Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marieme Diagne. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Marieme, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s something crazy on unexpected that’s happened to you or your business

After attending Aveda in Florida for 6 months for my full specialists esthetician license, I moved back home to NYC. Moving back to NYC I knew the requirements for the esthetician program would be the same as Florida’s. After settling into back into NYC, I didn’t think it would take MONTHS for me to obtain my license in NY especially being that I’m certified in FL.

I planned on moving, getting my license and starting services within the month I moved back but God had other plans. The delay of getting my license and starting services, not having any clientele opened so many doors I didn’t even imagine. I applied for a job at a spa as assistant/spa manager just to have a job while I “patiently” waited for my license. What I didn’t know is that this is the job that would help me with the state to obtain my license and jumpstart my esthetician career in NYC.

After letting them know I am licensed in FL, they took the initiative to help me with my license, get me certified with companies such as ClarityRX and Dermalogica and new upcoming services within the esthetician industry.

Marieme, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Marieme Konare, licensed full-specialist esthetician, 26 years old, born and raised in Brooklyn NY by two Senegalese immigrant parents. I own Skinvestment, which is a organic & natural facial and skin care line. Our services and products range from Lavender Clay Mask, Beard Oils to Facials, waxing and more. We take pride in the health and wellness of your skin. Our goal is to help our clients understand their skin. Self care begins underneath and when your skin is healthy, it’s a reflection of the internal state of your body.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

One book that has impacted me this year is “Year of Yes,” by Shonda Rhimes. It allowed to learn to be okay with my decision of resigning from flight attendant career earlier this year. I was so focused on the fact that I could be disappointing my family and/or changing the reality as they knew. After reading the first couple of pages, something stood out to me, the words “You never say yes to anything.”

At that very moment, I realized I finally said “Yes” to something that I wanted to do for ME and my career as an esthetician. In the beginning as an entrepreneur, it was difficult to balance saying yes to my flight attendant job and yes to my esthetician career. I would find myself putting my job before my career.

Shonda helped me realize, when you birth something and create life into it you cannot half step the whole way. I was helping build and create life into a company that I had no aspirations for and I needed to put that into my own company.

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

Moving back to NYC with no job, no clientele, and leaving the #1 state for esthetics was one of the hardest things to accomplish. After living in FL for 7 years I’ve built a name for Sunkissed, and now I needed to apply that same method here in NYC. Even with all the difficulties of obtaining my NYC license, I took on jobs that would open the doors into the beauty industry. Whether as a spa manager, spa receptionist, waxer, I wanted to expand my knowledge on everything in the esthetic industry besides completing the service. With taking advantage of those open doors, it allowed me to network with my peers, gain new clients, and bigger opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sunkissedbykonare.godaddysites.com/?fbclid=PAAaZPzLjkaSj0W8hQLI_OLKbtN2qoe8S93Hr8Qup3GnIoyquZCRJ9A0KAUFM_aem_th_AWmRW-ypSe9hZn_hImtSxCY7HzKYwipijpzhndWYcLBZ7HgeSHXvfpNapLsxI3HOqL8
• Instagram: skinvestmentnyc