James Reed: all about business 29. From nail art in Dalston to global beauty-tech icon | Sharmadean Reid MBE
How do you build a brand that not only speaks to a whole generation of women, but also transforms an entire industry?
In this episode of All About Business, I sit down with Sharmadean Reid MBE, the trailblazing entrepreneur behind brands such as WAH Nails, Beautystack and The Stack World.
We discuss her experiences navigating the fashion and tech industries, how the pandemic changed her outlook on business, and the inspiration behind her new luxury beauty brand, 39 BC.
Sharmadean Reid MBE is an entrepreneur, creative consultant and advocate for women’s empowerment. Her work focuses on women’s power, equity and ownership.
Sharmadean launched WAH Nails in 2009 as a place for women to hang out, form friendships and build communities while getting creative nail designs. She also founded beauty booking system, Beautystack in 2017, as well as The Stack World in 2021.
In recognition of her contributions, Sharmadean received an MBE in 2015 from Queen Elizabeth II. She published her first book, New Methods for Women in 2024, and is currently working on her second book, along with a scripted TV show about female founders.
Timestamps
01:30 The birth of WAH Nails
05:54 From nail salon to global brand
10:09 The transition to tech and venture capital
12:08 Building Beautystack
20:10 Challenges and reflections during the pandemic
26:06 The pivot to The Stack World
30:38 Corporate anarchy and women's independence
36:31 Introducing 39 BC
49:25 Future projects and vision
Links
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Follow Sharmadean Reid on LinkedIn
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This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk