The 2025 PBA Executive Summit brought together some of the brightest minds and most visionary leaders in beauty for two days of connection, innovation, and inspiration at the historic Arizona Biltmore. From deep insights into leadership to moments of community and celebration, this year’s Summit was a reminder that progress occurs when ideas meet action — and when the beauty industry unites to lead beyond its limits.
The 2025 PBA Executive Summit was also the first summit organized under the leadership of Leslie Perry, who assumed the Executive Director role at PBA earlier this year. Read on for a recap on the event.
The Wine and History Tour
The PBA Executive Summit experience began with a Wine & History Tour through the stunning halls of the Arizona Biltmore, where attendees explored the venue’s rich legacy and architectural beauty while enjoying wine and meaningful conversation. It set the tone for a weekend of shared purpose and discovery.
The Welcome Reception
Energy and excitement filled the air as PBA members and guests gathered for the Welcome Reception, reconnecting with longtime peers and forming new relationships across every corner of the beauty industry. Laughter, conversation, and collaboration set the stage for the impactful sessions that followed.
This Year’s General Session
The General Session opened with powerful insights from industry leaders and business experts who challenged attendees to think boldly about leadership, innovation, and transformation. Each speaker offered valuable perspectives on navigating change and creating meaningful impact in an evolving beauty landscape.
Keynote Speaker: Evy Poumpouras — Commanding Presence: Mastering Inner Intelligence for Strategic Leadership
Former Secret Service agent, journalist, and author Evy Poumpouras shared lessons on trust, integrity, and the quiet strength that defines effective leadership. She emphasized that trust must be built-and that losing it can have lasting consequences. Poumpouras encouraged leaders to find power in listening, reminding attendees that true authority comes from self-control and authenticity.
Her discussion on the virtues of leadership highlighted that great leaders show people they matter through consistent action, not words. In exploring commanding respect, Poumpouras reminded attendees that respect is earned, not demanded, and that the ability to stay composed, even when challenged, is a true mark of influence.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Tasha Eurich —The Power of Insight: How Self-Awareness Helps Us Succeed
Organizational psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Tasha Eurich shared how self-awareness is the meta-skill of modern leadership. With two decades of research, she explained how understanding how others see us improves communication, decision-making, and emotional intelligence-helping leaders uncover blind spots and build stronger teams.
Keynote Speaker: Stef Fox — The Executive Edge: Build Your Own AI Leadership Coach
Stef Fox, an AI strategist for beauty brands, led an engaging workshop introducing attendees to The Executive Edge, a hands-on approach to building an AI-powered leadership coach. Using practical tools and prompts, she showed how AI can help sharpen clarity, boost confidence, and support modern leadership development.
2025 PBA Executive Summit Breakout Sessions
Dynamic breakout sessions offered attendees the opportunity to dive deeper into key industry topics — from technology and consumer trends to workforce evolution and sustainability. Conversations sparked collaboration, strategy, and actionable takeaways that leaders can bring back to their businesses and teams.
The Industry Impact Award
For the first time, PBA presented the Industry Impact Award, created to honor leaders whose vision, innovation, and dedication redefine the beauty industry. The inaugural honoree was Sydney Berry, a force whose mentorship, advocacy, and fearless leadership have shaped generations of professionals and elevated our entire community. For more than 50 years, Berry has stood at the forefront of beauty — as a stylist, salon owner, distributor, and tireless advocate.
Berry founded Club 40, a groundbreaking salon leadership network that has supported salon leaders for over two decades. She co-created the Sydney Berry Fund with HairToStay, ensuring that women in the industry can access life-changing scalp cooling during chemotherapy. She also champions causes such as Wings of Karen and Justice and Soul, extending her impact far beyond the salon.
Berry’s life’s work has built pathways for others to succeed, uplifted communities in need, and set a powerful example of purpose-driven leadership. On stage, Berry announced that the Sydney Berry Foundation would be donating $15,000 to PBA’s Beacon Student Program. The act is a powerful reminder that her influence reaches far beyond a single moment. “Impact doesn’t end when the spotlight fades,” Berry said.
Save the Date: 2026 PBA Executive Summit
Be part of the must-attend gathering where beauty’s leaders come together to connect, share real insight, and explore the ideas shaping our industry’s future. Next year’s summit will take place on November 16-17, and returns to the wondrous Arizona Biltmore.
