Today we’d like to introduce you to Gustavo Velez.
Gustavo, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
At the age of 14, when I grabbed my first pair of clippers, I started giving haircuts to my friends and other kids in the neighborhood. It was more of a hobby and something fun to do. When I turned 21 years old, I opened my first barbershop, The Mad Barbers. At first, I became a barber because it was a unique way to connect with people and use my skill to make a decent living. Over time, cutting hair became more than just a profession, it became a passion. I discovered that it wasn’t just about shaping a person’s appearance but about impacting their self-esteem. Throughout my career, I have met so many people who have inspired me. And that is how the idea came about opening a barber school. I wanted to open a school and train people to not only cut hair, but to use their skills to give every client that sits on their chair a sense of confidence and to make a real difference. When I opened Barber Academy of Orlando, I asked myself how can I make a real difference and how can I give back to my community in a impactful way? That’s when I started to reach out to shelters all over the Orlando area. I thought, what an amazing way to give back by having all my students provide free haircuts to the homeless and less fortunate. Not only would we be giving back, but my students would also be getting hands on experience in the most impactful way.
Over these past five years, what started as a small gesture of giving back to the community, has now evolved into much more than a good deed, it’s become a powerful movement. This movement serves as a reminder of our shared humanity, urging us to reconnect with the people around us. It’s a call to action that transcends borders, backgrounds, and circumstances, urging us to leave behind the idea that success is only personal. Through each haircut, we’re not just offering a free service, we’re providing an opportunity for them to feel seen, valued, and empowered.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a first-time barber school owner, the road was definitely not easy. One of my many challenges was navigating the regulatory side of things, such as getting all the proper licenses, certifications, and meeting state requirements. This can be very overwhelming at first. Aside from these, my biggest challenge was starting our school during COVID. The pandemic created a lot of uncertainty, and there were so many hurdles to navigate. After our school had been approved to open, we were forced to remain closed. Not knowing when we would be able to open and start our face-to-faceclasses was scary, especially with the financial burden it was causing. Despite all of this, we were able to successfully open and operate our school, and we’ve learned a lot about flexibility and resilience, but it hasn’t been easy.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a Barber School and our mission is to provide quality accessible education to students in pursue of a technical career in the barber industry. Our school is committed to the advancement and education of our students; our priority is that all instructors and staff are to educate, encourage and support our students in a professional manner, with the best educational resources so that they can obtain employment in the field of Barbering. We are so proud to be considered one of the best barbering schools in Orlando. We strive to be the best and provide the best barbering education for our students.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
As the owner of a barber school, I’d say luck, both good and bad, has definitely played a role, but it’s been more about how I’ve handled those moments than the luck itself.
I’ve had some great breaks. For example, there have been times when a key partnership or referral came along at just the right moment, or I happened to meet the right mentor who guided me when I was feeling stuck. Maybe I got lucky with a timing decision that led to more students enrolling during a tough period in the economy. But luck doesn’t mean much if you’re not prepared to seize the opportunity.
On the flip side, bad luck has also cropped up unexpected challenges like economic downturns, a student who may not have worked out as expected, or even things outside of my control, like a shift in local regulations. At times, I’ve had to really dig deep, be creative, and push through, using those setbacks as learning experiences. The “bad luck” moments have definitely made me stronger and more resourceful.
