shaped her independence, the hustle that led to her first big break, and the leap of faith it took to launch a luxury beauty brand in the middle of a global pandemic. Kadi shares powerful lessons on financial literacy, learning to delegate, and staying clear on your vision when the path forward feels uncertain. She also opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of building a business, the moments she almost walked away, and the support that helped her push through. If you’ve ever dreamed of starting something from nothing, Kadi’s story will inspire you to take the leap.
In this episode, we’ll talk to Kadi about:
* How Kadi’s upbringing shaped her independence. [02:33]
* Early jobs and discovering her passion for hair. [06:26]
* Kadi’s first big break in the industry. [09:57]
* The inspiration behind Highbrow Hippie. [11:10]
* Navigating the challenges of starting a business during a pandemic. [21:08]
* Trusting your gut when making big business decisions. [24:01]
* Why financial literacy is essential for entrepreneurs. [32:00]
* Brand vision and the power of visualization. [38:17]
* From product iteration to their first official launch. [37:09]
* Navigating product development. [39:45]
* Lessons from joining an accelerator and raising capital. [45:43]
* The emotional impact of receiving support from clients and community. [50:44]
* How perseverance and hard work lead to lasting success. [55:46]
This episode is brought to you by beeya:
* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances.
* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10
Get 15% off Highbrow Hippie Haircare & Wellness with code Empire15 at highbrowhippie.com
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* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highbrowhippie/
* Website: https://highbrowhippie.com/
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