Mahisha Dellinger of CURLS Beauty Brands: In the grand scheme of trying to have it all, we often put ourselves on the back burner; It is crucial that you take care of you
In the grand scheme of trying to have it all, we often put ourselves on the back burner. It is crucial that you take care of you. How can you work out when you don’t have enough time with your kids? How can you take a bubble bath when you need to make a presentation? Realize now that there will never be enough time in the day to get everything done. Your in-box will still be there. Make the “main thing(s)” the MAIN thing(s)…for me it is God first, Family second, business third.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Mahisha Dellinger. Mahisha is the founder and CEO of CURLS Beauty Brands, one of the foremost black hair care brands in North America, author of the memoir “Against All Odds: From the Projects to the Penthouse” and star of “Mind Your Business with Mahisha” on the OWN network. While putting herself through college at California State University Sacramento, Dellinger juggled her course load with an internship in the IT Marketing department at Intel Corporation. Because of her willingness to roll up her sleeves and exceed her “job description” as an intern, Dellinger was quickly offered a temp position at the Fortune 500 computer software giant. While Dellinger learned so much at Intel about separating yourself from the pack through the sheer excellence of your work,, and was able to hone the self-discipline she’d displayed as a young “latchkey” kid preparing her own meals and getting herself back and forth to school each day, she also knew that she needed to own her destiny and became an entrepreneur.
But once a planner, always a planner: the ever-practical Dellinger, by now a mother herself, side-hustled her idea for a high quality, organic and vegan hair care brand that nurtured textured curls that was gentle enough for her daughter to use. By day, she more than fulfilled her obligations at the notoriously rigorous, competitive Intel. But in every other available hour, she met with cosmetic chemists, web developers and R&D specialists who helped her define and refine her industry-first formulas. In the spring of 2002, she flipped the switch on Curls.biz, and an ecommerce business was born.
For the next six years, Dellinger and her team added to the product lineup, and expanded into the salon channel of distribution. Clearly, she had tapped an unmet need; women of color were so eager to leave the harsh chemical relaxers behind and embrace their natural texture that CURLS Beauty Brands has literally never been in the red. When Dellinger was approached by Target to help the massive retailer address the new natural direction in ethnic hair, her company’s growth skyrocketed. And today, In addition to its substantial salon business, Curls Beauty Brands — which now encompasses products for the entire family — is in every major retailer, from “big box” stores like Walmart to Bed, Bath & Beyond and CVS. Dellinger is also frequently tapped as a keynote speaker at various industry conferences around the country.
Thank you so much for joining us Mahisha. Can you tell us the story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I was working as a Marketing Manager at Intel. My horrific experience in Corporate America gave me the desire to launch out on my own and create a destiny that I would be proud of…a legacy that would propel my children and their children, forward. I founded CURLS back in 2002. I was a newly natural mother that was searching for a natural option for her curly hair. Back then, the options for textured hair was extremely limited, synthetic and not safe. I worked closely with a leading Cosmetic Chemist to develop CURLS…and the rest is history.
Can you share one of the major challenges you encountered when you first started your company? What lesson did you learn from that?
As a young, African American woman, getting a small business loan was next to impossible, despite having exceptional personal credit. I decided to fund the business from my personal savings account, so we launched on a much smaller scale. In hindsight, I realize this was a better path for the brand. I took every penny earned from CURLS and reinvested it back into the company. The company grew, organically over time, which was best for the company.
What are some of the factors that you believe led to your eventual success?
Hands down, I know, without a doubt that my GRIT, DETERMINATION and PERSEVERANCE led to my success. I have a pretty strong will to get it down. My motto was “not if, BUT when!”
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became CEO”? Please share a story or example for each.
Your self esteem will take a beating, a few times.
Like Flight Attendants suggest, take care of you, FIRST!
Mental health is almost more important than physical health, to survive this journey
Never, EVER get comfortable in your success.
Your first hire will be your most important hire. Choose wisely
What advice would you give to your colleagues to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
In the grand scheme of trying to have it all, we often put ourselves on the back burner. It is crucial that you take care of you. How can you work out when you don’t have enough time with your kids? How can you take a bubble bath when you need to make a presentation? Realize now that there will never be enough time in the day to get everything done. Your in-box will still be there. Make the “main thing(s)” the MAIN thing(s)…for me it is God first, Family second, business third.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
It’s very difficult to succeed without help, be it from your partner, family member or someone you hire. I have had to outsource tasks enable me to be productive, we have 2 housekeepers, we have a cook, we used to have a nanny to help me when the kids were younger, I have an Assistant to run my errands and shop for me. Out of all of my resources, my biggest help…my biggest ally is my husband John. Without him stepping up with the rearing of the kids during the critical launch period, CURLS would not be where it is today,
What are some of the goals you still have and are working to accomplish, both personally and professionally?
Personally I am working on more work life balance. It is a constant pull and tug of war.
Professionally I am launching 2 new companies this year alone.
What do you hope to leave as your lasting legacy?
Pioneering, innovative, creative and adoptive entrepreneur with a soul for giving back.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would enhance people’s lives in some way, what would it be? You never know what your idea can trigger!
I already have…Black Girls Making Millions Academy (BGMMA)! BGMMA is my movement to turn more AA, women based businesses into million dollar businsses.
Did you know that African American, female owned businesses are on the rise, up 300%…but only 4% make it to the million dollar mark? It is my goal to bridge that gap! On my show “Mind Your Business with Mahisha” on OWN I helped take 8 businesses to the next level. At the conclusion of the taping I realized that I needed to turn this into an opportunity for all to learn.
And just like that, Black Girls Making Millions Academy was born.
We have developed 3 Course Tracks to help women at all stages of their businesses:
● The Start Up — turn your idea into a viable business.
● The Come Up — grow your business and take it to the next level.
● The Blow Up — pitch your business idea to investors for funding.
Travel Blogger Becca Ingle: “When you are traveling with young children, anything catered to make their life easier makes your life easier”
…I would say to create a theme and content that goes hand and hand with your day to day. Do not try to be a home blogger if you do not have home projects going on, and don’t try to be a travel blogger if you hate trips etc. I also think it’s important to outline your commitments when you are on trips that are related to influencing. In the beginning, I would offer the star and moons to hotels just to have a free stay. I found myself waking up at 6am in different cities to try to get all the shots I wanted and I would be burnt out by the end of the day. I learned my value and what I can commit to now when we head on trips with the family and it feels more like a vacation then work.
As part of my series about “exciting developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Becca Ingle.
Becca Ingle is an avid family travel blogger, born & raised in North Carolina, she has two children; Lainey age 5 and Roman age 4 that she loves bringing on trips to showcase all the fun things they do around the world. See her guides featured in @forbestravelguides and @familytraveller and her blog www.beccaingle.com
Thank you so much for joining us Becca! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Of course! We vacationed to Turks & Caicos on our honeymoon back in 2013 and fell in love with the island so much we brought both our kids back multiple times. I started getting questions from friends about our recommendations on where we stayed, what we did, etc and decided to do a full blog post on the trip. After that, I just continued to document all our travels and it all started to really take off online.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
I was working with the Kimpton Hotel in Winston Salem NC in the early days and their PR team asked me if I would like to write about my experience in @Forbes. That is where the travel connection started & I have continued to work with the editors at Forbes on all my travels since!
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I received an email from a “Sephora team” for their Christmas campaign. I signed up per their email to do an online interview to be selected for the team. When I got on the interview there was no one there… and just someone typing instructions. I quickly realized it was a scam, and I learned to always check the email. If it’s not from “@sephora.com” or some made up email, it’s highly likely it’s a scam. I also learned to always have my guard up on this industry.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
I think my blog stands out because it is hard to travel in general with kids and document it on top of that. There are not many family travel bloggers out there and I enjoy show casing every aspect.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?
I would say to create a theme and content that goes hand and hand with your day to day. Do not try to be a home blogger if you do not have home projects going on, and don’t try to be a travel blogger if you hate trips etc. I also think it’s important to outline your commitments when you are on trips that are related to influencing. In the beginning, I would offer the star and moons to hotels just to have a free stay. I found myself waking up at 6am in different cities to try to get all the shots I wanted and I would be burnt out by the end of the day. I learned my value and what I can commit to now when we head on trips with the family and it feels more like a vacation then work.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
I leaned on other friends that were blogging before me to get me started. One of my best friends, Emily, had a successful food blog, and I would ask her questions nonstop about how she was paid online. I would message them questions about building my website to which companies I should reach out. I think it is important to build a network with people that are in the same timeline as you to lean on and share success stories. It is also important to have supportive friends that are not in the industry as well and understand your intentions.
Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the travel and hospitality industries?
This year, before the virus hit of course, was going to be our busiest travel year yet. I hope to pick that schedule up as soon as this is over and bring new destination guides for families to mimic in the future. I hope to bring more video/drone footage in the future and strive for more IGTV content so my readers can see fuller picture destinations.
Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation?
I am trying to help families have a clearer picture of a vacation destination before booking versus just seeing beautiful pictures online. As a mom of two kids, I want to know “does this hotel have a hot tub? Are their onsite childcare you trust? How safe did you feel staying here?” and get those questions and be fully transparent with my followers. I think it is hard to find influencers that share the rare details on traveling with kids.
How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?
Hotels might not want to work with me if I am being fully transparent when I am not happy with things. It might create some backlash on other people’s opinions on the place as well.
Can you share 5 examples of how travel and hospitality companies will be adjusting over the next five years to the new ways that consumers like to travel?
I think they will be working heavily with influencers to highlight destinations and already are. I know it is going to change drastically after the pandemic and I am not sure what that will look like. I do think hospitality and travel companies will move more to app functionalities for the consumer. I have seen this very successful with four season’s resorts, where you can log into the app to check in and virtually chat with any hotel rep about your needs.
You are a “travel insider”. How would you describe your “perfect vacation experience”?
I would say it would start with from start to finish booking the trip, the communication prior and during the experience, and the memories made. My “perfect vacation experience” would be first class seats to a tropical island, with a concierge team waiting for us in our own private shuttle, to a 5 star resort that has 5 star restaurants and every on-site kid amenity you can think of. When you are traveling with young children, anything catered to make their life easier makes your life easier.
Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
Especially during these times I have enjoyed being able to use my platform to give back with giveaways every week that will benefit people right now. I recently did one for an adult bike and a children’s bike at the same time, and it felt really good to know these bikes would help with peoples health/stress at such a trying time in the world.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would love to create an eco-friendly mommy and me swimwear line in the future where proceeds could go towards funds or future trips I could gift to people that cannot afford to take trips. I think a movement of more family travel would be great ☺
How can our readers follow you on social media? You can follow me @beccaingle and read all my guides : www.beccaingle.com
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
The most important advice would be to always listen to your gut feelings and don’t hesitate to pursue your goals. Many people delay or put off their desires and miss opportunities in life as they get used to not listening to themselves. Especially after the age of 25, it seems like we have built up enough knowledge and experience to know what we want and what would be good for us. As we age, it becomes easier to follow our instincts if one knows how to listen to them. Otherwise, the opposite is true if we learn to ignore them. Many people overthink, using their heads, which can sometimes be limiting.
As a part of our series about how technology will be changing the beauty industry over the next five years, I had the pleasure of interviewing Tamim Hamid.
The inventor and CEO of Theradome, scientist Tamim Hamid began his career at Kennedy Space Center (NASA), where he designed various cutting-edge biomedical technologies including designing and implementing laser systems. Prior to Theradome, Tamim was Senior Vice President and the leader of the Worldwide Medical Division for Sanmina.
The Theradome helmet uses laser hair regrowth treatment known as Laser Phototherapy (LPT), the most powerful and effective treatment for hair loss. Unlike Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) devices, their laser light targets the stem cells at the base of hair follicles. This allows the formation of a new photonic pathway that can restore hair to a healthy state. Easy-to-wear at home or at the office, it contains 80 laser diodes, cool airflow and auto-scalp detection in a full coverage helmet. FDA-cleared, the helmet is recommended by 4 out of 5 hair loss experts such as Bosley, Hair Club and other prominent medical clinics from all around the world.
Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
It started at NASA, Kennedy Space Center, working on LASERS as a biomedical engineer. We designed and implemented many leading-edge LASER technologies for the Space Shuttle Program and astronauts. Some LASERS were used to cut metal and other materials and some were used to measure, so they were as harmless as a grocery store barcode scanner. Therefore, after having about 30 years of LASER experience, I came up with a brand-new type of LASER. With my bio-medical engineering degree, I saw a huge opportunity to transfer my knowledge of LASERS to help people with hair loss.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I have always been a huge fan of ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ and Barbara Eden. During my teenage years, it was my dream to be just like Major Anthony Nelson and work for NASA and become an astronaut and live in Cocoa Beach, FL. I lived in Cocoa Beach, worked for NASA and met my beautiful wife. I just stopped short of becoming an astronaut. However, the ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ connection didn’t end there! After NASA, I created Theradome, a laser device that helps people with hair loss to grow new hair. One day, I received a call inquiring about our device for Ms. Barbara Eden. Of course, I was shocked! I responded immediately by sending my Theradome device to her.
It didn’t end there! I finally met Barbara in person when she presented me with The Innovation Award at the renowned Hollywood Beauty Awards in 2018. Everything came full circle. I met the person who inspired me to go to NASA and now I am helping her with her hair condition.
Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success? Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?
I strongly believe that experience, knowledge and just plain good luck can make someone pretty successful. But, in the end, it really is about people because products, processes and tools are easy to solve. Finding great people is one of the most difficult challenges for any company. Good people cost money but they can make things happen.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person to whom you are grateful who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
There were many great leaders and colleagues in my 30+ year career that inspired me, but the ones that stood out the most were the ones with passion and the ability to lead by example. I would say the best Project Manager I have ever learned from was at Kennedy Space Center. She really knew how to manage all aspects of a project and get the respect from everyone involved. She would go into a room with many people with different and opposing viewpoints and in the end she would find commonality amongst all of them and redirect them towards a common goal. This was amazing to watch.
The beauty industry today has access to technology that was inconceivable only a short time ago. Can you tell us about the “cutting edge” (pardon the pun) technologies that you are working with or introducing? How do you think that will help people?
We are in the midst of a third wave of a technology revolution. The first was the industrial revolution, the second wave was all technology and now the third wave has to do with applying technology to the human body. Applying, for example, non-invasive photonic energy to stimulate the mitochondria. This will be the ultimate feat in naturally stimulating the body to repair and wake up cells and will become the next beauty frontier. Today, we are just cutting, removing, and adding materials to enhance the body. The next wave will allow us to modify the body without damaging it.
Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?
The Hippocratic Oath stipulates to do no harm, and this is something that Theradome technology offers; it has zero side effects and in fact, this is one of the only reasons I pursued this technology as I believe that this will be the future. For example, light is very necessary and without light, no humans would be able to live. The right light stimulates and visible light is very healing. Therefore, it is essential to understand and utilize the visible light spectrum to our advantage since our bodies are optimized to process light for maintaining our lives.
Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the “beauty-tech” industry?
Beauty tech is in its infancy as physics will solve many biomedical issues. Unfortunately, today the beauty industry does not have many physicists working in it. Physicians and chemists have reached their limit with their tools.
We are excited that the next generation of beauty tech tools will be mostly at-home products and the quality and efficacy of these products will improve substantially.
Integrating medical grade at-home devices with apps will allow better relationships with clinicians, stylists, friends and family. This will allow better management and outcomes.
Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?
It concerns me that unscrupulous medical and non-medical professionals promise clinical benefits with very little proof or evidence. This should be addressed but unfortunately money talks and gives some professionals too much authority.
Products with little or no benefits along with too many claims. The FTC/FDA and others are trying to combat this but they have a long way to go because professional sponsors are paid well to promote these types of products.
Consumers can be easily fooled and driven to medical procedures based on very little information. Sometimes these procedures and solutions are very risky. There should be strict guidelines for submitting procedures that have gone wrong to an independent organization as well as strict oversight.
You are an expert in science and technology. Can you share 5 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful” with tech? (Please share a story or example for each.)
Always try to go to higher altitudes, the higher the altitude the better it is for your body. The body works much better when there is a lack of oxygen, it actually has to work harder. When it works harder it becomes more efficient. There are many clinical studies showing that lack of oxygen (hypoxia) actually increases well being and people living in high altitudes live longer than people living at sea level.
The human body was meant to keep moving, the more we move the less we age, always keep moving. Stagnation brings negative thoughts, one has to be fluid in life and moving helps with feeling beautiful.
The two absolute best exercises to keep young and beautiful are yoga and swimming. Yoga helps with oxygen and breathing, and swimming has no impact on joints. Both stimulate every muscle, tendon, ligament, tissue in every part of your body, including one’s face!
Everyone should be using a steam spa as this allows the body to open up as the skin, sometimes referred to as the third lung. Most people do not realize that the body’s lymph system needs to be flowing to allow proper blood flow.
Try the new red LED beds, these are similar to the tanning beds where one lies in a full length array of LED lights. The benefits of red light have been proven for many cardiovascular conditions.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
The concept of saying hello to people in real life. This is a lost art. I believe that this has to be one of the most essential ways of communicating with each other. A simple hello when seeing someone walking down the street or when someone opens the door for others or just anytime it should be said. Sometimes it might not be practical but it is amazing what can come out of saying hello to someone. If more people said hello, I believe we would go back to socializing again and learn how to communicate with each other as it always starts with just saying ‘hello.’ You never know what it can trigger!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
The most important advice would be to always listen to your gut feelings and don’t hesitate to pursue your goals. Many people delay or put off their desires and miss opportunities in life as they get used to not listening to themselves. Especially after the age of 25, it seems like we have built up enough knowledge and experience to know what we want and what would be good for us. As we age, it becomes easier to follow our instincts if one knows how to listen to them. Otherwise, the opposite is true if we learn to ignore them. Many people overthink, using their heads, which can sometimes be limiting.
The Future Of Beauty: “New Technologies That Can Improve Our Smiles” With Dr. Sam Muslin of Face Lift Dentistry
The beauty industry is improving the quality of our lives, which allows us to present ourselves with more confidence. What I appreciate about my method is that it has major health benefits that also greatly improve the quality of our lives “from the inside out, and from the outside in.”
As a part of our series about how technology will be changing the beauty industry over the next five years, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Sam Muslin.
Our eyes are magically drawn to symmetry represented in any type of artistry, natural or manmade — and especially in a person’s face. Symmetry is intrinsically beautiful, and balanced facial proportions accentuate natural beauty. Creator of the revolutionary Face Lift Dentistry® method, Dr. Sam Muslin is an entrepreneur on a singular mission to correct patients’ profile and bite. It was specifically designed to help individuals achieve their optimized level of natural aesthetic beauty without any drugs, Botox®, facial fillers, soft tissue surgeries, or chin implants. Decades ago, Muslin discovered that the lower jaw greatly determines the shape of the face, supports the lips, and defines the facial profile. He realized that repositioning the jaw could be a solution far superior to braces, drilling, and orthognathic surgery. Armed with this nugget of truth, he embarked on his professional career to improve patients’ lives.
Dr. Muslin is a highly-respected leader in his field and often makes media appearances. He has appeared on the American syndicated talk show television series “The Doctors” and has also been interviewed on the KTLA morning news. His patients are receiving far more than just gorgeous but natural-looking teeth. They also experience less stress in their jaw, optimal oral health, and more a youthful appearance in their entire face.
Dr. Muslin is a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, earned Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, and was awarded by the International College of Dentists.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I suppose you could call it an awakening — or a revelation. Regardless, it was a pivotal, career-defining discovery. I was in my senior year of dental school when it became apparent that the profession was basically patchworked denistry: fill this tooth or crown that one. The porcelain veneer approach neither corrects bites nor improves health. My patients crossed the entire age spectrum. The standard treatment for younger patients was orthodontic braces. I viewed those solutions as short-term fixes, as patients often had to undergo jaw surgery later in life — and even a second round of braces. I saw a common theme in nearly all of the seniors I treated; through the process of aging, their teeth had worn down. When tooth erosion occurs, faces actually shorten. This a serious problem that transcends appearance, because once the face becomes shortened, space inside the mouth shrinks. It gets crowded in there, leaving the tongue with precious little room. This creates a ripple effect that can interfere with sleep and also lead to tension and, occasionally, posture issues. The popular consensus was to perform jaw surgery to modify the jaw position and size. That’s such an invasive procedure! Braces and surgical options are painful and time-consuming. The only other alternative is to drill down all the healthy teeth for porcelain crowns and full-mouth reconstruction. To me, that was ridiculous. Now we are getting to my revelation moment. Instead of following the trend to perform patchwork dentistry, I envisioned — and eventually pioneered — a comprehensive non-invasive method of treatment that has all of the benefits and none of the pain, prolonged time, and risks associated with the other choices.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
In my early days, I treated a teenager who had a collapsed face and several missing teeth. Consequently, the shape of his face was out of balance; it was short and wide. My treatment was directed toward his teeth only. Then a year later, when the treatment ended, I noticed the shape of his face had completely changed. It was shocking! He had a new jawline and a very masculine chin. This simple procedure had transformed him into a beaming, handsome young man who exuded self-confidence. This transfiguration occurred without me having a clue that it was actually possible.
Are you able to identify a tipping point in your career when you started to see success? Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?
The tipping point occurred 43 years ago when I realized that patients’ stress, tension, and pain could be relieved, while simultaneously improving facial proportions by moving the jaw into it’s most natural and comfortable position. JawTrac® is a technology that locates the most functional jaw position, which is a prerequisite for reshaping a patient’s face, jawline, and profile — and subsequently, enhances the patient’s health. Further, it yields outstanding cosmetic benefits. Using JawTrac®, I implemented a quick, minimal-risk treatment plan that has been wildly successful.
Once I witnessed patients’ reactions to their new appearance — and how it had enhanced their lives — I stayed the course; this was confirmation that my life’s mission was to help individuals rise to a new plateau of natural beauty. Each patient has unique requirements and treatments. So for me, it became a form of scientific, functional art. It was artistic healthcare that improved structure and function concurrently. Patients with wider smiles feel comfortable with their new facial support and are eager to make more impressive first impressions. When individuals look their best, they resonate with self-confidence, discover and appreciate their authentic self, and feel more empowered and motivated to stretch themselves to tackle new challenges. This type of dentistry transforms a patient’s entire life, allowing them to project a more secure body image and self-confidence.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person to whom you are grateful who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
During my first year of dental school, a fourth-year student invited me to accompany him to the dental clinic to see what he called ‘real dentistry.’ He knew that the extent of my clinical experience consisted of working on stone models. At first, I recall being very nervous about being caught on the premises by the instructors. As time progressed, I quickly began to understand how the clinic operated. This fellow student, who I didn’t know very well at the time, taught me the value of being graded by strict instructors because they force you to think harder. I’m grateful that he took me under his wing; the entire experience gave me a different perspective on working with patients. Thanks to him, I completed my four-year dental school requirements in only three!
Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. The beauty industry today has access to technology that was inconceivable only a short time ago. Can you tell us about the “cutting edge” (pardon the pun) technologies that you are working with or introducing? How do you think that will help people?
In the past decade alone, advancements in imaging technology, bonding technology, and stronger porcelains have helped make this method a winner. Dentistry can now create an artistic masterpiece that improves the health of the patient, while also giving them an enormous bonus: cosmetic benefits.
Three vital “cutting edge” components necessary for natural beauty with facial proportioning and profile enhancement are all part of one comprehensive treatment plan. It maximizes functionality and aesthetics for patients from teens to seniors in their 80s. In addition to its aesthetic benefits that eclipse anything veneers can offer, patients can now attain a vastly higher level of physiological health. This approach improves health, specifically providing TMJ relief, improves breathing, facilitates a restful night’s sleep, and alleviates head and neck discomfort.
JawTrac® is an avant-garde technology that locates patients’ most natural and optimal jaw position. It works when night guards, braces and aligners have failed. Instead of working within the limits of your teeth, it can surpass these limits by improving the design of teeth with beautiful, natural colored shape improvements. JawTrac® technology identifies and holds that jaw position by redesigning your teeth without the need to drill. It is a truly remarkable advancement in how bites are corrected, and pain is relieved. Part of our procedure is to allow the patient to test drive the new jaw position; they take it home and experience the difference themselves. This way, we are confident the new jaw position will produce the desired outcome before treatment ever begins. We also required a new non-invasive restoration with a precision fit to go over each individual tooth, allowing the patient to floss, brush, and chew normally. The greatest achievement with these custom restorations is that no dental drilling is performed on the natural healthy teeth. This cutting edge technology is called VENLAY® Bite Restorations.
JawTrac® and VENLAY® Bite Restorations are part of the exclusive Face Lift Dentistry® Method, which was designed to give patients a transformative experience. The health, cosmetic benefits, and comfort are a powerful trifecta that boosts self-confidence and enhances their natural beauty.
Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the “beauty-tech” industry?
Everyone will age, but looking old is optional. One of my senior patients shared a story with us. Her granddaughter asked, “Grandma, you look really old, are you going to die soon?” We can’t slow down the age clock, but people shouldn’t allow aging to get in the way of letting their natural beauty shine. Optimizing beauty through dentistry has advantages over many other choices because teeth are hard tissues. Our unrivaled treatment supports the soft tissues of the face, improves the profile, and balances the lower, mid, and upper portions of the face. The best part is that there is little to no recovery time, and it can be a supplement to any other beauty enhancement treatment.
Many teenagers with overbites and underbites have been told their only treatments are jaw surgery and braces. Self-esteem issues often arise when they wear braces for years. Now, thanks to this revolutionary approach, they have an option. Instead of accepting such a grim prognosis, they can have the facial features that are natural to them and dispense with the hardware.
The beauty industry is improving the quality of our lives, which allows us to present ourselves with more confidence. What I appreciate about my method is that it has major health benefits that also greatly improve the quality of our lives “from the inside out, and from the outside in.”
Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?
70-year-olds do not need to look like they are 30 to be beautiful.
Too much emphasis is placed on “looking good” rather than “feeling good.”
Everyone has the potential of having an optimal jaw position, but people are mostly not aware that this method of dentistry can exponentially improve their life, without discomfort, without drilling, without braces or aligners, and without surgery. Both the public at large, and medical professionals should be alerted to this possibility.
You are an expert about beauty. Can you share 5 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? (Please share a story or example for each.)
Basic hygeine is so easy but people still lack the discipline to habitually follow these procedures. Floss, brush and water floss before going to bed and as soon as you wake up. When we clean our teeth before going to sleep, we cut off the food supply to the bacteria that causes painless gum disease. The ripple effect is bad breath and swollen gums around the teeth. A patient once said, “I never thought about doing it before bedtime. I only brush in the morning.” Basic hygiene is something we do because we care about ourselves. Another patient claimed she did not have time to do it in the morning. I said, “Then go ahead and floss, brush and water floss in the morning and skip doing your hair. That will save time.”
It only takes one minute to floss, one minute to brush and one minute to water floss. That’s it. Three minutes to complete one of the single most important areas of your health, breath and smile. One of my teenage Face Lift Dentistry® patients simply would not do this. I saw her three years after the completion of the treatment and her gums were swollen. I repeated my recommendations — just as though I was giving her a “stock tip” rather than a lecture. Still, she wouldn’t follow my instructions. Five years passed and I saw her again. Once more, I repeated my “stock tip” pitch, reminding her of the tremendous benefits. On the next visit, she finally admitted, “I have been doing what you said and I noticed that my breath does not stink in the morning.”
Brush your gums and teeth at the same time. It’s important to place half of the toothbrush bristles on our gums and half on the tooth structure — at the gumline — and gently brush that area. We need to remove the “sticky biofilm” on the gums and teeth with the brush. Otherwise, bacteria will thrive there. One of my patients said, “My dentist told me not to brush my gums because it may cause recession.” My response is to gently brush your gums to break up the “biofilm” to prevent gum infections. Do not be so vigorous that you damage the gums. Red gums that are even a little bit swollen detract from a magnificient smile.
I do not recommend toothpicks, nor interproximal brushes. However, I am aware that many dentists do. My reasoning is too many people damage the papilla by forcing it down, causing a dark hole between our teeth. The papilla is the tiny piece of gum tissue that fits between our teeth. Patients who are too vigorous with toothpicks and interproximal brushes can smash the papilla, causing “black triangles” between our teeth that become food particle reservoirs. It is extremely unsightly when people use toothpicks during dinner and flash a smile. They don’t know how unattractive it is. In order to feel beautiful, you need to look the part and the gumline is a critical component to a natural smile.
Water Flossers are extremely enjoyable. With all of my Face Lift Dentistry® patients (which comprise 95% of my dental practice) I give them a complimentary portable water flosser that is charged with a USB plug. It travels easily and requires only a small space. And it keeps a charge for about a month. The patient receives complete instructions on how to use it — how to keep it moving and aim it directly at the gumline. The patients enjoy it, and results are incredible. The water flosser is your rinse cycle just like the dishwasher’s rinse cycle. You floss first, and then brush to break up the biofilm; then you flush it away with warm water. No wine, no mouthwash, no beer. Just water. That’s all you need. Your breath is pleasant, the gums heal, and the teeth remain white.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
A myriad of people, political leaders, CEOs, affluent bachelors, and public speakers always have an audience. It could be an audience of one or millions, but they silently judge these individuals by their appearance. That includes judging them by how they look when they open their mouths to speak. Nonverbal attempts are judged, as well. When a person in a prominent position or an individual on a first day attempts to give a warm, winning smile. Marketing can be deceiving, as they have the masses believe that all it takes to clinch a deal or make a favorable impression is with a fancy car or a designer outfit. Some say the crowning act is to flash a mouthful of bulky porcelain veneers. To that, I answer with a resounding: No, it’s not. It’s having your lower jaw and chin in the most natural position, with a balanced facial profile and an optimized bite. Changes are powerful, whether subtle or transformational. One of my elderly patients said that, after her treatment, a close friend commented on how good she looked. However, she couldn’t pinpoint what had changed. My patient replied, “I changed hairdressers.” To that, her friend said, “Oh. That must be it.” This is the real magic of natural beauty and Face Lift Dentistry.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
When I was 18, I worked as a mechanic at a local gas station. One day, when my boss saw my car, he said bluntly, “You are an idiot! You waste your money on a fast car rather than owning the best car out there.” He refused to tell me the name of the car he was referring to; I had to solve that mystery on my own. I concluded it was a car that was not built for speed nor one that served as an “inadequacy eradicator.” It was a basic vehicle that provided a purpose without flash or ego — and without a high price tag that would cause sticker shock. It took a while, but I finally solved it. That eliminated one area of my life in which I was classified as an idiot! Recently, one of my affluent patients saw me driving my Chevy. The next time she was in the office, she said, “You should be driving a Mercedes.” I responded, “I only need to impress you in one place, and that is with the work that I deliver in this dental office.”
The Future Of Beauty: “Connect to hundreds of plastic surgeons and dermatologists from the safety of your home”, With Tom Seery of RealSelf
Virtual Engagements and Technology. In just a few weeks, awareness and use of telehealth has mainstreamed. Solutions like virtual appointments are making it possible for consumers to meet with experts from home, at a time that is convenient for them. We’ve been forced to adopt this new technology in the current climate, but we’re also realizing there are big opportunities for the space — from patients being able to consult with multiple doctors without having to take time off of work, to doctors being able to check in on their patients from the comfort of their home. From work to personal and romantic relationships to professional counsel and support, we’re looking at virtual solutions through a different lens. Much like these other industries, the medical aesthetics world will be embracing virtual solutions in a much bigger way moving forward.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Tom Seery the founder and CEO of RealSelf, the leading online resource to learn about aesthetic procedures and connect with the doctors who provide them. Tom founded RealSelf in 2006, after seeing a consumer need for transparency and unbiased information in the aesthetics industry.
Today, RealSelf attracts millions of unique visitors each month and facilitates millions of patient-doctor connections every year. Powered by a growing community of patients who share their personal experiences, industry experts committed to providing comprehensive, vetted information, and a network of verified doctors and providers, RealSelf helps people make smart, confident decisions about self-improvement.
Among his colleagues and employees, Tom is known for his connection to and advocacy for the consumer, as well as his strong relationships in the medical aesthetics community. He leads a team of executives who set strategy and operate the company, and spends significant time speaking to employees at all levels and functions.
Prior to RealSelf, Tom was an executive at Expedia, where he developed a private-label travel business, and was an early expert in search engine marketing long before Google was a household name. Tom sits on the board of ReSurge International, a nonprofit that is building reconstructive surgery capacity in developing countries. He holds a master’s of science from Drexel University, an MBA from the University of Washington, and a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two energetic boys.
Thank you for joining us Tom! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
While working at Expedia, I saw firsthand the power of transparency and peer-to-peer reviews. Expedia brought disruption to travel in a way that no other business had, and I knew years before ever starting RealSelf that I wanted to do something similar for the health & beauty industry.
Then, in 2006 I was shown a brochure for a $1,500 laser skin treatment that made big promises about amazing results, and downplayed risk factors as well as important considerations like when can you return to work. I realized that medical aesthetics didn’t just lack transparency — the industry is also highly unregulated. That’s when the idea for RealSelf was born.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Not long after starting RealSelf I was connected to a woman who was very active in the industry and involved in patient education in particular. She asked if we could meet and flew from Chicago to Seattle to make that happen. At that meeting she delivered a very unexpected message — that it’s important I understand the power of RealSelf. She reminded me that tens of thousands of people are looking to us as they make critical decisions about their own bodies, and told me that I have a social responsibility to “do the right thing”.
I knew I was bringing transparency to an industry and providing people with important information, but that meeting humanized what we do at RealSelf and how we need to consistently do the right thing, above profits and any other agenda.
Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success? Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?
In 2008, RealSelf was sued in U.S. federal court by Lifestyle Lift, a company that sold a branded facelift on late night infomercials. A company thousands of times larger than us at the time, Lifestyle Lift was frustrated because reviews of their brand on RealSelf were trending negatively.
As founder and CEO of a young very lightly financed business, I felt a sense of panic after being served with the lawsuit paperwork. That changed when my board member Rich Barton explained to me that, “You’vebeen handed a gift,” and the lawsuit was a validation we were both disruptive and making a big difference in the world.
The quote “never allow a good crisis go to waste” is great advice for entrepreneurs, but it’s also within our power to frame a challenge to your business as a new opportunity.
Can you tell us about one of the “cutting edge” technologies you introduced? How will it help people?
At RealSelf, our goal is to use technology to make aesthetics decisions and purchases easy, personal and trusted. For instance, we are rapidly iterating on virtual solutions including a virtual consultation feature that makes it easy to find and schedule video-based appointments with doctors. Through the new search experience, consumers can connect from the comfort and safety of their home to over 1,200 plastic surgeons, dermatologists and medical providers who offer online consultations.
Looking ahead, we see a promising opportunity for patients and doctors to both make connections and maintain relationships virtually.
Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?
As we’ve seen in the news around “Zoom bombing,” video connections only work when they are secure. That is especially important to our audience, which is exploring highly emotional and sensitive decisions about changing their body, their skin, or other aspects of their physical appearance. For that reason, privacy is a top concern among both patients and doctors. This is especially true for virtual consultations. While the Department of Health & Human Services announced last month that it will waive HIPAA penalties for good faith use of telemedicine, this should be seen by the industry and our company as a flashing yellow light to go forward cautiously and keep protecting patient privacy at the center of all decision making.
Can you share 2–3 things that most excite you about the “beauty-tech” industry?
1-Virtual Engagements and Technology. In just a few weeks, awareness and use of telehealth has mainstreamed. Solutions like virtual appointments are making it possible for consumers to meet with experts from home, at a time that is convenient for them. We’ve been forced to adopt this new technology in the current climate, but we’re also realizing there are big opportunities for the space — from patients being able to consult with multiple doctors without having to take time off of work, to doctors being able to check in on their patients from the comfort of their home. From work to personal and romantic relationships to professional counsel and support, we’re looking at virtual solutions through a different lens. Much like these other industries, the medical aesthetics world will be embracing virtual solutions in a much bigger way moving forward.
2-Personalization and Customization. We’re starting to see brands in the medical aesthetics space embrace technology that helps them deliver more personalized solutions — from skincare treatments that use a patient’s own plasma to diagnostic tools that help identify an individual’s unique skin concerns. Doctors are also embracing tools like 3D imaging to help patients envision outcomes of procedures. As technology continues to improve and demand for individualized solutions grows among consumers, personalization and customization will be a point of differentiation for brands.
Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?
1-Inclusivity and Diversity. From producing wider shade ranges for products to celebrating gender-neutral makeup, the color cosmetics world is embracing diversity and inclusiveness, but medical aesthetics is largely lagging behind. We’re starting to see more diversity in marketing and increased conversations around acceptance, but there is still a ways to go. Furthermore, there is a pretty significant gender gap in the industry: only about 15% of plastic surgeons are women. That has started to improve as more women enter plastic surgery training programs, but considering that the vast majority of plastic surgery patients are women, the industry still has a lot of room for adapting to the needs and sentiment of the market.
2-Safety. Cosmetic treatments are more accessible than ever before. However, it’s important to remember that these are still medical procedures and they warrant serious consideration and research. RealSelf is committed to making sure consumers have access to the complete picture — like the pros and the potential side effects of a treatment, and transparent information about the doctors performing them. Last year we launched a program called RealSelf Verified, which recognizes doctors who meet high standards of trust and transparency. In order to become Verified, doctors must be in good medical standing with board certifications and medical licensing, have high patient satisfaction ratings, and demonstrate a commitment to patient education.
3-Influence vs. Expertise. Social media gives people a voice and as a result, can help foster important conversations. However, there is rising concern about the level of expertise that social media influence can convey. Storytelling and personal recommendations are useful, but shouldn’t be prioritized over the advice of a credentialed professional.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Governments around the world appear to be shifting inward and away from globalism. As a lover of travel and beneficiary of exploring cultures around the world, I truly believe that we need to rise above politics and tap into our human nature to seek connection and help one another live a better life. The movement I’ve sought to inspire with those who know me, and the community on RealSelf, is to forge connections and make it a norm to give back. The best part about connection and giving back is that it fills your heart and keeps you centered on what truly matters.
I had thought that experience made you feel like you belong, but I now think it’s the opposite. The more rooms you’re in, the more talented people you meet, the bigger the world gets, the feeling gets deeper. But with that, you learn how to better manage it and remember why your unique story deserves to get told.
As a part of our series about how very accomplished leaders can succeed despite experiencing imposter syndrome, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mona Munayyer Gonzalez, Managing Director, New York at independent, bicoastal creative agency Pereira O’Dell.
Mona seeks to create an environment that inspires people to build the ad agency they always wished existed. Her nearly 15 years of brand management expertise began in global creative networks and sharpened in boutique innovation and brand content-led shops. This blend of agency experience led to a deep knowledge of brand-building and passion for leading teams who believe creative storytelling is the way to do it. Prior to Pereira O’Dell, Mona oversaw iconic brands in CPG, spirits, luxury, hospitality and technology at JWT, BBDO and The Barbarian Group.
Within and beyond the advertising industry, Mona remains committed to creating a better world. She sits on the board of Fearless Beauty, a non-profit organization that empowers women impacted by institutional and social injustice through cosmetology education and beauty industry mentorship, and serves as a member of Chief, a network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. Currently, Mona lives with her husband and daughter in Montclair, NJ.
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a bit about your backstory so our readers can get to know you a bit better?
I’m a second generation Arab-American raised by parents who immigrated to the US over 45 years ago. Talk about differences in generations. They both worked over 40 years at the same U.S. pharmaceutical company, my dad a formulation pharmacist and my mom a molecular microbiologist. But their real passion lied in the non-profit organization they formed upon moving to the states that promoted awareness and understanding of Palestinian heritage. My culture played a huge role in my upbringing. I always wondered how the daughter of two scientists ended up in advertising. In hindsight, I was always surrounded by this blend of arts and science, and, above all, storytelling to preserve a culture.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? What lessons or takeaways did you learn from that?
On my first day in advertising, a director warned me of another colleague who had a reputation for upsetting people. If I had to cry, do it in the bathroom. How disappointing that one of my first memories was getting told: “Hey, there are jerks here, and not only is that understood and accepted, but the expectation is that you enable it too by hiding your hurt.” Was that his intention in warning me? I don’t think so. I actually think he was trying to do me a favor. But those small, seemingly nothing moments can culminate to form a powerful dynamic in this industry that I knew I’d never be comfortable with. Over the years, I realized I could either accept the realities given to me and know I’d never be happy, or fight to find the good people who believed a better version of this industry existed.
What do you think makes your company stand out?
The energy of the co-founders, Andrew and PJ. They give life to the agency in completely different ways. Andrew is an outgoing, wildly optimistic Tennessean, and PJ is an incredibly passionate Brazilian with a thoughtful creative mind. I met them at a time when, frankly, I had had enough of the ad industry and the egos and inauthenticity that came with it. Then, I met these co-founders who, beyond having enough drive to turn the industry on its head, were decent, good humans. The humanity starts with them and is true of the agency. There is a goodness in the people here that I am equally thankful for and protective of.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who played a crucial role in helping get you to where you are?
My team at my first job at JWT NY. I was as green as you could get, but they saw potential in me and fought to get me into rooms that no Account Executive would normally be in. Every leader in that group had a totally different personality, but it worked, and we looked out for each other. They embodied this leadership quality that I was so grateful for: pushing you into the unknown to see what you’re capable of, while still being supportive in the background.
Thank you for that. Now, shifting to our main focus here, how would you define Impostor Syndrome? What do people with Imposter Syndrome feel?
Unfair insecurity.
What are the downsides of Impostor Syndrome? How can it limit people?
Moving forward means focusing on what matters and drowning out the rest of the noise. Imposter Syndrome materializes for me as noise. It badgers me until I feel too defeated to move forward.
How can the experience of Impostor Syndrome impact how one treats others?
Imposter Syndrome is an inherently selfish experience. “I can’t do it.” “I’m not qualified.” “They’re going to find me out.” Someone once told me you make decisions either out of fear or love. If you’re acting out of fear and insecurity, chances are, you’re not treating others with the empathy they deserve.
We would love to hear your story about your experience with Impostor Syndrome. Would you be able to share that with us?
I’ve realized thatit doesn’t go away with more years of experience. I had thought that experience made you feel like you belong, but I now think it’s the opposite. The more rooms you’re in, the more talented people you meet, the bigger the world gets, the feeling gets deeper. But with that, you learn how to better manage it and remember why your unique story deserves to get told.
Did you ever shake the feeling off? If yes, what have you done to mitigate it or eliminate it?
My daughter has become my antidote. She’s at the age where she really believes I’m the funniest, coolest person in the world. I’ve never experienced anything like it, just pure joy and happiness that you exist. There will be a day where that will change and she’ll realize that I’m really not that funny, but I won’t forget this feeling.
In your opinion, what are five steps that someone who is experiencing Impostor Syndrome can take to move forward despite that feeling?
There are five people that I call when I’m feeling not good enough, who puff me up when I’m a little deflated.
The straight shooter. This person has no problem calling you out for unfairly holding yourself back and injects some confidence into your thinking. Not into sugarcoating.
The eternal optimist. Someone to point out the silver linings in the rainbow of life. Definitely into sugarcoating. Sometimes that’s okay.
The thoughtful listener. Gentle and rationale. No judgement. Your free therapist.
The wise owl. Draws from their life experience to make you feel like if they can do it, so can you.
My mom. Or whoever loves you unconditionally. They believe you are the best thing in the world, and everyone else can go jump in a lake.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why?
Ina Garten. She built her career in politics and now works as a celebrity chef. She must have some good stories.
