In Episode 294 of WhereBrainsMeetBeauty with Jodi Katz, two dynamic voices from the world of beauty and consumer investing shared their journeys and insights: Annie Robertson Hockey, President and Head of Consulting at Skytale Group, and Lauren D’Amore, Vice President at Prelude Growth Partners. Together, they offered a candid look at how personal history shapes professional paths, how loyalty is built in an increasingly competitive med spa market, and how success evolves as careers mature.

For D’Amore, medicine once seemed inevitable. With parents and siblings all doctors, she thought she’d follow suit, until a childhood incident revealed her squeamishness around blood. Finance, not surgery, became her future. Hockey, meanwhile, nearly became a ballerina, dedicating her youth in Seattle to long days of training until injuries nudged her toward college and eventually consulting and investment banking. Both admit their early dreams still echo today: D’Amore’s work at Prelude includes investing in medical esthetics businesses like Skin Pharm, while Hockey’s dance discipline informs her leadership style and independence.

Their careers today sit on different sides of the same coin. At Prelude, D’Amore backs breakout consumer brands names like Sol de Janeiro, Summer Fridays, and Westman Atelier by looking for proof points of deep consumer love. In medical esthetics, she emphasizes provider and patient loyalty as the true engines of sustainable growth. Hockey’s work at Skytale Group is equal parts operational leadership and client strategy, where she advises med spas and wellness businesses on scaling, differentiation, and long-term value. Both stressed that loyalty whether of patients, providers, or consumers outweighs short-term promotional tactics or price competition.

The conversation underscored how med spas, once niche, are now mainstream. Hockey noted that the number of med spas opening continues to outpace overall growth, but demand is also expanding, especially among men and younger consumers. The key challenge, she explained, is not just filling appointment books but creating brand-level loyalty that transcends individual providers. D’Amore agreed, pointing to training and education as vital tools for ensuring consistent experiences across locations and teams.

On success, both reflected on how their definitions have shifted over time. Early in their careers, success meant meeting deadlines, earning good reviews, and completing deals. Now, it’s about building trust, empowering teams, and creating impact. For Hockey, success is when CEOs call her in moments of crisis, not just for business advice but for human connection. For D’Amore, it’s about choosing how she spends her time and ensuring each deal or project adds to her learning.

Mentorship and leadership surfaced as recurring themes. D’Amore spoke of “forcing time” to teach associates by stepping back to explain not just what work needs to be done, but why. Hockey described building systems like “Skytale University,” complete with matching sweatshirts and post-class drinks, to make learning engaging while also ensuring shadowing and real-time feedback are built into daily practice. Both admitted that in fast-paced environments, coaching requires intention, but it’s essential for developing the next generation.

Outside of work, balance comes through movement and relationships. D’Amore relies on morning workouts often with friends to ground her, while Hockey swears by Pilates, quality time with loved ones, and a continued passion for beauty that makes her professional life feel seamless with her personal interests. The episode wrapped on a lighter note with a book club game, where both revealed eclectic reading tastes, from dystopian fiction to political memoirs, underscoring once again that curiosity fuels both their careers and lives.

Thank you to our sponsor Beauty Connect. Get 10% off tickets with code WBMB at beautyconnectla.com.