Meet Jonisha Garcia

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

Jonisha , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

One of the most recent and effective strategies I use when I am in a room full of people that do not look like me, is show up as myself. It is much easier said than done but I have grown to appreciate my unique perspective as a Black, immigrant woman. During my self actualization journey, I realized that it is within our human nature to operate within a box to fulfill the expectations of others so that we are accepted by them. We all want to belong- but at what expense? After years of trying to fit in the box, I realized that I was diminishing parts of myself that are important to me and that needed nurturing. In the past, I would be in a room full of folks that didn’t look like me and I would try my hardest to hide my creole accent so that others wouldn’t label me as “different”. The bottom line is that the societal mold set for women is already stringent, impossible to fit and performative. One piece of literature that helped me to change my perspective about my experience is Kimberly Crenshaw’s concept of “intersectionality”. This helped me in understanding that the multiple aspects of my identity and its social categories (race, class, gender) can shape my own individual experience and opportunities. In recent times, I have been “othered” because I decided to fully show up as myself. Although it doesn’t feel good, I’ve learned that we have been trained to think of people and experiences in a dichotomous way (black or white, female or male)etc. But through education, I learned about the power of advocacy, identity politics and representation. I have accepted my multidimensionality and claim it as a threat to take up space and show up for the black immigrant girlies that are coming behind me. I would want them to know that it is ok to accept and appreciate all parts of self while you growing and attaining success. Do not accept the box, break free and be unapologetically yourself.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am in the CEO of Hair, Love, Therapy, a salon located in Lawndale CA, dedicated to raising mental health awareness and providing high quality hair extension services. This year marks our 5th year business anniversary. We are in the final stages of our online expansion project that includes new digital products and online courses. Our goal for the next year, is to place emphasis on mental health by creating online campaigns and participating in panel discussions at wellness events. We were recently on panel at a wellness event called Unboxed: Wellness your way hosted by the Health Matters Clinic in Los Angeles. The event was a success and it allowed us to spread mental health awareness and tell our brand story in an authentic manner. On top of providing hair services and raising mental health awareness, we offer mentorship services to assist hairstylist in learning the backend of the beauty industry. Our mentorship packet includes financial education, a mental health guide for hairstylist entrepreneurs and business formation strategies.
We also have a children’s book in Barnes and Noble and on Amazon called Beauty from the inside out, which is meant to teach children about the importance of mental health at an early age.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three skills that I have acquired over the years, that has had significant impact on my success journey are self-discipline, being teachable and understanding energy. At the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, I had a lot of ideas but I didn’t have the overall structure to support and achieve my goals. I knew that I needed some serious self-discipline and have a task-based mentality to get things done. I started to write things down, create a schedule, restructure my life by cutting out the unnecessary and then maximizing my awake time. I became teachable and open to new knowledge to learn from the people around me who were already successful. I sat with a pen and paper, at the feet of women, who were open to teaching me the ins and outs of business. Another impactful aspect of my journey was understanding the power of energy. Energy cannot be destroyed; it is transmutable and transferable so I do my best to surround myself with people who make it their mission to share the frequency of love, support and a good work-ethic.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

Hats off to my grandmother, Angela Garcia for all that she has taught me. Watching her as a young girl made it all possible for me to be the woman I am today. I watched her go through life challenges with grace and calm strength. Every day, she got up to sell fruits to the children at my school to put food on the table. She did this religiously so that we could survive; Her drive and tenacity to keep going truly inspired my journey. She didn’t say much but when she did- she advocated for herself and those around her. Even though she didn’t have a lot of financial resources, she found a way to care for the less fortunate in her community and gave from the heart. Those are some of the values that I hold near and dear to me in my everyday life and in running my business. She loved me deeply and I strive to continue to meet others with that same love in all aspects of my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hairlovetherapy.com
• Instagram: hairlovetherapy

Image Credits

Steven Ortiz