Conscious Entrepreneurship: May I introduce René Serbon
René Serbon qualified in the field of aesthetics, with a strong practical skill set across the board. As she started out her calendar filled quickly but not with the exact services she loved to offer. Instead, it was filled back to back with hair removal services to the point that her boss refused to send her on advanced skin education to further her career.
Disheartened by the lack of support from her boss, she knew it was the missing piece of the puzzle for her and took annual leave to attend the training she wanted to anyway. Just as well as it changed the trajectory of her career. Now armed with a new and unique way to look at the skin and uncover the underlying causes of her clients’ skin conditions and match it to the right cosmetic chemistry she realized her gift lies in implementing the knowledge in a clinical setting to help her clients better understand their skin and bring sustainable long term skin results for clients, AND naturally, she started to teach the same principles to connect the pieces of the knowledge and practical application to her industry piers.
CONSCIOUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP — What meaning do you give this term?
To me, it means that I make decisions not just for myself but in light of my clients who support my business as well. They have trusted in me and the products and services I provide so all decisions made are in light to be here in a position to continue to support them and help them grow long term. This means I aim to be fiscally responsible, but also responsible for the health and well being of my team and myself.
It also means that I run my business on strong ethics and values that are steady and constant, while flexibly growing.
MENTORS — We all need a little help along the journey. Who has been an invaluable mentor for you? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
I have had a number of great mentors over the years and have been blessed with amazing support. My parents were definitely my first mentors and instilled in me the belief that I can accomplish great things, even the hard stuff. The training I took when my boss would not support me was by Florence Barrett-Hill and the training was her Pastiche Method of Advanced Skin Analysis. She saw in me potential that I did not know I had myself, and really ‘pushed’ me in the direction of my dreams. I became a recognized Pastiche Educator which lead to serving on the board of education for the International Association of Applied Corneotherapy, and a faculty member for the Canadian Association of Aesthetic Medicine on top of distributing a skin care line (of course a corneotherapeutic one), diagnostic devices and business mentorship. She is still one of my strongest supporters along with Margaret Walsh and Dr. Hans Lautenschlager who all support me in my endeavours in the industry. I have also had a few business mentors and personal development mentors along the way. I think it is important to surround yourself with mentors whether they are paid or happen to be a light that came on your path like the ones I mentioned.
Can I share that I work alongside some of my mentors now… it is not just a one way stream and I think people don’t realize that each one of us has something to offer, even to our own mentors.
TO THRIVE — When you see yourself thriving: Do you see yourself opening up opportunities for others along the way to participate in your success, and how?
Yes, 100%. Collaboration is the place of growth not competition and that is something I learned the hard way as a naturally competitive person. What I realize now is that every time my clients, my peers, my mentors, and my industry does better, so do I. It does not mean that I choose to work with everyone but I aim to always be open minded, offer opportunities I see. Invite people in to participate.
As an example I was recently approached to help write a training curriculum for a medical association. I along with another aesthetician had a list of topics to cover and divided them into our respective fields of expertise, but we had gaps on topics neither of us versed in. So of course I reached out to my network to bring in another expert, who also knew someone who could cover a topic we still needed an expert on. We all get to contribute to this amazing program in the making now. What a gift! I am so excited for the people in our industry who will be undertaking this program to increase their base knowledge as well and I could not have done it on my own. It is a great experience and honor for us all. Likewise, I have had the opportunity to travel with some of my clients to attend conferences hosted by my suppliers. I could have gone on my own, but it is so much better with others whose businesses and clients have all benefited and I hung out with these amazing ladies in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Taiwan and counting. Lifetime memories — more valuable than money.
CAUSE — What are the causes close to your heart, and you are supporting right now? Can you share a story how you got involved? How did it make you feel?
Education as alway been at the heart of it all for me. For me the best way to give back to my industry is in my volunteer work for the Associations I support. I am honored to have a role in developing educational material for the respective associations. And the way to get involved is by putting my hand up to do the work.
I also do nonpublicized work in my community. When I hear of someone who needs help with skin, in particular to reenter the workforce after life throws an obstacle their way. Or when I get the opportunity to help with matters like scarring left after traumatic experiences. I simply reach out and offer help and fully sponsor it via my company. Nobody needs to know that it is done or for whom. It is very rewarding when I am able to contribute in a small way to things that can have a big impact on the individual.
THE FUTURE — How do you see the face of entrepreneurship in 5 years? How do companies /brands need to adapt to secure their place in the future?
I think people know that there is a person with a heart behind the mission. I think you have to show your human side in order for people to trust in doing business with you.
I think companies will have to go narrow and deep instead of broad but shallow. In my industry in particular, I think companies like my partner clinic will have to remember the human touch component of the aesthetic business in an era where the drive is online. You can absolutely have an online component but I think those going that way fully in our industry will have challenges in the future. We will remain at our core a industry of human touch.
ADVICE — What kind of advice would you like to give to an aspiring entrepreneur who feels limited due to their background or lack of resources?
Starting a business has never been easier than today! Your background is something that is very likely your point of difference. Have a little faith, put a little trust in yourself, and start with what you can. Then take the next step as you can. As long as you keep moving forward. If it is something that is truly a fire in you, you can’t ignore it. My one strong viewpoint on this is that it must be from within you! Don’t become an entrepreneur because it might look glamorous, or you feel you should because others are. It is not for everyone, but for those who have the calling, it is hard to ignore, so trust it will work out if that is you. Talk to those who have gone before you.
DRIVE — Do you sometimes feel bad for “wanting more out of life”, and if so, why? What is your personal motivation that leads you through the hardships of entrepreneurship?
Absolutely not! I was born for more. I might have moments, but they are short and fleeting. I am naturally quite motivated, I think it exhausted my parents, but you know, it means I take risks when others probably would not. I am generally a glass half full person. That is what gets me through hardships, is the glass really half full or half empty? I can’t complain about my upbringing, it was awesome (thanks Dad, thanks Mom) but I hold myself to the standard that when my boys are older I want them to look back and think positively about the opportunities they had in their life that my husband and I worked hard to curate through building our respective businesses. I want them to think, wow, look how they supported their employees, and their community and their family. And want them to be good contributing members of society like I feel we are. And, I won’t lie, I want them to be better off than we are so they too can pursue their dreams and ambitions.
CHALLENGES — Entrepreneurship is very challenging. We each have our own coping mechanism. Mine is humor. What is yours? Can you share a story?
Oh my, I feel like this is a trick question…
Mine is not humor, although I love a good joke, usually inappropriate. For me, when things get tough and challenging and I feel overwhelmed I find it best to do best and stop pushing. So I like to make a list of the necessary things that have to get done, then prioritize them, and aim to complete only one to three of those items then LEAVE THE OFFICE. As an A-type personality that is super hard for me, but I find I bounce back the fastest when I allow myself to ‘check out’ every now and then.
YOU — Is there anything you would like to share that we have not asked you here?
What do I want people in my industry to know?
You don’t have to do the same things everyone else does to be successful! You can be different, offer a limited treatment menu and be a huge success.
THANK YOU!
Connect with René Serbon on LinkedIn.
Demee Koch about the MEDIUM interview series on CONSCIOUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP:
Conscious entrepreneurship for me is about building a sustainable business that values and respects the resources used and makes an effort of giving back to society.
I believe we need entrepreneurs to really get involved in the causes close to their heart.
This is why I reach out to entrepreneurs that aim for more than generating profit. With this interview, I aim to share entrepreneurial purpose-led passion to inspire others.
Looking forward to learn from you. Reach out to me via LinkedIn.
Demee ❤︎
