Career profile: matrix northern education manager donna paterson

  Matrix's Northern Education Manager, Donna Paterson (pictured centre), has been in the hairdressing industry for 20 years. From assistant to her present role, she's been through it all. We caught up with her to find out more about her career and what advice she has for any budding educators. Tell me about where and when you trained. I trained in a small salon in Aberdeen and from their I attended college to gain my qualifications. What was your first full-time hairdressing job? My first full time hairdressing job was being an assistant for a salon in Aberdeen. Why did you decide you wanted to get in to hairdressing education? Education has always been important to me. I trained assistants in salon and then gained my assessors and verifier’s awards. This meant I was qualified in training and able to work for large manufacturers educating all topics and levels to a vast amount of hairdressers. Tell me about what your role today comprises.  Since being promoted from an education role to Northern Education Manager, my role covers a vast section of education. I work to develop my full time team members within their roles and also work on how we can approve education as a whole with new course ideas. I also work on photo shoots and shows as well as working closely with the marketing team to produce all technical material. What do you enjoy about hairdressing education? From classroom to huge trade shows, hairdressing education is great fun. At Matrix we pride ourselves on individual needs and abilities. Our education methodology is varied and very interactive. I enjoy all aspects of education, the variety in what we deliver and being able to reach and connect with all levels of hairdressers. What are some of the challenges facing hairdressing educators? The challenge facing educators is the ability to connect and educate all hairdressers. Time is a big factor with the industry being so fast paced, it's making sure all hairdressers can come out of the salon environment and participate in developing their skills. What advice would you give to someone thinking about getting in to hairdressing education? Education is a passion, if that is where you want to be in your career you need to participate in everything hairdressing offers, gain as much knowledge as possible and build a network of other people within education. What are the key skills you need to be a hairdressing educator? The main skills you need as an educator are passion, knowledge, patience and a love for the industry.