Anzhelika Slastonenko: IBA membership as a confirmation of international status as a business leader in the beauty industry

The International Business Association (IBA) is a prestigious international association of entrepreneurs and business leaders founded in 2003. IBA members include entrepreneurs, businesspeople, and leaders from various industries. IBA is a platform for forming the business elite, developing international contacts, and promoting innovation in entrepreneurship. IBA holds large-scale business forums, international conferences, and analytical research, and creates conditions for the development of effective partnerships. Membership in the association confirms the high status of an entrepreneur, their professional expertise, and significant contribution to economic development.

 One of the key events of this year was the International Business 2025: Sustainable Business Architecture conference, which took place on August 12, 2025, in Kyiv, at the Parkovy Congress Center. The event brought together more than 250 participants offline and online, where 16 speakers presented the latest approaches to business management and sustainable development strategies.

Among the members of the International Business Association (IBA) is Anzhelika Slastonenko, a successful entrepreneur, beauty expert, and hairstylist. Anzhelika is the author of professional methodologies and books for beauty industry professionals and entrepreneurs, as well as educational programs and courses that help develop businesses in the service sector. We decided to talk to Anzhelika about how membership in such a prestigious association as the IBA opens up new opportunities for entrepreneurs, promotes international cooperation, and shapes modern approaches to business development.

 – The IBA brings together leaders in business, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and becoming a member of the IBA is not easy. You are a member of this association. What does being part of this international community mean to you personally?

For me, membership in the IBA means professional recognition and the opportunity to be part of an international community of leaders. The IBA has a unique approach to business development, which consists of the ability to work as a team, take into account the opinions of other experts, share your experience, and guarantee success in any profession.

The IBA is a platform that brings together entrepreneurs from different fields, but with a single goal: to make business sustainable, innovative, and socially responsible. With the help of the IBA, I have the opportunity to develop my business on a global scale.

– Many people believe that becoming a member of the International Business Association (IBA) is almost impossible. Is the selection process really that strict?

Membership in the IBA is a complex, multi-level process that involves an in-depth analysis of your professional career, business achievements, creative accomplishments, and contribution to the development of your industry. In my case, my ability to combine entrepreneurship with art, create innovations, and develop my own business contributed to my admission to the IBA. Recommendations from current members of the association played an important role, and the final decision is made by the Council, which includes leading business leaders and international experts. It is a true professional test of achievements. I am very proud to have gone down this path and to now have the opportunity to represent the beauty industry as an example of combining business and art in a prestigious international community.

— What are your plans within the IBA?

I strive to promote a culture of innovation in the field of beauty and entrepreneurship. I plan to initiate discussions on educational programs for young professionals so that they can integrate into the profession more quickly and start their own businesses. I also want to share my experience with entrepreneurs and art professionals on creating their own beauty salons, scaling and developing their own brands.

– Anzhelika, you are a successful entrepreneur in the beauty industry, author of books and educational programs. How do you manage to combine a creative approach with a clear business strategy?

The beauty industry has always been not only my profession, but also an opportunity to realize my own ideas. As a hairstylist with many years of experience, I have learned to value individuality, work with details, and create something unique for each client. It is this creativity that has become the foundation for my entrepreneurial path, because it is impossible to build a business in the beauty industry without inspiration and constant innovation.

In my work, I have always combined a creative approach with clear business planning. This is also reflected in my books — “Smart Blending System Methodology” for beauty industry professionals and “ANG Formula — Methodology for Opening a Beauty Salon” for entrepreneurs. These publications have become practical guides that help both masters and businesspeople combine creativity and management.

My experience shows that a successful business in the beauty industry is born where art and entrepreneurship complement each other. By creating methodologies and author’s video courses, I strive to form a new culture of business thinking among industry professionals. This allows us to scale ideas, go international, and confirm that beauty is not only an emotion but also a serious, structured business.

– Anzhelika, thank you for the insightful conversation! We wish you new creative achievements and further success in developing your own business.

Thank you! For me, the beauty business has always been a combination of art and entrepreneurship. I believe that it is this harmony that paves the way for innovation and international recognition. I hope my experience will inspire others to create businesses where creativity is the driving force behind success.