Allison Hegedus is a rarity among business leaders; she picked her career when she was a teenager and never looked back.
“I was kind of one of those people in high school that wanted to get out and work right away,” said Hegedus.
In 1990, she attended an information session at Sheridan College in Ontario about an esthetician program.
Two years later, she had her esthetician certificate with a specialty in marketing management and she joined the workforce.
For most of the ’90s, Hegedus worked for various companies in the cosmetics industry, but in 1999 she found her niche – the spa industry.
She was the spa director at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler in 1999 before she moved to the Stillwater Spa at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto as assistant manager and director.
Eventually, she moved west again and joined Vida Wellness Spas as a regional director before being promoted to president in 2006.
Hegedus believes there are two things a person needs to know to be successful in the spa industry.
“It’s a very personal industry and a very sensitive industry,” she said.
Hegedus believes her education provided her not only with the business skills to manage any spa, but also the communication skills it takes to handle a spa business.
“Because it is so sensitive, you have to diversify your personality and be open to the different personalities you run into every day.”
Vida has four locations in the Pacific Northwest. Company revenues total $5 million annually.
Whether it’s a spa, the cosmetics industry or any other business, Hegedus believes a successful leader is one that’s involved.
“I also feel that a big part of success in my industry is being hands-on,” she said. “I think that any business is successful with a hands-on owner operator.” •
