Meet Yaretd Alcantara

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

Hi Yaretd, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

My entire journey, from a frightened 14-year-old immigrant to the CEO and founder of Glamour Studio Enterprises, has been defined by being “the only one in the room.” I’ve learned that success in that position is not about blending in; it’s about drawing strength from my unique experience and using it as a source of vision and effectiveness.

When you are the only one who looks like you, your background often represents a future that wasn’t guaranteed. For me, receiving DACA in 2012 was the moment “the gates opened and the sky became the limit.”
• Effectiveness: Knowing that this opportunity was hard-won forced me to be relentless and resourceful. I didn’t see failure as an option. The financial struggle to save every penny for years taught me the discipline needed to build my business from the ground up, making every decision count.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

What We Do and Our Special Spark
Glamour Studio is more than just an esthetics studio; it is the physical manifestation of the American dream. We specialize in comprehensive beauty services—from skin treatments and new hair color to complete makeup looks for bridal parties—always striving to meet the diverse expectations of our incredible clientele in Camarillo.
What makes our brand truly special is the foundation it was built upon: sheer resilience and the power of a single opportunity. My story as a young, frightened immigrant who received DACA in 2012 defines our core value. It taught me that when “the gates opened,” the only limit was the sky. Glamour Studio represents the idea that with hard work, dedication, and a strong will, anything is possible. We infuse that spirit of hope and possibility into every service we offer.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, my success was built on the foundation of three crucial qualities that helped me navigate the toughest parts of my story:
1. Unwavering Resilience and Perseverance (Quality)
This quality was essential when I faced the initial uncertainty as a 14-year-old immigrant and later when saving every penny for years to fund my dream. My journey is the very definition of never giving up, encapsulated by the quote, “Keep fighting for what you believe you can achieve.”
• Impact: It allowed me to work relentlessly, save what was necessary, and eventually resign from a supervisor position to dedicate 100% of my attention to building Glamour Studio. This perseverance ensured the dream became a reality, despite taking a long time.
• Advice for Folks Early in Their Journey: Stay positive and cultivate constancy. Understand that progress is made “day by day, step by step.” Don’t let setbacks or the long timeline discourage you; use that internal drive to maintain focus when immediate results aren’t visible.
2. Financial Discipline and Resourcefulness (Skill)
The biggest challenge I faced was finance. Without conventional funding avenues, I had to create my own capital through extreme savings and hard work.
• Impact: This skill was the single factor that allowed me to transition from an aspiring entrepreneur to a business owner. I “worked for many years and saved every penny” to take my life savings and open Glamour Studio in 2017. Resourcefulness also shows up in my ability to expand into the cosmetics line now.
• Advice for Folks Early in Their Journey: Start saving and budgeting immediately, no matter how small the amount. View your income not just as money for spending, but as the seed capital for your future dreams. Be willing to make sacrifices today for a better future tomorrow.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

The book that played an important role in my development is ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey. I first read it during a period where I felt productive but lacked direction, and it fundamentally changed how I approach prioritizing my time and goals.”

Contact Info:

Image Credits

4 pictures are from @theunknownsphotos , the rest I did it on my own.

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