Melody's Into It

Who is Melody McCloskey?

Melody McCloskey is the co-founder and CEO of StyleSeat, the premier destination for booking beauty and wellness appointments. I am a mom, wife, and entrepreneur. I’m a huge nerd who loves helping people and making an impact. I’m also an investor at Cleo Capital, a women-led early-stage venture capital firm supporting entrepreneurs building and scaling their businesses.

What is StyleSeat?

StyleSeat is a destination for consumers to discover, book, and pay for wellness and grooming appointments. We are also a platform for independent industry professionals to run and grow their businesses. We triple the average professional’s revenue in the first 24 months. We do this by making their businesses run more efficiently, helping them market their services, and turning on price surging for their appointments. We also run advertising to drive them new clients and grow their revenue.

StyleSeat has powered over 200 million appointments in over 16,000 cities across the United States. Since launching in 2011, StyleSeat has helped to generate over $12 billion in revenue for small businesses.

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is a means of self-expression. It's not about looking a certain way for other people, or seeking to be something you aren’t. It's about showing the world who you are and having fun with how you look. I love that you can evolve your look over time to reflect who you are and how you feel in that moment. It should be a way to drive joy, express creativity, and have fun.

When I was young, I was so intimidated by beauty, and there was this feeling that you should look a certain way, be a specific size, have perfect skin, etc. There was a narrow and exclusionary standard that I didn’t understand or identify with. I'm thrilled that people have gotten over that and that the beauty industry is exactly the opposite. At StyleSeat, we talk about helping people look and feel their best and use beauty to express who they really are.

What are some things you admire about the women in your life?

Most of the women in my life are powerful and driven. They have a strong sense of who they are and what they want. Society puts a lot of pressure on women to be perfect, likeable and to be able to do it all. The reality is, you will never satisfy or make others happy, no matter how much effort you dedicate to it.

The most interesting women I know have spent a lot of time thinking about who they are and focusing on themselves and what they want in life. This doesn’t mean they aren’t generous or good people, or don't love their friends and family deeply, but they don’t live for the approval of others. It took me into my thirties to really get that, but it’s something I admire in others very much.

Who are some inspiring women you look up to?

My mom worked incredibly hard growing up. She had me when she was very young and had to figure it out. I have a lot of respect for that.

I admire Serena Williams, who operated globally at the top of her game, became a mom during that time, and built several successful businesses. She has a defined sense of who she is, has a close and loving family, and has relentlessly pursued that, despite a crushing amount of adversity along the way.

I also admire Mellody Hobson. First, she has an amazing name. She runs Ariel Investments, has been on some incredible boards, including Starbucks and Dreamworks, and is doing a lot to push women forward. I don’t know her, but I’m a fan.

What does it mean to be a strong woman?

Having a well-honed sense of self, what you value, and how you spend your time and emotional resources. It means investing in those things deeply and deprioritizing things that don’t serve you. The world wants to pull you in many different directions, so defining your values and pursuing them relentlessly takes strength and discipline.

What can we do to support/empower other women?

Create and invest in deep relationships with women, including family/friends and professional relationships.

I carve out time to meet with women every month who want to grow their businesses or get started, not because I need anything from them but because I want more women to succeed, build businesses, and be successful.

I have a group of friends I’ve known for years that I consider my chosen family. We have been there for each other through ups and downs, and I know I can go to them if I want to celebrate or need emotional support.

I also have a group of women I know through professional connections, and we use each other for advice and support in other ways. They are the women I suggest when someone wants to add talent to their board or management team, or if I need to think through how to achieve a business objective.

Women need deep relationships across many areas of life for health, happiness, and joy. It’s something that takes work to seek out and maintain, but it’s incredibly valuable.

Some favorite female-founded brands?

Obviously, LoveSeen! I've learned so much working with and being friends with Jenna. It's inspiring to see how her founding journey is so personal and has inspired the creation of a brand that has positively impacted all types of people wanting to look and feel great. And I love the product!

I'm lucky to call Bobbi Brown a friend. Her company Jones Road is amazing. I am a millennial, so I love putting on too much foundation, and she yells at me every time we see each other. Her products are beautiful and lightweight, almost like a second skin. I love her packaging and how her brand makes you feel.

I also love the clothing designer Autumn Adeigbo. She has joyful prints and beautiful, unique designs. She's one of the only people that can get me to wear a color besides black! Her dresses make me happy, and I always bring them on vacation.

What lash are you wearing?

QUIN, exclusively at Target 😉