Some people think that the key to success lies within their daily routines. Do you agree with this, and if so, what is your daily routine?
Yes, I agree with this 10000%; I do believe a daily routine is crucial to success. I am a creature of habit. I thrive on routine. I truly believe that discipline equals freedom. A lot of this definitely comes from my high level of anxiety; I like to be in an environment I can control. I usually wake up at 5 a.m. and exercise at home. Working out at home became a consistent habit for me during COVID. After that, I make the kids breakfast. I am also having my coffee at this time. I don’t normally eat breakfast, but I do put butter in my coffee, so I think that counts as a meal. Once the kids are fed and ready, I drop them off at school and head into our office in Hollywood. That’s when the fun really begins, and I am mostly in meetings for the rest of the day!
Looking back at your teenage years, did you have any entrepreneurial interests?
I did not have entrepreneurial interests per se, but I was always in leadership. I was actually quite introverted as a child, but I was always a hard worker. Doing well in school was not a choice. I was painfully shy because of my acne, so I didn’t love having attention on me. However, I was our high school vice president and cheerleading captain. I was always looking for ways to improve our school community.
My dad was a physician but truly an entrepreneur at heart, so I did grow up around a lot of business ventures. I remember in the summer, he would take my sister and me to his giant warehouse in south Miami, and we would play computer games while he worked. At one point, he owned gas stations, so my sister and I would get to pick any concessions we wanted. We grew up with a dad who really hustled to provide for us.
Is there a specific time of day when you feel most productive?
I would definitely say I have the most energy and productivity in the morning. As the day lingers, my energy sometimes wanes. I always conduct my most important meetings and tasks in the morning. The things I want to put off and avoid- those are the things I do FIRST. I’m human- so I do find it harder to focus as the day goes on.
Do you think there is one character trait/skill that is important to have in order to become a successful entrepreneur in today’s world?
Absolutely, resilience is undeniably crucial for becoming a successful entrepreneur in today’s world. The ability to weather setbacks and bounce back from failures is what sets apart thriving entrepreneurs from the rest. Challenges are inevitable. We all Mistakes. We all fail. Entrepreneurs who can navigate these hurdles, learn from failures, and keep moving forward are better equipped to adapt, innovate, and ultimately achieve long-term success in the competitive entrepreneurial arena.
Has being a woman in the business world affected you positively or negatively, and how so?
Overall, we know that being a woman in the business world is not easy. It comes with a unique set of trials and tribulations. Most Business-based peer groups are made up of men, so support is really hard to find. People will judge you on different characteristics than men. Research has shown that women (and other underrepresented groups) are given more feedback on their personality and tone than their skills or behavior.
In fact, the same behavior by a man and a woman will often lead to very different feedback. For instance, a woman may be described as ‘bossy’ and aggressive’ for behavior that is described as ‘assertive and persistent’ in a man. I personally have been judged by my physical features instead of my achievements on multiple occasions.
That all being said, I also think being a woman has affected me positively, especially in my specific industry. The aesthetic industry is so woman-focused, so being a woman myself has helped me understand our end consumer intimately because I am her. I love designing products and services for women.
What is one major goal that you wish to achieve by 2030?
I love to help people feel more confident in themselves. The one major goal we want to achieve by 2030 is to achieve 25 million transformations worldwide. We call each of our treatments (VI Peels) a transformation because that’s what they truly are: a physical and emotional transformation. They can help someone realize their full potential by finding confidence in their own skin.
Who is your biggest influence, and why?
My biggest influence is my father, Dr. Khalil, and although he passed away 10 years ago, I think about him daily. Every morning I go to the photos of him I have hanging on my wall and say good morning and thank you for this beautiful life he left me. He was so kind and diplomatic. He was also absolutely brilliant- an emergency room doctor and a serial entrepreneur. He spoke 5 languages. He could make anyone laugh. He was an immigrant who did not leave Lebanon until college. He is the only one in his immediate family to immigrate. Life is hard- but life with an accent is 1000 times harder. My dad was able to overcome a lot to succeed- including the death of his father while he was in medical school.
If you could pick one female entrepreneur, who would you say is your biggest inspiration?
There are so many! I will pick Huda Kattan. As a fellow brown-skinned girlie, I really appreciate her climb to the top. I’m always inspired by fellow minorities with zero connections who find success. She is also the daughter of immigrants like me. She started as a makeup artist who began a blog and really found her niche. I think her products are some of the best in the world. As A beauty junkie, I am always reaching for Huda Beauty.
What has been the most formative advice you have received and why?
To get lots of advice from lots of people! It’s so important to surround yourself with great advisors and a great talent network, that way if you don’t know the answer, and even if they don’t know the answer, they will know where to find it! I’m never afraid to ask A LOT of questions- even if they’re “common sense”. I like to do my research and make very informed decisions. Being a CEO can be lonely so I’m also a part of a group called Vistage. Vistage International is a Peer-to-peer membership organization for CEOs, business owners, and executives of small- to mid-size businesses. I did a short stint in a different peer group and it was a glorified fraternity focused on keeping up with Joneses- so finding the right peer network is SO important.
What has been the most impressive/memorable question anyone has ever asked you?
I think all these questions in the interview have been fantastic!! They are all memorable. If I had to choose one outside of this I would say Dermascope magazine recently asked me to Fill in the blank on this survey for our industry
a). I wish I would have created _______ (existing skin care product).*
b). My favorite industry event is ______.
c). One industry peer I haven’t worked with but want to is ______.
d). ______ was the worst beauty purchase I have ever made.
e). My skin cannot live without _____ (type of product).
f). One thing I do not own but want to is _____.
g). _____ is my favorite decade for beauty.
h.). (School, educational course, book, etc.)_____ taught me some of the most valuable lessons.
i). _____ is how I release stress.
j). I would describe my professional style as _____ (one word).
If you have siblings, are they also entrepreneurs?
I have two younger sisters. One is a lawyer, and one is a physician. I am so proud of them both!! They are both incredibly intelligent, brave, and INDEPENDENT women. My dad had no sons, and for a Middle Eastern dad, that can be a bit of A tragedy. Because of that, I think my dad raised us to be uber-independent and strong. We are the sons my dad never had.
Do you think the drive to become an entrepreneur is born with or is learned?
I think it is born- but when I say that, I believe it could be innate and born with you when you are literally born, but I also believe it may be born later in life. For instance, for me personally, it was born out of the need to survive when my father passed away very suddenly. My body went into fight or flight, and it decided to fight like hell. Before my father died, I was honestly very attached to him, and I know he would always have my back emotionally and financially. When he passed, I just felt completely abandoned. That’s where my drive was born, in that dark place.
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