When Fatisha Kamara moved with her family from Egypt to Alice Springs in 2001, she was struck but how quiet the town was after the sun went down. Then 14-years-old, she’d look out her window and wonder where everyone was. She was used to bustling streets, busy with activity and the shops being open until midnight.

Now 38 and a single mother of two, Fatisha maintains a deep connection to her culture. Despite moving from Alice Springs to Sydney and more recently to Mount Gambier, she’s always stayed true to her roots, eventually launching her own braiding business, Stylisha.

“Braiding was a big part of my culture growing up. I’d always have people doing braids all around me. When I was about eight years old, my mum was braiding my hair and I wouldn’t sit still. I always wanted to see what she was doing in the mirror. Eventually she got fed up and told me to do it myself. By the time I was nine, I was braiding my own hair, my sister’s hair, my friends – anyone who wanted braids,” Fatisha said.

Stylisha began in 2018 in the rural town of Orange, New South Wales. After taking a break from her successful career as a dancer and dance teacher (including dancing for the Wiggles), Fatisha rented a chair in a salon and began spreading the word.

“I never actually imagined I’d turn my braiding into a business. I knew it was definitely a passion that I loved and enjoyed doing but I always thought I’d become a crime scene investigator, a dance teacher or a costume designer. Anyway, within the first week, I was fully booked. Kids, adults, mums, dads, men, women – everybody loved it. My youngest customer was three years old and the oldest, I believe, was 70.”

Fatisha moved Stylisha to Mount Gambier three years ago to be closer to family. While she still had no shortage of customers, she needed support to manage and grow her business. She was introduced to business coach Sean Harris through IntoJobs’ Self-Employment Assistance program delivered by Mas National (both part of the IntoWork Group).

The program teaches the essentials of starting and running a business. Workshops provide guidance on how to develop a strong business plan and implement systems to create sustainable outcomes, stability and growth.

“The SEA program was such an eye opener. It really validated what I had already learnt and was such a rewarding experience. It gave me much more insight and showed me how to amplify and implement the information I already had,” Fatisha said.

“I’m so grateful to Sean for being such a great mentor and to the whole IntoJobs team for their ongoing support, encouragement and dedication to helping small businesses like mine thrive.”

With a strong customer base, a new trainee and an impressive social media following, the sky is the limit for Stylisha. Her heart now set on opening her own salon, Fatisha has no shortage of entrepreneurial ideas.

“It won’t be a regular salon. I don’t do anything ‘regular’. It will be set up and decorated to host birthday parties. Kids can get their hair done, manicure and makeup. We’ll have a photobooth and music and I can run dance classes as well. I really want to do it and do it BIG. Plus I have a backup plan. A bus. I’ll call it Braids on Wheels. Fully decorated inside and out. That way I can travel across Australia, take the kids, attend events and do my work from the road.”