Meet Philice LeBow | Entrepreneur/Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Philice LeBow and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Philice, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I find the concept of risk fascinating. It can bury you or give you wings to fly. It inspires the gamut of emotions – fear, loathing, excitement, love etc. – depending on the time and the circumstance. It’s also fluid… it evolves as we evolve, shaped by life experiences. Earlier on in my life, my appetite for risk played out very differently personally vs. professionally based on those experiences, and lucky for me, is still evolving!

On a personal level, I’m naturally more risk-averse. Add to that years of trauma from bullying in my formative, teen years and I shut down. Thankfully, I come from a very loving family, or this story may have gone very differently. That said, for many years I struggled to open up, to let people in, to allow myself to be vulnerable… the risk was simply too great. The people with whom I formulated true, deep, meaningful relationships were few. Instead, I chose to focus on my career – the part of my life where I felt like I had more control and less emotional exposure. The risk/reward ratio in this world didn’t scare me, it ignited me. I spread my wings and took off.

I began my career in a small, entrepreneurial environment (MovieFone 777-FILM). I was attracted to the pace, the energy, and the idea that through intelligence and hard work, I could see and feel the impact I was having. Success breeds success, and I went on to bigger roles, making more money at larger companies. The risk-taking was paying off… or so it seemed. That entrepreneurial fire never left my belly though, so when the time came, I took the greatest risk of all in my career. Emboldened by the love and support from my husband (Yes, I ultimately figured out my personal life but that’s another story), I left corporate America and the big salary behind, and joined my father in the family business, Trionics Inc. (trionicshaircare.com). I was terrified! We just moved into a new home with a 2 year old boy… not exactly great timing. But with great risk comes the possibility of great reward, and I have never looked back. I’m grateful for this little gem of a business that has allowed me to return to my entrepreneurial roots, and grateful to have found a life partner who wants nothing more than to see me succeed. There are many chapters still to be written… let’s see where risk takes us!

What should our readers know about your business?
It has been an interesting professional journey, a circuitous path that brought me right back home to the family business. I think I always knew this is where I belong, I just needed to go out, see the world and gain some real experience. My career prior to Trionics spanned a multitude of marketing, creative, and customer-facing roles at businesses large and small. I learned so much about management, communication, leadership, innovation, customer service—so much knowledge that influences my thinking every day!

When the time came to make the leap to Trionics, I wish I could say it was a time of my choosing and a glorious moment, but it wasn’t. It was under duress. I got laid off at my company, a victim of downsizing and I was really scared. In tears I called my sister to tell her the news. At the time, our master plan was for her to leave her company and jump to Trionics first, but life has a funny way of kicking you in the ass when you need it though. She said, “Everything is going to be OK. I’ll stay where I am, you go first. The company needs your skill set more than mine right now. Just do it.” And so we did:
• Total immersion and knowledge gathering in the beauty/haircare industry (this thirst will never be quenched… I’m constantly learning).
• A complete rebranding – logo, color palettes, packaging, everything.
• Development of new creative marketing and communication assets.
• Development and launch of a new, e-commerce web site.
• Launch of social media channels.
• Tradeshow growth and development.
• Launch of education classes and tools that help stylists get the most out of Trionics haircare products.
• New product development… and so much more!

None of this is earth-shattering. We simply took this little gem of a business and modernized it, brought it into the 21st century. What excites me isn’t how far we’ve come, but how far we have yet to go! Jacqui and I get to be our own bosses, and with our father’s support, face challenges and create opportunities together. And we get to work with stylists, hairdressers, creative artists who inspire us every day… what is better than that! We cherish the relationships we have built with our extended family… our Trionics family and it’s an honor and a pleasure to be a part of their community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It just so happens one of my best friends, Sarai Speer (@theplatinumgiraffe), visits New York/NYC annually and we have a blast! I love sharing my city with friends like her because she’s up for anything and everything excites her. NYC isn’t for the faint of heart and frankly, I’m OK with that. I love the fast pace, diversity of people, every variety of arts, entertainment, food, fashion, culture etc. available day and night. I love the crowded streets filled with life, the gritty, subway system (to me it’s the great equalizer – no preferred seating here!), and I love how blunt New Yorkers are (What? We got things to do!)! It all infuses me with energy! Tops on the list when friends come to town: • Theater/Broadway: a must when we’re in NYC.
• Museums: the museums are legendary and I love them all. If friends are visiting for the first time though, my first stop is the lesser-known, Tenement Museum. They get a real sense of history, and what the New York City immigrant experience was like 1800 and 1900’s.
• New York Botanical Garden: When we need a break from the concrete jungle, this is where we lose ourselves in the beauty, sights, sounds, and smells of nature. The exhibitions never disappoint!
• Shopping: while not my cup of tea, it’s on everyone else’s to-do list which makes it fun. Madison & Fifth Avenues, Soho, Chinatown for a different experience etc. My personal favorite: watching them explore the lesser-known vintage shops in the East and West Village where they delight in great finds!
• Food! Food! And more Food!: The list of “best restaurants” changes all the time and some of my favorites no longer exist. Often we just explore… let the city be our guide. Some personal faves that are still around for NYC newcomers: the iconic Katz’s deli, Pearl Oyster Bar, Flex Mussels, Ippudo for noodles/ramen, Peter Luger for steak, Carmine’s (good food and a Times Square experience), Scarpetta, Il Mulino for Italian, Sasabune for sushi, Murray’s and Ess-a Bagels for a NYC staple, bagel and schmear.
• Other places on the must-spend-some-time list: Grand Central Station, Lincoln Center for Performing Arts (a ballet here is transcendent), a leisurely stroll through Central Park, and for drinks, the lesser-known Ophelia Lounge atop the iconic, art deco Beekman Tower Hotel, with rooftop, 360 degree views of the city. Bonus: it’s a quick walk to the United Nations.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are many people – a unique and special boss/mentor, some dear friends, my brothers and my husband to name a few – who inspire me every day and I’m so thankful for their love and encouragement.

Who has been most influential over the long haul? Certainly my parents who are phenomenal role models. My mother was pioneer. She worked during the day and put herself through law school at night. She went on to have a successful career as an attorney at a time when women just didn’t do that. She taught my sister and me to fend for ourselves, and to never rely a man for our financial well-being. She said, “If you get married, be sure it’s because you love him, not because you need him to take care of you…” words to live by.

My father is a beauty industry veteran with more than 50 years of experience in manufacturing, distribution and sales, and a pioneer in his own right. When he was introduced to marine-based enzyme developers, he saw how beneficial they could be to the industry and was hooked. This is the foundation upon which he built Trionics over more than three decades, the gift of which he has now bestowed to my sister and me. The more time I spend immersed in this industry, the more I understand what a visionary my father really is… how these products are truly game changers in the industry. In every way, Trionics makes hair color better. When paired with any other manufacturers’ color lines or lighteners, they’re far safer, more gentle, far less damaging than regular peroxide developers and deliver superior results. I’m so grateful to my parents… their wisdom, drive, and work ethic lives on in me.

There is no one who deserves more credit and recognition for the path my journey has taken than my twin sister, Jacqui. She is the yin to my yang, the lighthouse and calm in every storm. She has carried me through my lowest, darkest moments, and been my biggest cheerleader. There is never competition or envy… only love and support. No matter the struggle, the morass she/we have had to wade through, not only does she persevere, but also and more importantly, it never breaks her spirit. That to me is the definition of strength. Her innate optimism lights my way.

I should mention and this is important because as a collective, this group has as much to do with what drives me and my success as anyone else: they are the naysayers, the belittlers, the back stabbers, the soul sucking, confidence-breakers. We all have had one or more of these: Bad, self-serving boss, bullying tormenters, cheaters who lie to get ahead etc… they all tested my mettle and I’m grateful for it. These are the experiences that made me tougher, wiser, more resilient but also more empathetic. So, it is to this group I say, in the badass words of Christina Aguilera, “Thanks for making me a fighter.”

Website: www.trionicshaircare.com

Instagram: @trionicshaircare

Facebook: Facebook.com/trionicshaircare

Youtube: www.trionicshaircare.com/productknowledge

Image Credits
Father/Daughters pic: @westchesterfamilyphotography