Description
In this special episode of the DayMakers Podcast, hosts Daved and Larry sit down with Joy McClure, Chief Admissions Officer at Tricoci University. Known as the “queen” of admissions, Joy shares her passion for guiding students through one of the most important decisions of their lives: beginning their journey in the beauty industry.
From candid reflections on her leadership style to practical insights on admissions and mentorship, Joy highlights the heart of what it means to support students in finding their path. This episode is filled with warmth, humor, and wisdom about education, opportunity, and making people feel valued.
Find Joy on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcclurejoy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joy.mcclure.56
Show Notes
– Joy McClure’s role as Chief Admissions Officer at Tricoci University
– The challenges and rewards of guiding students into the beauty industry
– How admissions shapes futures and transforms lives
– The importance of mentorship, teamwork, and authenticity in leadership
– Personal stories and insights that define Joy’s impact
Links:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ckXPsHy-lE0
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1mpPg468nb4jaeM3uwCG3F?si=e1bf94c006594ea7
Transcript
We are here to make people feel good about themselves.
We really have to feel like we are a day maker for the guest.
“You’ve made my day.”
How great is that when you hear those words from your guest?
Hi.
Welcome to the Day Makers podcast with Tricoci University.
I’m here with my fellow co-host, Daved Dolce.
Yep, hello.
And we are excited ’cause we get the queen herself, Joy McClure.
Yes, yes.
Who’s our chief admissions officer and my work wife.
Mm-hmm.
So I listen to everything she says.
And I appreciate it so much.
Even with my control issues, she’s the only person I allow to boss me around, sir- Oh.
and I love it.
So
Got one of you in here that don’t agree with that.
Exactly.
So tell us, Joy, you know, we use the, the whole term the tool belt generation a lot.
Where did that word come from?
You know, a few years ago, we really started to notice this shift, and it is primarily with the Gen Z group.
And this is a very interesting new emerging group going into, um, education at this point, higher education.
And what is really unique is the tool belt generation is really a generation of, um, seniors looking to pursue higher education, but not necessarily in the traditional 4year path.
They’re much more interested in learning something along the line of a trade industry.
So whether it’s the beauty school industry, it’s the healthcare industry, um, being a welder, they’re really interested in learning a very specific trade and then pursuing their passion through that trade.
Right.
And we, we do a lot here at Tricoci University trying to be kind of in the forefront of all those trends and knowledge.
Why is it important for us to know about the tool belt generation, what those students are looking for?
It’s such a great question.
I think with the introduction of social media, um, YouTube, we have a much more informed new student coming in, and they’re very aware of what they want to do, what their opportunities are in terms of education.
And so when we’re ready and we’re able to meet them where they are and help them achieve that goal, whether it’s going into the beauty industry or if they’re interested in something different, we’re really a great choice for them.
And so they know what emerging trends are.
They know how long the program may take.
They understand what they wanna do when they’re done.
A lot of individuals are really drawn to the beauty industry because it has this entrepreneurial lifestyle to it.
It’s really a broad range of opportunities that you can do in the beauty industry.
It’s grown substantially.
And so we are really interested in helping this individual get the training that they need so they can go be an amazing professional in that industry.
And I think we’ve done a nice job meeting them where they are but definitely helping them pursue that passion.
I love that.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
That’s very true.
So like we keep talking about, there’s this big shift- Yeah.
right, from people not wanting to be in a 4year university and do something different.
What do you think has triggered this shift?
I really am so fortunate that I get to work with new students when they’re really interested and just starting out to explore what their options are.
And what we’re hearing is that students aren’t interested in going to school for a long period of time.
They’re much more aware of what they want to study, and they want to go into that industry quickly.
So that’s- Mm-hmm.
really an important component is how long it would take to complete the program.
Um, it’s really a savvy group that’s not interested in going into a lot of debt to pursue education.
That’s smart.
Yeah.
Uh, it’s such a savvy individual that’s coming into school today.
So they know that they’re not interested in the, um, overspend that can come with higher education, and then they’re very interested in how long it would take to complete that program.
They’re very eager to go start working in the field itself right away.
That makes a lot of sense.
Yeah.
So what benefits would a student have from choosing a career in the beauty industry, um, as opposed to going to the 4year university?
So in the past, and I’ve been in higher ed for a long time, we may see students who did still go and persist into a 4year university, and they either drop out and would come over to Tricoci, for example.
Yeah.
Or they would complete the 4year degree and then decide, “Oh, this has always been my passion,” and so after they have a 4year degree, they come over to us.
And what we are seeing today is they’re very clear what they want to do, and what’s amazing about the beauty industry is it’s such a broad industry.
And I think one thing that makes me excited about working at Tricoci University specifically, and I have both of you in here with me-
is the curriculum that we offer.
So we really are on point with making sure that you’re gonna learn new and, um, advanced techniques that are part of the beauty industry.
It’s really expanding.
But I also think people are much more interested in self-care today than they would have been 20, 30 years ago.
That is so true.
Yeah.
And so people want to take care of their skin, their hair.
Um, they are really looking for that fountain of youth and to look healthy and, um, feel good about themselves.
And we really provide a great curriculum to make that happen.
But I don’t think it stops there.
I think the training that we provide on the marketing side, so you learn how to employ social media techniques so that you really could go out and be a very successful entrepreneur when you leave here.
And the experience that students want to see in the clinic is very helpful in terms of making sure you have a book of business right when you walk out of here.
Mm-hmm.
I think that’s a unique and special feature.
So when they walk out
as a graduate from Tricoci University, they’re really well-established already.
That matters to the students that are coming in today.
This tooled out generation, that’s an important component for them.
It is.
I guess they just have so much research right in front of them that we didn’t have.
Yeah.
I didn’t realize the whole business aspect, but what you mentioned too, when I was in admissions, I was surprised- Yeah.
at how many people are like, “I went to college, it wasn’t for me.”
“My parents told me to do it.”
“Still didn’t like it.
This is what I want to do.”
Yeah.
Right.
And that describes me, because I went to a traditional 4year university.
And what’s so funny is, when you were talking about that, I had no concept of how much I would spend on that 4year university.
You know, I went to Purdue, and you
once I got my student loans, I was like, “Whoa.”
Mm-hmm.
I didn’t realize, I didn’t have that awareness.
And I think you’re right, this generation has a lot more of that awareness of- Mm-hmm.
the cost and things like that.
And when you were talking about a program like ours, if you’re in cosmetology, could take as little as 10 months.
Mm-hmm.
And what they walk out of, out of pocket, I think that’s a huge win for them.
Yeah.
You know?
And with my daughter, she went
started at a traditional university, and at the end of her first year, she went fall semester or spring semester her first year, she’s like, “Dad, this isn’t for me.”
Yeah.
You know?
She wanted to be an artist, and- Yeah.
she’s like, “Daddy, there’s no art.”
Mm-hmm.
And so she goes, “Can I just come to one of your schools?”
And now, she’s in our school and she’s loving life.
Yeah.
You know?
So, she loves what she’s doing and- She’s in the right spot.
so, yeah, I think that’s important.
So, how do you think that all plays out?
Like, your, your team
we’ve talked to your team in the past too, and they’re really good about guiding that generational component.
How do you feel?
what are the things you see as far as trends in the future and things like that with these students?
One thing that’s really been reassuring
because I think in the past, parents weren’t always as supportive of their child going to a non-traditional school, and I don’t see that being the case as much today.
I see parents are much more understanding that there are different avenues and paths for individuals to take and to still be incredibly successful.
So, if you are really good at your job in the beauty industry, you will be incredibly successful.
Right.
So, there’s not this, um, worry that, well, my child be successful in this path, and I think now that there’s all this access to information, people feel a little bit more reassured about that.
Um, interestingly enough, a few students I spoke with, uh, very recently, they also weren’t interested in just going and partying at the university, which was-
you know?
For me, that was maybe a really exciting part of it.
Um, but they didn’t
they’re just not as interested in that.
You see there’s this huge decline in alcohol consumption today as well.
Mm-hmm.
And so I just think behaviors have changed, and people are really interested in pursuing something directly, and really eager to go have the successful experience in the industry.
So, I think parents are much more on board, which is really wonderful.
This is such a huge industry.
It’s a wonderful space, and there’s a lot of opportunity.
If you’re passionate about it, you will be successful.
I agree, and I thanks- and I thank you for all you and your team do with helping those students realize what their dreams are and getting- Yeah.
them on the right step for their future.
I agree.
I think I was afraid to tell my parents what I wanted to do.
Really?
And I would have been able to do this- Yeah.
way earlier- Yep.
in my career if I just said something.
Yeah.
You know what I mean?
So, but, yeah, I was just kinda scared to.
Um, what examples do you have of any students that did go to a 4year college, it was a bad experience for them- Mm-hmm.
came to Tricoci University, and then thrived?
So, luckily, in my town even, where I live, um, I have a Tricoci alum who went to school, has her 4year degree in, in education.
That’s what her parents wanted her to do- Mm-hmm.
so she did it.
But the desire and passion for the beauty industry never left her, so after completing her 4year degree, she decided to go to Tricoci, and, um, she now runs an incredibly successful salon in my town, and she hires a lot of Tricoci grads.
So, that’s a great example of somebody who went to Tricoci over 10 years ago and really followed that traditional path, but still ended up at Tricoci anyway.
So, working for her today is somebody from the tool belt generation, Nikki.
Yes.
So, she just knew right out of
While she was in high school, and that’s what’s amazing, is we have all these partnerships with high schools so that you can start pursuing, um, this trade.
A lot of times, while you’re in high school, she knew this is what she wanted to do, went to a private high school.
Her parents were very supportive of it and now, at the age of 20, she’s very successful working at the salon that a Tricoci alumni started.
Yeah.
So, in that same building, there’s the student who went to a 4year school and eventually found her path here, and then there’s the tool belt generation that did it much more quickly and she’s working and thriving at the age of 20 in a field that she loves and is passionate about.
That’s true.
Yeah.
That’s great.
That’s awesome.
I’m bl- like I know both of them.
So, you put it into that perspective, I’m like- Yeah.
“That’s really cool.”
I know.
And she hires a lot of Tru- there’s probably 3 or 4 Tricoci grads working there now, and that’s something that I think is cool about, um, the industry as well, in terms of the beauty industry, it’s always been for everybody.
It’s probably one of the most inclusive industries I know of, to tell you the truth.
But, um, that’s a great example of how it’s evolved and changed.
So, the tool belt generation is here to stay, and I’m here for it.
I think they’re amazing.
I love it.
Yeah.
I think too, like would you agree, somebody like me that’s got ADHD, it’s hard for me to learn, hard for me to pay attention.
Like I feel I would have failed out of a traditional- Yeah.
college environment.
Um, when I went to beauty school, that’s when my family started to see me progress and actually do stuff.
Yeah.
I remember my stepdad being like, “This is the perfect industry for you-” Yeah.
” and that crazy brain that you have.”
Yeah.
And then, I’ve thrived.
So, I think a lot of people have that same experience, would you think, in college?
I think it’s that, but, um, also some of the different people I’ve spoken with who work in the industry now, they weren’t confident.
And now, they’re in the beauty industry, they’re behind a chair, they’re transforming lives.
We call them Day Makers for a reason.
Yep.
And now, they’re confident- That’s beautiful.
because they are in their right element.
So, I think that it’s also a great learning experience, but I think your confidence really blooms when you’re in the right environment.
And that’s what I see on a daily basis.
It’s amazing.
Yes.
Yeah.
I love it.
Yeah.
Yeah, and that’s great.
I, honestly, I have to say, you know, I couldn’t have planned to have a better partner in this.
Yeah.
Because the fact that we work so well together and we’re looking for those trends.
Yeah.
And Dave was just talking about people who are a little bit more neurodivergent, and what- Mm-hmm.
you and I are working with now- Yeah.
on that, to get people trained.
Yeah.
Not just our staff, but the students to be able to handle the, the people that have different kind of- Yeah.
sensory issues and things like that.
Yeah.
So, I just want to publicly thank you for all you do, because I couldn’t do what I do without you.
So, having that perfect partner, I want to take this opportunity to make sure people know.
Oh.
As I start to get teary.
Yeah.
So- I know.
Oh, I love it.
But I do appreciate it.
Yeah.
You’re, you’re usually behind the scenes during these.
So, the fact- I am.
I’m not normally- Yep.
into the camera.
So, the fact we have you on the camera- Yeah.
I want to just share that.
Oh.
So, people understand that you’re a huge part of it.
Yeah.
And I appreciate that so much.
Well, thank you.
So, and since I just publicly ackno- acknowledged that you’re one of my Day Makers- Yeah.
tell us what being a Day Maker means to you.
So, I love being in admissions.
I love the education side.
You know this already.
But I do love admissions because we get to work with students at the early point in their life cycle as a student.
And they’re not sure this is the right fie- they’re, they’re just not confident.
“Am I good enough to go to beauty school?
Am I good enough, um, to put myself out there?”
Or the parent maybe is unsure or the spouse, whoever the support around this individual is.
And we really get to be that voice that lifts them up and believes in them when maybe other people didn’t.
I love this part of the admissions process.
And we get to change lives every single day- Absolutely.
and make their day.
I never leave my job wondering, “Did I make a difference today?”
I know my purpose.
I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I’m so committed to helping each and every student.
So- And it shows, and we thank you for that.
Mm-hmm.
So true.
I really, really am blessed for this reason though.
I just am so lucky to have this.
I mean, and your employees too.
You did a lot for me to get to me where- Yeah.
I am today too.
Yeah.
You’re not wrong in that regard.
I’m really- I don’t, I don’t mean this about you.
I don’t mean this about you.
It’s like we’re debating.
No, no.
Not about you.
But I think, as you move up in your career, and I don’t get to work with the students as often on a daily basis anymore, but where I feel I make a bigger impact is I get to help all of the individuals that do work with the students on a daily basis.
That’s what I meant.
Mm-hmm.
That even though I might not be directly one-on-one with students all the time anymore, um, I know I am making a bigger impact because I’ve helped develop the individuals that are working with all of those students.
That’s what I meant by that.
Not like-
“You’re not wrong, Daved.”
I love it.
You’re not wrong.
I did make you who you are.
I didn’t mean it like that.
It’s more I do think, at some point in your career, you, if you’re really fortunate, you get to get to that point where you get to give back.
I agree.
And that’s a really- That’s, that’s a-
amazing point.
thing all the time.
Yeah.
You know?
Our s- we’re still teaching.
We’re da- Yeah.
Our student changed.
Yeah.
You know?
So now, we’re teaching the people who teach the students.
Yeah.
And I think we’re
It’s hugely beneficial.
Yeah.
So, thank you for that and everything you do.
Well, thanks.
I’m so glad.
Thanks, guys.
And thank you for listening.
Welcome.
Tune in for another episode of the Day Makers podcast.
Yes.
Thanks.