A Top Industry Entrepreneur's Rags to Riches Story
When Gina Lee River dropped out of high school, no one could have foreseen her future success. The day when she would become the founder and president of a beauty empire that included 250 franchises employing more than 5,000 salon professionals, a line of hair care products, and being featured on television in the moving reality series, Undercover Boss. Today, Phenix Salon Suites is one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry, and the only one named in Entrepreneur’s Top 500 Franchises list. Rivera shares her road to success in her inspirational memoir, A Mirror and a Prayer.
Hairstyling is in Rivera’s blood—her family has been in the profession since 1929—but her career path was anything but clear. A poor student, her rebellious streak led her to relationships with dangerous men and the adrenaline high of risky behavior. She was at her lowest ebb, using food stamps to afford groceries when she realized that she had to turn her life around. Rivera put herself on the path to success by:
