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She talked her way into her first beauty counter job with zero experience, memorized a poem in Japanese, and built a $10 million agency without a business plan. In this episode, Susannah Dellinger shares her story — and what "making it up" really means.

In this episode:

• How a broke theater dropout talked her way into Nordstrom on Michigan Avenue with no beauty experience whatsoever
• The Shiseido poem that changed everything — and what it taught her about passion over credentials
• Rising through the ranks: from counter to national trainer, Dr. Brandt to Laura Mercier to Trish McAvoy
• The role that looked like a dream from the outside — and quietly broke her from the inside
• Why she walked away from it all on Valentine's Day 2018 with no backup plan
• How a pandemic, a Clubhouse app, and a toddler accidentally built Bright Beauty Connect
• What "making it up" actually means — and why it's the only career advice she trusts

01:17 What "Making It Up" Really Means

03:29 How a Theater Kid Fell Into Beauty

03:57 How She Faked Her Way Into Nordstrom

07:37 Rising Through the Ranks

08:40 Dr. Brandt, Laura Mercier & Trish McAvoy

11:49 The Dream Job That Broke Her

13:53 Walking Away With No Backup Plan

16:02 Consulting for Indie Beauty Brands

19:02 How a Pandemic Accidentally Built an Agency

21:12 Building Bright Beauty Connect: $10M in 48 Months

23:54 Why These Conversations Matter

Off the Shelf is a podcast about the people, brands, and behind-the-scenes forces shaping the beauty industry — money, relationships, risk, and what it really takes to scale.

CONNECT WITH SUSANNAH

Instagram: @brightbeautyconnect

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/susannah-dellinger