The Unplugged CEO:
- heathre04
- Apr 1
- 6 min read
How "God in the Now" is Disrupting the Luxury Hair Hustle
A Note from Heather: Let’s be real: the beauty industry is heavy. It’s high-pressure, high-gloss, and usually full of "hustle" noise that tells you to work until you break. That’s why I’m obsessed with Katrina. I’ve known her for a long time, and she is the ultimate Spiritual Rebel. She is out here running a powerhouse luxury salon while maintaining a level of inner peace that most people only find on a silent retreat. She doesn’t just travel to "see things"—she travels to sharpen her edge and bring a lighter, more centered version of herself back to the CLE. If you want to know how to be a boss without the burnout, take notes.
The Tipa Philosophy: Kindness as a Power Move
In 2026, "luxury" is a tired word. But at Tipa Collective in Berea, Ohio, Katrina has redefined it. Rooted in her Italian and Sicilian heritage, she chose the name "Tipa" because it’s the feminine Italian word for "kind." Don't mistake kindness for weakness; this is the "Sicilian Standard." It’s a fierce, protective loyalty to her craft and her community. In an industry that can be known for "mean girl" salon culture, Katrina built a sanctuary where the weight literally lifts the moment you sit down.
"I feel so aligned with my purpose on this earth every single time I transform someone’s hair and bring their look to life!" Katrina says. "Hair extensions are my passion, but it’s about helping women find the confidence to actually go LIVE their lives!"
For Katrina, that confidence is the secret ingredient to a Weightless trip. When you aren't weighted down by insecurities, you’re free to be fully present. Whether you’re catching the ocean breeze on a balcony or navigating the streets of a new city, a transformation at Tipa Collective is about more than aesthetics—it’s about giving you the freedom to stop worrying about how you look and start focusing on how you feel in the world.
The Road: The Tactical Travel Reset
Katrina is a frequent flyer, but she isn't "vacationing" in the traditional sense. Whether she’s at a diamond resort in Mexico or a trade show in NYC, she is there to stay at the absolute top of the extension game. But while the rest of the industry is hitting the after-parties, Katrina is staging a Tactical Reset.
"My non-negotiable is prayer and meditation!" she explains. "Mingling with the top of the industry, I have to bring my A-game. That requires my everyday practice. When I’m in the midst of New York energy, I’m not getting swept up in the chaos—I’m bringing an enthusiastic, centered vibe that people can actually feel."
The Weightless Masterclass: Finding "God in the Now." Katrina is the expert witness that travel doesn't have to be a stressful blur. Her secret? A disciplined practice of looking for "God in the now." It’s a simple but radical shift: if you look for reasons to be stressed, you'll find them—but if you look for the Divine, you’ll see it everywhere. From the tenderness of an elderly couple holding hands at the gate to a child’s laugh in a crowded terminal, Katrina finds gratitude everywhere. By traveling with this level of intention, you don’t just see the world—you see your own path with total clarity.
The Collective: Leadership as a Strategic Ripple
A true Wander Woman doesn’t just climb the ladder; she builds a bigger plane and brings the whole squad with her. In an industry that often treats stylists as disposable, Katrina is the Mentor-in-Chief. She invests heavily in taking her team on the road—from the high-octane energy of NYC to the diamond resorts of Mexico—not just for the technical training, but for the soul-expansion.
"I LOVE pouring into my stylists! Leaving a good impact on this world is my aim," Katrina says. "Learning together is amazing because we all bring the same classes to life in different ways. We are all needed here on planet earth, and I just want to make ripples of kindness that reach everyone around!"
The Weightless Insight: Legacy over Luxury. Katrina understands that a "Collective" is only as strong as the vision of its members. By treating travel as a shared education, she isn't just teaching her team how to install hand-tied extensions; she’s teaching them how to show up for their lives with excellence.
The "No-Phone" Revolution: Radical Boundaries
This is where Katrina becomes a true disruptor. For her, being a CEO doesn't mean being tethered to a screen—it means being tethered to her people. She keeps her marriage "spicy" and her connection deep by practicing the Daily Unplug. She and her husband have a Weekly Date Night and a daily "no-phone" dinner rule. They don’t just eat; they listen.
But this isn't just a personal rule; it’s a leadership standard. Katrina treats her stylist "family" with the same level of protection, prioritizing their mental health over the "grind."
"Work will always be here, and we NEVER want to miss an opportunity to show up for our families!" she insists. "I tell my staff, 'if you have any family functions, please block that day in your schedule.' Life would be meaningless without showing our families love through actions."
The Executive Filter: Designing Your Perspective
Being a CEO, mentor, and step-mom is a massive amount of "weight" to carry. While most leaders are busy reacting to every fire, Katrina operates with a mindset that is half Zen, half fierce protector. She doesn't just manage problems; she refuses to give them her energy.
"Being centered in God is about drawing the strength from Him to make my hardest decisions," Katrina explains. "I’m really big on solutions, so I try my hardest not to focus on problems. I also find GRATITUDE helps with all of my stressors."
The Weightless Masterclass: The Focus Shift. At Wandering Weightlessly, we know that your attention is your most valuable currency. Katrina understands that whatever you feed will flourish, and whatever you neglect will wither. By starving the "noise" of a problem and feeding the solution with gratitude, she stays centered when the journey gets hard.
The Essentials: The Lightness of a Disruptor
In the travel world, we’re obsessed with "what’s in the bag." But for a CEO who has mastered the art of letting go, the suitcase isn't a safety net—it’s a curated toolkit. When you are spiritually fit and grounded in the "now," you stop packing for "what if" and start packing for exactly who you are. For Katrina, staying a high-performing leader on the move comes down to a few intentional non-negotiables: Hair serums, face moisturizer, and of course, sunscreen.
The Weightless Masterclass: Packing for Presence. Katrina’s kit is a masterclass in maintenance over accumulation. By focusing only on the tools that keep her luminous and protected, she ensures her outer presence matches her inner peace. It turns out, when you travel with "God in the now" as your anchor, you don't need a heavy suitcase to feel secure.
The Final Vibe: Katrina is living proof that you can own the ocean without being a shark. She has reclaimed her heritage, her time, and her peace to build an empire that feels as light as it looks.
Looking for a transformation that leaves you feeling as Weightless as you look? Visit Tipa Collective in Berea. Tell them Heather sent you! Check out Tipa Collective - https://www.tipacollective.com/
Travel: If you want a journey where the only thing you carry is your curiosity, let’s chat. Let's make your next jump a weightless one. Contact Us!
Wander Women: The Series Mission
Wander Women: Women Who Inspire Us is a series by Wandering Weightlessly that highlights the resilient women within our community. We share the stories of those leading foster and adoptive families through trauma-informed travel, single moms by choice navigating the world solo, and adventurers mastering the art of accessible and sober travel. This series is for the fiscally responsible explorer who believes that a life of adventure doesn’t have to be a heavy financial burden. We celebrate these women to prove that no matter your "weight"—be it your past, your budget, or your unique circumstances—you deserve to find your own path to weightlessness.
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