Lynn Power has spent her almost 30-year career running and transforming agency brands but recently left the big agency world to form a brand consultancy, The HMS Beagle, focused on helping brands navigate survival.  She is also putting her experience to work as CEO of MASAMI, a premium clean haircare brand that launched in February 2020. Prior to her entrepreneurial move, Lynn was CEO of J. Walter Thompson NY, responsible for the flagship office of WPP’s $1.5B iconic agency (the oldest advertising agency in the world). 

Throughout her career, Lynn has had the great fortune of working on some of the world’s most well-known brands including LISTERINE, American Express, Clinique, Hershey’s, Pizza Hut, and Wild Turkey. 

 Can you tell our readers about your background?

I spent most of my career in advertising, most recently the CEO of J. Walter Thompson – I love the blend of creativity and business.  I left the big agency world in 2018 to become an entrepreneur and launched a clean haircare brand called MASAMI in February 2020.

What inspired you to start your business?

I spent so much of my career doing what other people wanted that I thought it was about time I took control of my life.  I wish I had done it sooner!

 Where is your business based? 

New York City -- but we travel a ton and the team works well virtually.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took? 

When I left advertising, I started a brand consultancy with a partner, Joseph Jaffe. He had spent most of his career in the entrepreneurial world so we liked combining our different perspectives.  We started working with startups who we felt needed our skill set (brand strategy, go-to-market-strategy, talent design).  Launching MASAMI has let me test drive our consulting thinking with our own brand.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?  

We have led with PR and influencers but are also very active on social (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube) and that has helped us get traction within the beauty community.

 What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?  

We launched in February right before COVID really hit.  We had been focused on distribution and salon partnerships and needed to pivot to digital acquisition.  It’s such an unprecedented time that every day feels like almost anything could happen.

How do you stay focused? 

I do yoga frequently and have started to meditate.  Even 5 minutes I find helps me with focus.

 How do you differentiate your business from the competition?   

We are high performing clean beauty (90% of the US haircare market has toxins or if it is clean, it doesn’t work well).  Our secret is a Japanese ocean botanical for massive hydration. 

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?  

Sampling for sure.  Once someone tried our product, they tend to love it and share it.  Our repeat purchase is high.

 What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?  

If you really believe you have a game changing idea, don’t wait --- go for it.  Ask for help with anything you don’t know.  You will find that people are generous.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why? 

I’ve been using Ten Percent (meditation app).  I like the beauty blog, The File, they always keep things interesting.  And I read a lot.  For a good escape, I loved Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith.  For opening your mind, I loved Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why? 

I’m a fan of Slack.  Such an easy seamless way to keep everyone involved and up to date.

Who is your business role model? Why?

When I started in advertising, there were almost no women in leadership positions, but I was fortunate to work at Ogilvy & Mather when Shelly Lazarus was in charge.  She’s pretty iconic in the industry and had a humble swagger which I love.

How do you balance work and life?  

I find that it’s actually work/life imbalance – which works for me.  Some days (or weeks) I’m more work focused.  Other times, it’s more family, friends.  And many times, I just combine everything.  I dragged my 16-year-old daughter to Indie Beauty Expo in January.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

A good binge-worthy show like Ozark and a glass of pinot.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

Lots of beauty!  We’re really focused on MASAMI.  We just launched a sustainable pro-ocean bottle on IFundWomen -- and will be looking to find other ways to bring sustainable solutions to beauty.

How can our readers connect with you? 

@lynnpowered on Instagram and Facebook.

I’m on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-power-02b8904/

And you can find MASAMI at www.lovemasami.com or @lovemasamihair on all social channels