We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sameera Ahmed. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sameera below.
Sameera, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
For me, optimism isn’t just blind positivity in the face of challenges; rather, it’s the belief that something can be done to change the challenging or negative situation. I think being an entrepreneur is inherently optimistic. Every entrepreneur sees an opportunity and seizes it, or a problem that needs solving and so we set out to solve it.
Optimism is empowering; it inspires and motivates change. And so my optimism comes from the desire to solve problems. I also think my optimism comes from gratitude. I incorporate a gratitude practice into my evening routine through journaling and that’s been a really important practice to shift my mindset at the end of every day.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a licensed esthetician of almost 8 years and I started my own spa concept, Signal Skin Science, just over three years ago. With Signal, I wanted to offer clients a holistic, science-based skin care approach that delivers real results in a high-touch, comforting spa-like environment. The name “Signal” comes from signaling molecules and pathways – basically the way our cells communicate and are influenced by our overall health, hormones, and environment – and the idea that our skin acts as a communicator of our overall health. I read everything on the skin, whether it’s acne, pigmentation, redness/inflammation, or more, as a signal about what’s going on internally or environmentally and figure out a topical and internal strategies to address it.
This understanding also informs the treatments and products I choose. Without getting too nerdy (which is hard for me!) understanding the signaling cascades involved in wound healing and inflammation, I’m very considerate of creating treatments that don’t traumatize the tissue but maximize repair and health. At Signal, my treatments are all completely customized based on each client’s skin and goals. I ask a TON of questions and get to know everyone’s lifestyle, health, nutrition intake, skin care routine, and more. Every treatment, every time is different.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say curiosity and patience are really important qualities for me, and would be for any esthetician/entrepreneur.
Curiosity is necessary for really diving in and doing research to get at the bottom of some of the skin health challenges my clients present with. And while there are a lot of good esthetician-focused sources, you’ll often need to dive deeper to truly understand the “what”, “why”, and “how” of certain ingredients, skin conditions, etc. Remaining curious and excited to always learn and grow is a vital quality for any entrepreneur no matter the industry.
Patience has also been a really important quality/skill, and is one that I’m constantly working on. Social media can make it seem like success should be achieved overnight. But both with business and client results, I think it’s important to remain patient and know that if you put in the work, results will come. And they’re more often longer-lasting if they don’t show up overnight.
Finally, having a strong network of friends, coworkers, or peers to bounce ideas off of and share knowledge is really important to success. Being an entrepreneur can often feel lonely and isolating, so having a group of people to connect with on challenges and successes makes all the difference!
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents immigrated to the States from Pakistan in the 70s. They could barely even call home back then, and so were basically completely on their own when they arrived here, and had to figure out their own way. They’ve been a constant example of bravery, hard work, and diligence. They never expected anything to be handed to them or acted as though they were owed anything. Through their educations and work, they always strived to stand out through the quality of their work, the intelligence of their ideas, and their upright character. And what they’ve achieved through that approach is inspiring!
They taught me that anything is possible through hard work and that anything worth doing is worth doing well. I think they provided a really important example that absolutely influences how I approach business ownership today.
Contact Info:
- Website: signalskinscience.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/signalskinscience
Image Credits
Caroline Miller Andy Bonura
