We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashleigh Samuel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashleigh, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

I come from the Construction Industry, having a bachelor’s degree in Engineering. I had actually started grad school when I decided that I wanted to do something different, something for me! I was accustomed to working 50-60 hours per week, taking work home. Not really living and enjoying the fruits of my labor per se.

One day, the light bulb went off for me, and I realized ‘I don’t have to work like this to take care of myself and my dog!’ if I’m being honest I was burnt out and over it. So I began looking for Esthetic Programs in the area that would allow me to attend school at night and still work during the day.

—Insert FSCJ, upon finishing the Esthetic Program I decided that I really wanted to pursue this career on a serious note, I realized in going to school for this profession that I really had a talent and love for it. So I set my goals on opening my own business, giving myself until the end of the year to build a clientele and be able to leave Corporate America and become a full fledge Entrepreneur. Well God clearly had other plans, because not even two weeks after I’d had my grand opening for my business my job let my whole department go with severance. Talk about shell shocked! I’d just renewed the lease on my apartment!

Back story— the company I was working for at the time had been bought out by an investment firm. And this said investment firm had been going through the process of making changes within the company, some of those changes I had been privy to take part in coming up with and implementing. Talk about fine tuning my business skills, right?!

So being the problem solver that I am, I began to scour the area for places that were hiring for Estheticians. I came across Massage Envy, I walked in with a copy of my resume to give to the front desk staff and was actually able to speak to the Manager of that location. We had a mini interview, and the next thing I know I was being offered the job!

What I can say is this whole process of being a business owner and entrepreneur has definitely strengthened my faith in God and has validated the saying of “God’s timing is not your timing” I truly feel like I was “forced to jump out on faith because in my heart of hearts God knew that the end of the year would come and I would still be working that job had the layoff not happened; with a million and one excuses as to why.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

i’m originally from South Carolina, but I have called Jacksonville home for the past 6 years becasue it honestly feel s that way to me. It’s one of the only cities and states I ‘ve lived in that really feel s like home to me. I got into the Beauty, Health and Wellness industry 4 years ago as an Esthetician and PMU as an “out”of Coroporate America; best decision I’ve made thus far! I recently Became a Licensed Massage Therapist as well! I specialize in Clinical Skincare Treatments and Myofascial Release Therapy by way of Dermplaning, Microcurrent, Chemical Peels, Deep tissue Massage and most recently Barefoot Massage. I take pride in the fact that my services provide a difference in my client’s well being; physically and aesthetically.

I was once a consumer of the types of services I now offer—still am, so I understand the need for what I do and how to make it easy to insert into such a busy lifestyle.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I most definitely would, I just would have chosen it a lot sooner.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Growing with your clientele as it grows. I have clients that when they became clients of mine they were high school students, single working women, etc. But they have now grown to wives, mothers, and college grads. I have learned to elvate my services to help accommodate where they may be in life and are going.

Contact Info:

• Website: vagaro.com/gleamteam
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mosaic.aesthetics/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourgleamqueen/

Image Credits
Kimberley Maxine