I knew I wanted to do hairdressing from pretty early on. In Year 10, it first clicked, and by Year 11, I was going to TAFE one day a week while still in school to start learning the ropes.

After finishing Year 12, I met Bill in 2011. Back then, it wasn’t even called MOE & Co. yet. I started working two days a week, Thursdays and Saturdays, to get a feel for it and see if I actually liked it.

I still remember the day I told Bill I was enjoying it. He said I’d been doing well and offered me an apprenticeship. At the time, I was shy, overweight, and lacked confidence.

Bill pushed me to talk to clients, smile, and believe in myself. He helped me come out of my shell—not just as a barber, but as a person. Once I opened up, he began teaching me how to cut properly. When I gained confidence, he sent me to different locations to help out, which really helped me grow.

Bill invested a lot of time in me. He became like an older brother. I learned firsthand what it meant to be mentored, supported, and challenged, and I wanted to give that same experience to others.

In 2014, MOE & Co was officially born. Two years later, I opened my first shop in Bankstown. Then in 2019, I moved to Melbourne and started fresh.

Now, I co-own four MOE & Co locations in Melbourne. Every day, I try to do for others what Bill did for me by guiding, mentoring, and giving young people a shot at something bigger.

I’m forever grateful for what Bill gave me: his time, belief, and patience. Everything I’ve achieved started because someone took a chance on me. I carry that with me in everything I do.