We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Imanii Uwakwe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Imanii below.

Imanii , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I attended Loyola University Chicago where I declared to be a psychology major upon my arrival. It wasn’t until the second semester of my sophomore year that I was introduced to the field of social work and the many routes you can take. After learning this, I switched my major to Social Work with a minor in Psychology not knowing all of the different opportunities there were! At the time, I had an idea that I wanted to go into couples therapy. Essentially, I chose to focus on the micro level of social work which would put me in the position to directly work with individuals and families to address specific needs, challenges, and goals. I was captivated by the opportunity to connect with families and individuals one on one while listening to their stories and helping them rewrite what they want and essentially, address various systemic issues during our sessions. The goal is to empower them, strengthen their abilities, and assist them to achieve more stability and resilience. Within these individual sessions, I not only foster a personal connection with people, but I also assist in creating meaningful change while getting diverse experiences. During my grad school program, I interned at a private practice that primarily served women of color and had majority of clinicians who were black and brown women; this-practice’s mission is to encourage women to reclaim their power and live a healthy lifestyle. Prior to this experience, I worked with a mentoring group for young women during my undergraduate internship; I started to think that working with women was my niche! When I had my first session, I immediately thought, “What do I do? I’ve never had a client before!”; I have also been in group settings and never provided one on one therapy prior to January of 2023. Before having my first client, I often doubted myself and my abilities but quickly understood that my first job as a social worker is to connect. I had such a supportive boss and supervisor during my internship who would often tell me that there is no better way to learn than being inside of the field and learning from your experience with different clients. From this experience, I learned to appreciate the reciprocal process of therapy. My family has always been such a huge support system as they would often tell me that my passion to help others lives in me. Ultimately, I graduated from Loyola University Chicago, receiving my Bachelor of Social Work in December of 2022 and my Master of Social Work on the Advanced Clinical Practice Track in August of 2023 at 21 years old.

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

My name is Imanii Uwakwe, a beauty entrepreneur and Licensed Social Worker from Chicago, IL. Growing up, I have always been fascinated by vibrant colors and how they made me feel: expressive, bold, fierce, and confident. I was also intrigued by the action of lending a helping hand. Quench Qosmetix, my cosmetics company, was born in the summer of 2017 and stems from being inspired by my father; this company started off with the idea of me selling chapstick in high school and grew into a brand that sells lipgloss, lipstick, mascara, and more. In 2017, my father did a non-for-profit trip to Rwanda, where he assisted in the rehabilitation of a school as well as taught kids the importance of music and art. After hearing the stories from his trip, he inspired me to continue in his footsteps of service to others and my community. Through sales of Quench Qosmetix, I was fortunate to fund a four-year scholarship to a young man my father met in Rwanda who dreamed of becoming a teacher. Quench Qosmetix is a brand that’s not only rooted in service but embedded in improving self-esteem and confidence. By intertwining community service with my cosmetic creations, I not only made products to enhance outer beauty and make people feel beautiful but also to also cultivate inner beauty. I want to inspire customers to look beyond the mirror and see the impact they can make when they choose products that reflect their values. In relation to my mission behind my therapeutic practice, Quench Qosmetix highlights the importance of authenticity, to truly love oneself, and to unapologetically live your full expression. It’s important to me that all of my endeavors stem from the same purpose of my passion behind authenticity, rawness, self-expression, confidence, and more. Both community service and promoting self-esteem are rooted in the concept of empowerment. As a therapist, I strive to empower my clients to overcome challenges, build resilience, and embrace their unique strengths. Similarly, through my cosmetics brand, I have the opportunity to empower individuals by helping them feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. As a therapist and entrepreneur of a cosmetics company, I also engage in advocacy efforts to promote social justice and mental health awareness; my cosmetics brand serves as a platform for advocacy, challenging beauty standards, promoting diversity and inclusivity, and advocating for self-love and acceptance.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Although training and knowledge can assist in your journey as a therapist, there is nothing more important than fostering genuine, empathetic, and trusting relationships with your clients by being YOU! Having this therapeutic alliance forms the foundation of effective therapy and creates a safe space for clients to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences without fear of judgment. Within my work as a therapist, I pride myself on remaining authentic and creative with my interactions; I do this to model to clients that this is an environment where they can be themselves and will accepted and understood. Although my job title is a Licensed Social Worker/therapist, I never want clients to feel like they are talking to an “authority” figure where they have to censor parts of themselves during our sessions. Empathy and active listening are essential in the field of social work. By being empathetic, you connect with your clients on a deeper level, allowing yourself to place yourself in their shoes and give them support throughout their journey; active listening involves not only listening to the clients words but also picking up on nonverbal cues and body language while providing reflective responses to showcase your understanding. Your job is to allow clients to feel seen, heard, and valued because for that 45-60 minutes, you are their safe space.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Not giving up after experiencing slow sales in my cosmetics company has showcased my ability to adapt and learn from setbacks. Rather than viewing low sales as a failure, I learned to see them as an opportunity to evaluate my strategies, identify areas for improvement, and make necessary adjustments. Persisting through challenging times in your business requires a considerable amount of perseverance. As a small business owner, I have learned that there may be days or months where business can be slow. Despite encountering obstacles and setbacks, I remain steadfast in my pursuit of success and indulging further into my creative background. My determination to keep pushing forward, even when the road gets tough, demonstrates my resilience and unwavering commitment to my goals; “Backwards never, forward ever” is something my father continues to instill in me. In addition to this, my resilience has been tested from the lack of support from friends. While it may initially feel discouraging to not receive the encouragement or backing I hoped for, this has ultimately became a lesson in self-reliance and perseverance. Instead of allowing the absence of support to derail me from my efforts, I continue to pursue my business goals with determination, creating new ideas for photoshoots, campaigns, and different products. Throughout this journey, I have learned how important it is to remember your “why”, your values, mission, and goals behind your business and creative endeavors. There have been plenty of times where I would question the amount of support I’ve received but despite that, I have continued to support myself! Because of this, I refuse to let external factors dictate my success and instead rely on my own inner strength and belief in my visions. In the absence of support from friends, I continue to remain confident in my business ideas and belief in its potential for success. I trust in my abilities as an entrepreneur and remain loyal in my commitment to seeing my vision through, even when others may doubt or discourage me. Ultimately, facing any adversity in your personal or professional life is about turning the adversity into an opportunity for growth and ultimately proving to yourself and others that you have what it takes to succeed. Continue to see it through and take the risks!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.quenchqosmetix.com
• Instagram: @quenchqosmetix.com, @imaniithetherapist and @quenchqosmetix

Image Credits
Obisoulstar and Brianna Meshone