10 Minutes with Jarred Stedman By Louise May

10 Minutes with Jarred Stedman - GENERAL MANAGER, MOCHA GROUP Publishers of HAIRBIZ Magazine

Monday 1st August saw the next step in mocha group’s evolution as we announced the appointment of Jarred Stedman to the newly created position of General Manager. Jarred is now responsible for continuing to develop the brand both commercially and creatively by using his acclaimed business knowledge and industry insights across all of the mocha brands in publishing , media and award events.

Jarred’s accolades can only barely be touched on here such is his diverse impact. Producer, Director, Photographer, Educator, Mentor, Consultant and Business Strategist, he has worked with brands including Wella, Toni & Guy, Sustainable Salons Australia, L’Occitane, Redken, Fudge, CRP, L’Oreal, La Biosthetique, Eleven, Ecoheads, GHD, Batiste, Pepsi, Louis Vuitton, Disney and Westfield.

He brings over 10 years in media and publications across sports, beauty, hair and fashion, and had his stunning work featured in over 20 Australian and international publications. Winner of over 30 industry awards for photography and fashion work, he is also called on to use his expert eye often as an awards judge and next-gen mentor. Working alongside icons including Eugene Souleiman, Peter Grey, Angelo Seminara, Renya Xydis, Richard Kavanagh, Pinki, Alan White, Jules Tognini, Alex Fuchs, Kobi Bokshish, Jayne Wild and Frank Apostolopoulos, his understanding of what make industry creatives tick is truly unparalleled.

Jarred also has extensive business focused experience through his work building and developing SME, one of Australia’s leading Management Consulting firms which partners with Small to Medium Enterprises, their directors and staff to provide strategic expertise that enable businesses to thrive. As a Business Consultant, Marketing, HR and Sales Advisor he has worked with brands including Mocha Group and is excited to use this knowledge to take the brand to new heights;

“To stand alongside Linda and the team is an incredible honour. For me, she is someone who emulates authenticity, ethics, and genuine connection. This industry is big, over 30,000 small to medium businesses across Australia and New Zealand with a total industry revenue of around $8 billion. I’m looking forward to continuing to bring this community together faster and stronger. Mocha is the single largest media and publication company in this industry right now which puts us in the position to make long lasting change.”

Jarred, tell us what you do in the industry today:

My new role as General Manager is an exciting one with multiple facets from Financial, Operational, Marketing, Sales to corporate partnerships for the business. A large portion of what I want to bring to the business is how we add even more value to our already incredible offering. I want to keep Mocha Group engaging, supporting, and developing business owners and artists. With the platform we have, we can be a sounding broad for the industry, aggregate information and then distribute it in a way that is cool, helpful, and supporting of small and medium business in hair, beauty, and barbering. Leveraging off my background in marketing and media for the past 2 decades, I will also be bringing an even more holistic approach to media, advertising and marketing for our industry, business owners, salons, product companies, educators, and everyone inbetween.

To help us get to know you a little more, would you share a little about your upbringing?

Growing up in the hills district of Sydney, I wasn’t an A+ academic, with a scholarship to anywhere amazing – I had a lot of learning disabilities, dyslexic and blind as a bat. In saying that, I loved school and my childhood. Having those cards taught me a very valuable lesson which is my strength now. It made me a problem solver, it taught me grit, and (in a positive way) taught me that everything will be hard – and that’s ok. I am not afraid to fail, not afraid to try, not afraid of anything I don’t know. My default setting is get in, one step at a time, and be aware that there will always be more talented, richer, more charismatic people – but my job it to just rock up and make today “less shit” then yesterday – that is success to me.

How did you first get involved in the industry?

One of my older brothers, Lyle, started photography, and I wanted to be cool like him. So, I slowly learnt from him when I was 14. During University, I was making money as a photographer and an assistant. When I finished my social physiology degree, I just kept shooting. That lead me into working for small companies and multinational ones like Pepsi, Disney, Louis Vuitton. I stumbled into media working with Maria Claire, Rolling Stones, Vogue. Eventually made my way into hair world where I met my incredible wife and most of my mates.

What are you most proud of in your working career to date?

I have been extremely lucky with work, travelling to most cotenants shooting documentaries or campaigns. But I think leaving the industry for the past 3 years was my biggest achievement. Sounds weird I know, but I have always seen the world through the lens of communication and marketing. Moving into a Management Consultancy firm opening my eyes to a whole new business approach. It was so incredible to see the mechanics behind any business in any industry. Why they fail, and what elements they need to be successful. It enabled me to come back into the hair, beauty and barbering world with a much larger understanding and love for small business growth and success.

If you weren’t doing what you do now, what alternative career would you consider?

thread that has been behind pretty much every decision I have ever made. That is, am I adding value to the people I am in contact with or not. Whether that be a stranger walking past, the shop owner, a waitress, a CEO, or my mates. I have never had career goal really, I don’t particular care if I’m throwing tiles on a roof (that was one of my first jobs) or in a boardroom with lawyers explaining how to reposition their brand to gain market share – all I care about is doing life with people who I value, and who value me.

Three things you’re passionate about:

Coffee – not sure where the line of addiction vs passion sits, but I’m going to say coffee. How to be a better husband, brother, son, friend. That’s a never-ending journey Human behaviour, Psychology and Biology. Living things, in general, are a puzzle that just keeps evolving. That excites me because no one is a master, everyone is on a journey of discovery.

What’s on your bucket list?

The travel bucket list looks like this at the moment Japan - We (Chereine, my wife and I) were meant to go on our honeymoon around Japan but then covid hit, so we are still waiting for that. Mongolia for the eagle festival (ref) www. viewmongolia.com/golden-eagle-festivalmongolia.html) Mexico for the day of the dead festival, My ultimate destination would be Alaska, to see the northern lights, go ice fishing in a log cabin, go on a husky sled, and throw snowballs. I have a large tattoo on my forearm inspired by this idea.

Craziest, funniest, or most unusual thing you’ve ever done?

I married my wife, and we had an Alice in Wonderland wedding where everyone was fully in character and got dressed up. It was amazing!

Pets or no pets & if so, what/who?

YES - Her name is Popsicle or Punk or Poppy or Buddy or Crack pot. She’s a little pocket rocket pug mix with a Boston Terrier. We play a game called “friend or foe” whenever we walk her because other dogs either love her energy or absolutely hate it. She is The Best.

What’s playing on your Spotify right now?

I can never go past Bon Iver. Have loved his smooth, inspiring, relaxing, and creative thinking and beautiful voice. And I just got back into The Jezabels.

What’s something interesting or quirky we might not know about you?

When I was younger, I got done for illegal firearms because we bought back BB Guns from Bali and I ended up with a court order, of 18-month good behaviour bond. I grew up skateboarding pretty much every day for about 15 years. Don’t do it anymore because it hurts too much. When I eat out, I will usually order something that I have no idea what it is, just so I keep experiencing new thing. Most of the time I don’t like it, but there is always a cheeseburger on the way home if I’m still hungry.

Do you have a motto or signature life philosophy?

I have a few: 1 – Expect to fail, expect it to be hard work, expect to be terrible when you try new things. It will remove the expectation to be right or perfect and free you to explore the world. 2 – Never make promises in meetings 3 – My brother told me this one when I was young “if you want to make something more fun – do it naked or do it at night”. Wise words. 4. Take time to celebrate the wins, even the little ones.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Nothing. I am bald, blind, dyslexic, have depression – and its taught me to be a hard worker, a problem solver, and empathetic. Those are qualities I am really proud of and couldn’t have gotten where I am, without the journey.

What makes you laugh?

Owww boy, the more random the more I laugh. I love shows like Arrested Development, Brooklyn 99, and The Office (Have watched them more times than I’d like to admit).

What’s your greatest fear?

Having a ‘Dad bod’ without having an excuse for a ‘Dad Bod’.

Your greatest indulgence?

I love sugar and coffee. They are my biggest challenge.

To reach out to Jarred in his new role jarred@mochagroup.com.au

Jarred Stedman - GM Mocha group