Kayla Parry is the unstoppable owner of Touch of Genius beauty salon, founder of her own skincare line Aesthetic Society and CEO of tech startup Job Matched, and she’s only 30 years old.
As a self-made entrepreneur, Kayla’s journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a beauty mogul and tech industry leader is a powerful story of resilience and determination. We spoke to Kayla to learn more about the path that shaped her success.
Beauty business owner to tech startup founder; tell us a bit about yourself and how you got here.
My childhood was tough to say the least and my journey has been anything but linear. I grew up facing adversity from a young age (childhood trauma, toxic relationships, witnessing substance abuse, dealing with abandonment and financial instability) you name it I went through it. I actually had family members tell me that I was destined to be a “stripper” and a “junkie.” But I refused to believe it and, if anything, the challenges I faced lit a fire in me to build a life of freedom and purpose. At 18, I moved to Australia with $400 to my name, determined to rewrite my story. I started my first business at 20, bought a beauty salon at 26, and then went on to launch a cosmetics line, but at my core I’ve always been driven by solving problems.
When I saw first hand how broken the recruitment industry was, how job seekers and employers both struggled with mismatched culture fit and impersonal processes, I knew there had to be a better way. That’s how Job Matched was born. Transitioning from beauty to tech wasn’t easy, but my entrepreneurial mindset (which features a deadly mix of resilience, adaptability and a hunger to learn) helped me bridge the gap. Now, we’re on the verge of launching a platform that combines the simplicity of a dating app with AI-driven soft skills matching to revolutionise hiring.
Why was it important to you to build something for yourself?
Honestly? Because I never wanted to rely on someone else’s permission or validation to create the life I dreamed of. Growing up, I saw how financial and emotional instability could trap people. Building my own businesses was never just about success, it was about sovereignty. It meant freedom to make choices aligned with my values, to uplift others (like the incredible and hardworking women I employ in my businesses), and to prove that no matter where you start, you can redefine your future.
What impact do you hope Job Matched will have on the world?
I want to eliminate the frustration and wasted potential in hiring. Imagine a world where people don’t just get jobs—they find roles where they’re valued, thrive culturally, and wake up excited to work. For employers, it means lower turnover, stronger teams, and more time spent building rather than fixing bad hires.
At its core, Job Matched is about humanising recruitment. We’re not just filling positions; we’re creating connections that lead to happier, more productive workplaces. Long-term, I hope this shifts how companies prioritise culture and soft skills, because when people are in the right environment, they change the world.
Job Matched is all about matching the right people with the right jobs
What is your advice for other women who want to take the plunge into tech?
There are three things I would say to women who want to go down this road..
Start before you feel “ready.” Tech can feel intimidating, especially as a woman in a male-dominated space, but you don’t need a coding background to innovate. Focus on the problem you’re solving, and build the right team to fill knowledge gaps.
Find your tribe. Surround yourself with mentors and peers who uplift you. I wouldn’t have raised a six figure investment for Job Matched without a network that believed in me.
Embrace the learning curve. Every mistake is data. I taught myself SaaS fundamentals, sought advisors and asked “dumb” questions. That’s how growth happens.
If you could give your teenage self one piece of advice, what would it be?
You are not defined by your circumstances. Every struggle is building your resilience, and every small step forward is compounding into a future you can’t yet imagine. Trust your intuition. It’s your superpower. And one day, you’ll look back and be proud of how far you’ve come.
Learn more about Kayla and Job Matched here.
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