The Australian Hairdressing Council (AHC) has partnered with leading psychology thought leader and Real Conversations author Mitch Wallis to deliver an exclusive six-week online leadership program for Australian salon and barber business owners.
Following Mitch’s keynote at the AHC Leadership Summit in Sydney earlier this year, the Real Conversations Online Leadership Series 2026 will give business owners practical tools to manage people, improve communication, navigate difficult conversations and build stronger workplace cultures.
The live online program begins Monday 12 October and runs across six sessions through October and November – 12, 19, 26 October and 9, 16, 23 November – with sessions delivered via Zoom and replays available the following morning.
The program has been developed specifically around the realities of leading people in today’s workplace, including team retention, performance, culture, communication, psychosocial risk and the increasingly complex role of the business owner as a leader.
“With staffing, retention and people management continuing to be some of the biggest challenges facing salon and barber businesses, leadership is a skill that business owners can’t afford to overlook,” said AHC CEO Fiona Beamish.
“We wanted to give our members access to something practical and genuinely valuable – not another webinar where you listen and take a few notes, but a program designed to help them become more confident and capable leaders.”
The program is valued at $1,500, but AHC members can access the full six-week program for $497 + GST during the Early Bird period, which ends 30 September 2026.
The program includes six live sessions with Mitch, optional live Q&A, session replays, a workbook, diagnostic tools, a copy of Real Conversations, a pocket guide and 12 months’ access to the Real Conversations Academy.
Mitch Wallis holds a Masters in Psychology from Columbia University and has trained more than 10,000 people across more than 200 organisations. His work focuses on helping people and organisations build stronger relationships, communication and leadership capability.
The AHC says the program is one of several new initiatives aimed at providing practical support to members beyond traditional industry advocacy.
“We’re continually looking at ways we can help our members build more sustainable businesses and stronger teams,” said Beamish. “Leadership, wellbeing, people management and communication are all part of that.”
The Real Conversations Online Leadership Series is exclusive to AHC members.
Program details
Dates: Monday 12 October – Monday 23 November 2026*
Time: 4.30pm–5.30pm Sydney time, with optional Q&A until 6pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Early Bird: $497 + GST until 30 September
Standard price: $597 + GST
Eligibility: AHC member exclusive. Not an AHC member? Join today to access this special member rate at www.theahc.org.au/membership
*No session on Monday 2 November.
For more information or to register:
www.ahc.realconversations.info
