Skills
About
Kelley Swing is a trailblazing entrepreneur, business mentor, best-selling author, and advocate for sustainable beauty. She founded Fort Worth's premier sustainable salon, Head Case Hair Studio. The salon has been a leader in adopting green practices and focusing on full sustainability in the beauty space. Head Case has been recognized in the SALON TODAY TOP 200 for 2022, 2023, and 2024. It has also expanded to a second sustainable salon in Kansas City, Missouri. Kelley furthered her sustainability mission by founding Innovative Beauty Distributors, a top distributor of eco-friendly beauty products. In 2023, she organized the first Sustainable Salon Summit in Southlake, Texas, a pivotal event for discussing sustainable beauty practices. Her book, "Sustainable Salons Make Millions," is a best-seller, available on Amazon. Recognizing the importance of mental well-being in the salon industry, Kelley brought in experts to support her team's mental health. She then founded The Lion’s Collective 5013c to address mental health awareness and suicide prevention, collaborating with healthcare professionals and mental health experts. Follow Kelley Swing for insights into sustainable beauty innovation and updates on Sustainable Salon Summits. Join the movement to redefine the beauty industry’s future with prosperity, health, and sustainability. linktr.ee/kelleyswing

Kelley Swing
Published content

expert panel
Culture doesn’t shift through good intentions alone. These leaders share what real inclusivity looks like behind the scenes. While inclusion is important in any business, it’s especially vital in the culture space, where the work plays a role in shaping trends, sparking conversations and generating overall visibility. When inclusivity is treated as an afterthought, companies not only jeopardize their brand’s place in culture, but they also risk falling out of step with the people they rely on the most: their employees and customers. Employees feel disconnected when their voices aren't reflected in decisions, while audiences tune out if a brand's messaging misses the mark. The most effective companies make inclusion a daily practice by asking the right questions, bringing more voices to the table and backing it up with action. Below, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council share how (and why) to embed inclusivity into the fabric of your business.

expert panel
When a team member seems off their game, the most powerful response a leader can offer is not correction, but connection. Every leader eventually encounters a moment when a team member seems distracted, overwhelmed or simply not like themselves. Whether they’re noticing missed deadlines, low energy or a shift in demeanor, a leader’s instinct may be to push for answers or performance, but that’s rarely what’s most effective. The most impactful leaders approach these situations with curiosity, empathy and a willingness to listen. To that end, members of Rolling Stone Culture Council share how they support struggling employees in ways that are both human and productive. Here's how to help your employees get back on track without sacrificing trust or well-being.

expert panel
Strong cultural networks are built on trust, generosity and authentic connection, rather than transactions. In the culture space, who you know often matters just as much as what you do. But that doesn’t mean relationship-building should feel transactional or opportunistic. The most successful and fulfilling connections are grounded in sincerity, shared values, and mutual support. To that end, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share their best advice for growing positive connections in the culture space. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, producer or creative executive, your career will benefit from cultivating genuine relationships that go beyond surface-level networking.

expert panel
Jul 2, 2025
You can often tell early on whether a candidate will thrive on your team or throw off the rhythm entirely. Finding the right team member takes more than a polished résumé; it’s about whether someone shows up with the mindset, energy and instincts that align with your culture. While certain skills or habits may only reveal themselves over time, overall alignment often shows up in subtle but unmistakable ways. These early cues — from the questions they ask to the way they talk about your company’s mission — can reveal more than any job history ever could. Below, members of Rolling Stone Culture Council share the immediate signals they look for when bringing someone new onto the team, and why those "green flags" are such powerful indicators about a candidate's potential.

expert panel
Want to stand out as more than just someone who is qualified? Start by owning what makes your perspective impossible to ignore. Being great at what you do isn’t enough to set you apart — what makes people remember you is how clearly and confidently you express what you believe and why it matters. That doesn’t mean chasing attention or copying what others are doing. The leaders who stand out are the ones who show up with purpose, speak with clarity and let their values lead the way. Whether it’s through storytelling, education, media coverage or simply walking the walk, how you show up matters. Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share what it really takes to build a personal brand that rises above the noise and earns lasting credibility.

expert panel
If you want to retain more customers, take the time to listen to their opinions. When you’re trying to build a brand, it’s all about getting your messaging right. What type of reputation do you want to build for your business? What do customers need to know about your brand and the services or product you provide? How do you stand up to your competition? These are all important questions business leaders can ask themselves to help ensure the messages they are communicating to current and potential customers align with their mission and goals. And while it’s vital to spend time generating ideas for and actually crafting these messages, it’s equally important to measure the impact of these messages. What do customers think of the messages you’re putting out? What actions (if any) do they feel persuaded to take? Without answers to these questions, business leaders likely won’t be as effective in their communications, meaning they could be missing the mark without even realizing it. In the culture space, connecting with your audience in the right way is key. Here, seven leaders from Rolling Stone Culture Council discuss some of the ways in which businesses can measure the impact of their messaging, and how doing so not only helps them improve customer retention but sales as well.
Company details
Head Case Hair Studio
Company bio
We are innovative and organic hair pioneers who perfect sustainable beauty methods for and with the most talented hair artists in Dallas and Fort Worth. We specialize in Color, Cuts, Blowouts, Special Occasion Hair & Makeup, Hair Extensions, and Full Body Waxing. November 2021, Head Case is awarded Green America's Business Certification from greenbusinessnetwork.org