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Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff

She Nearly Lost Everything on Her First Haircare Line—Then Built a $400M Brand Without Investors with Carolyn Aronson, CEO and Founder of It’s a 10 Haircare

Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff

Rebecca Minkoff

Society & Culture

4.8543 Ratings

🗓️ 3 July 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week on SUPERWOMEN, I’m joined by Carolyn Aronson, founder and CEO of It’s a 10 Haircare. Before becoming one of the few female entrepreneurs in the beauty industry to own and operate her own brand, Carolyn spent decades behind the chair as a stylist and salon owner, learning firsthand what both professionals and everyday consumers needed from their products. She didn’t just study the market; she lived it. Carolyn’s early life taught her resilience and self-reliance, qualities that would become central to her entrepreneurial path. This, however, wasn’t Carolyn’s first venture in beauty. Her first line didn’t succeed, but it gave her the hard-earned lessons she needed to get it right the second time around. She took everything she learned, the missteps, the financial risks, the hard-won insights, and applied it to what would become one of the most recognizable hair care brands in the country. In this episode, Carolyn shares how staying independent gave her the freedom to lead on her own terms. She talks openly about learning from failure, launching without outside funding, and the importance of creating products that work for all hair types. Today, It’s a 10 is sold in more than 25,000 salons and retailers across the country, but getting there meant making bold choices and sticking to her guns. Carolyn shares how staying true to her vision, even when it meant going against industry norms, was the key to building a brand that stands out. If you're navigating your own path, questioning the rules, or wondering what it really takes to succeed on your terms, this episode offers a powerful reminder that sometimes the most successful route is the one you create for yourself. Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to order my book, “Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success.” Follow SUPERWOMEN (@rmsuperwomen) and Carolyn (@itsa10ceo) on Instagram. Support this podcast: https://bit.ly/rmsuperwomen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

My name is Sherlock Holmes.

0:01.8

It's an unusual name.

0:03.5

Introducing Young Sherlock, a new Guy Ritchie series.

0:07.3

What game are we playing today?

0:08.8

Discover the origins.

0:10.1

Steving.

0:10.7

Those days are surely behind me?

0:12.3

Of crime's most iconic mind.

0:14.4

There has been a break-in.

0:16.8

A stonling.

0:17.6

You should be a detective.

0:18.9

Starring hero finds Tiffin, Donald Finn and Colin Firth.

0:22.5

If you start wearing a hat like that, I will no longer be friends with you.

0:25.9

Young Sherlock, new original series. Watch now only on Prime Video.

0:30.5

Do you ever see a successful woman on your feed or in a magazine and think, wow, it must be nice to have it so easy?

0:39.8

Well, think again. Behind that glossy cover or smiling face is a ton of hard work, countless failures, and endless learning

0:44.8

experiences. I'm Rebecca Minkoff, and I'm here to tell you that success isn't a walk in the park.

0:50.5

It takes grit, resilience, and a willingness to take risks.

1:02.2

That's why I created Superwoman, a podcast that peels back to varnish and gets into the nitty-gritty of what it takes to make it as a woman in today's world.

1:11.9

From luminaries and game changers to women you've never heard of but should, this podcast is here to inspire you to take your next leap, no matter how daunting it may seem.

1:18.9

We'll explore the sacrifices these women have made, the highs and loaves they've experienced, and the lessons they've learned along the way.

1:25.3

So if you're ready to be inspired and learn from some of the most successful women out there, join me on superwomen.

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