Today we’d like to introduce you to Keri Davis-Duffy.
Hi Keri, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story started when I was a little girl and wanted to be a Vet. I loved animals especially horses. As I proceeded thru school, I realized that I wasn’t cut out to be a doctor. I did, however, love to cut hair. I used to cut my friends hair in high school as a trade for washing my car or taking me out to lunch. I decided to go into the beauty business. I graduated from cosmetology school in 1986 and started my career in helping people look and feel beautiful. During that time I became an educator for Paul Mitchel and had the opportunity to travel the country and share a stage with so many talented people teaching hair dressing from the east coast, to Canada and beyond. When I realized that doing great hair wasn’t going to actually be ‘the thing’ that helped me make more money, but learning how run my business would be a catalyst in elevating my income, I became a student of business and changed my focus from teaching hair across the country, to teaching business building, client care and success strategies. in 1992 My mom and I opened our first salon in the Uptown district in Hillcrest in San Diego. I wanted to help people to make more money and work for a company that offered benefits that only our friends in corporate America were enjoying. (Health, 401k, pd. vacations) I wanted to run a business where people could not just have a job, but build a future. Our first salon was 1000 sq ft and after 10 years we got the opportunity to double our size and take over the space next door. That was a huge learning experience and by 2006 we opened our second location in Otay Ranch (Chula Vista, CA) and then in 2012 we opened our third in Torrey Hills (Del Mar Area CA). Before we knew it we had 3 locations, 80 employees and it was a busy life.
My career as a speaker continued to grow and I got hired by the Aveda Corp to help them develop a business program called Aveda Business College. This program was a hit and I traveled across the country writing and teaching programs for over 15 years. In 2016 I created my own consulting company called Beauty Backbone. This company helped salon owners and leaders to create success programs to be able to run sustainable and profitable companies.
During Covid we never re opened our third location, we re-homed our team to our other two locations.
In 2023 I sold my Chula Vista location to my business partner along with my Beauty Backbone company.
In January of 2024 I launched my own consulting company – Keri Davis Consulting. I continued to support salon leaders on their growth journeys. In August 2024 I sold my final salon (my first baby since 1992) to two employees that worked for me for 17/22 years. It was bitter sweet, but after 33 years of salon ownership, I felt like trying my hand in a totally different industry. I wanted to see if my theory ‘business is just business’, was true. If you love what you do and you build a strategy for success, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing, you will thrive. I have been in Real Estate now since the beginning of 2025 and am happy to say, my theory is correct. I love what I’m doing, I have the business strategy for success and am thriving. So, on the daily you can find me working with salon owners helping them to grow, I am a part of creating content for an online educational company for the beauty business and I am selling real estate. I am loving life!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Has it been a smooth road? NO! hahah. Success is not a paved road. Some of the struggles were lack of experience. Lack of mentorship. My impatience. When I opened my first salon, I had never been a boss. I had never led people, I had never run a business. I didn’t know what leadership meant. My biggest hurdles were never my clients, they were learning how to work with and keep staff motivated. Build a team. Create the systems that make a business last.
In my recent endeavor, at 60 – I took on an entirely new career. That in itself is challenging. The learning curve is steep and scary. I have learned in my life that doing new things is never about lack of fear…It’s about knowing you will figure it out somehow and doing it anyways.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a business coach –
In my 30+ years in the beauty industry I have had the honor of operating multiple salon businesses and leading over 80 staff members. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with amazing companies, writing, teaching and traveling all over the country, delivering award winning business programs. The most fulfilling work has been the relationships i’ve had the pleasure of developing and working with some of the top salon owners in the world, helping them grow their business, become more profitable and find their purpose.
My Approach~
is rooted in empathy, trust, (a little humor) and a deep understanding of business, profit and the human potential.I believe that everyone has unique strengths and talents waiting to be unleashed. Whether you’re seeking business growth, personal growth, improved relationships, leadership development, or a stronger systematic organization, I got you!
My Purpose~
is to help you reach the goals you never thought possible! My goal is to help you define your profit, passion and purpose!
As a Realtor-
Keri Davis-Duffy: Real Estate Professional and Visionary Leader
A thriving real estate professional who combines business acumen, market insight, and a client-first approach to deliver exceptional results. Her extensive experience in buying, remodeling, and building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) provides her with a unique, hands-on understanding of the real estate market. Whether guiding clients through residential purchases, investment opportunities, or sales, Her expertise ensures a seamless and rewarding experience.
Before transitioning into real estate, Her entrepreneurial journey began in the beauty industry, where she spent over two decades as a dynamic leader and innovator. As a multi-business owner, national motivational speaker, educator, and industry coach, She built a legacy of excellence and inspired countless professionals to achieve their goals.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My horseback riding lessons.
My first flight to LA with my dad. He took all us kids on our first airplane ride to LA. We had lunch and flew home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://keridavisduffyrealtor.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keridavis_realtor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keri.davis.961
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keri-davis-duffy-71b257340/
