We recently connected with Galit Ptalis and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Galit thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?

Working to make the internet a safer place, Galit Ptalis had carved out her career as a tech leader both at YouTube and Google. However, Galit faced a challenge closer to home that she couldn’t ignore: finding a fun and modern place to take her three young kids for haircuts. Every visit to the barber or salon felt like a chore, filled with long waits, uninspiring environments, and an overall lack of excitement for her children.
Determined to transform this mundane task into something extraordinary, Galit decided to leverage her business acumen and personal experience as a mother of three to create a modern haircut experience for kids. Thus, the idea for “SuperAwesome” was born.
SuperAwesome isn’t just a haircut salon; it’s a vibrant, lively place where every child feels special.
At SuperAwesome, in addition to a “classic trim and chop” or a “debut cut” for a child’s first haircut, each child can choose their own adventure. They can opt for colorful hair braids, buzz styles, non-toxic hair colors, or even sparkling hair tinsel. The choices are endless, allowing every child to express their unique personality and style. Galit remembers from when she was a child that these moments of self-expression were crucial for building confidence and celebrating individuality.
The salon also carries a line of branded hair products that are natural, safe, and tear-free. As a mother, Galit was committed to ensuring that every product used in SuperAwesome was gentle and nurturing, aligning with her values and the needs of her own children.
SuperAwesome is more than just a place for haircuts; it’s a community hub where children feel empowered and parents feel assured. Each visit is designed to be a memorable experience that leaves children feeling proud and celebrated. Galit’s mission is to make every haircut a memory that empowers the child, celebrates their individuality, and embraces the uniqueness that makes them extraordinary.
See superawesomecuts.com to make an appointment or a salon takeover for parties and events!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For most of my life I was told by my hard working immigrant parents that hobbies were NOT to be careers. Meaning that just because you can and like to cook doesn’t mean that it can be your career. Just because you like and are good at designing interiors doesn’t mean that it can be your career.
As I reached my 20’s and 30’s my need to impress other people and be “successful” in my parent’s sense of the word led me to a job at Google. I was important and I was busy! I was working alongside the best in the industry, contributing to projects that would change the world. Google was everything I imagined and more. The office buzzed with energy, the projects were challenging and innovative, and I was surrounded by incredibly talented people and the perks, a full breakfast buffet? Everyday? Yes, please! I relished in every task, no matter how small. I was finally here, at the top of my game, doing what I felt meant ultimate success. I gained valuable skills in technology, analytics, and communication while working in a high-paced, cutting-edge environment. Yet, as time went on, I started to notice a subtle shift in my feelings.
I began to realize that despite loving the work, something was missing. There was a nagging sense of limitation, as though I was confined within the very walls that once represented success.
At home, I would spend my weekends and afternoons decorating my home, obsessing about the little nooks and crannies, pinning and saving inspiration photos, attending flea markets to find one-of-a kind antiques to fill my home with. Friends and family who would come to my house would say “why aren’t you an interior designer? You are so talented”.. And so started my side hustle as an interior designer. I’m not sure if my confidence to do my hobby as a side-career was due to my growing older and wiser, or because no one was asking me to clarify whether the hobby was “just for fun”. I started taking evening classes at Parsons to hone in on my passion for interior design- drafting, textures, colors.
One day, as I sat in a meeting discussing another new Google project that had to fit within the company’s predetermined framework, it hit me: I didn’t want to be part of someone else’s vision. I wanted to create my own. I wanted the freedom to pursue ideas that resonated with me, to take risks without needing to justify them to a group of executives, and to build something that was a true reflection of who I was. I realized that I felt happiest with a variety of work and the ability to be my own boss.
A few years later, I was up in the middle of the night feeding my freshly born third child and saw an email pop up from Google. It read: “Update to your Employment Status” in the subject line. It turns out Google was having their biggest layoffs to date. My heart sank into my stomach. My role was being eliminated and I would have 3 months to find a new job at Google or I would be let go.
Over the next few weeks/months, the universe was sending me signs… I started receiving lots of calls about new and amazing design opportunities.
And so my journey with my OWN interior design company, InteriorEnvy officially started.
My book of business grew and grew, and I came to the stunning realization that entrepreneurship and a hobby as a career was something I not only could do, but it was something I could be good at!
The realization was both liberating and terrifying. I had spent so long climbing the ladder, only to find that the top wasn’t where I thought it was.
Leaving Google to become an interior designer was a move that allowed me to tap into my creative side. I started developing a keen eye for detail, learned about design trends, and honed in on my business acumen through client management and project execution. This experience gave me the confidence to manage and grow my own business.
Call me crazy, but a few months later I started thinking about a challenge even closer to home that I couldn’t ignore: finding a fun and modern place to take my three young kids for haircuts. Every visit to the barber or salon felt like a chore, filled with long waits, uninspiring environments, and an overall lack of excitement for my children.
I decided I could do this too! I was determined to transform this mundane task into something extraordinary. Thus, the idea for “SuperAwesome” was born.
My journey culminating into the creation of my own kids’ hair salon? I didn’t see that in my future! Merging creativity, designing fun and beautiful spaces, business acumen, and perhaps a personal connection to the idea of creating a fun, safe space for kids is how I reflect on it. What I’ve learned so far? The challenges are greater, the risks are higher, but the rewards are infinitely more satisfying. I’m building something from the ground up, something that carries my name and embodies my values.
Everyone is focused on building a brand for themselves. My story is one of career shifts, each building on the last, and ultimately leading to a business that reflects my values and passions. Who knows where it will lead me to next? My job at Google was an important step in my journey, but it led me to the realization that my true dream was to be my own boss, to create, innovate, and lead in a way that was uniquely mine. I learned that if I got the confidence to follow my heart I could spend my life turning hobbies *and ideas* into careers.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

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Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.superawesomecuts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superawesomecuts/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/galit-ptalis-19630610/
• Other: Interior Design Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/interiorenvy/
  Article about my design work: https://www.dwell.com/article/adam-levine-childhood-home-a3f2e096
  https://www.businessinsider.com/top-nine-execs-behind-youtubes-15-billion-advertising-business-2020-5
  https://www.businessinsider.com/33-insiders-who-wield-the-most-power-at-youtube-2020-4