A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak at my first conference, Modern Beauty Con, and I honestly still don’t think it’s fully sunk in.
My talk was called “Better Together: Elevating Growth Through Collaboration”, and it focused on something I’m incredibly passionate about: the relationship between estheticians and injectors in a collaborative practice setting.
At Exhibit, collaboration is at the center of everything we do. I spoke about the flow of a collaborative consultation, how we create cohesive treatment plans in a high-volume practice, and how we make communication work despite busy schedules and fully booked days. But beyond logistics, I really wanted to highlight how this approach has strengthened our culture, improved client trust, and created better overall outcomes.
Because when providers truly work together instead of operating in silos, clients feel it. They feel supported. They feel cared for. And they feel like they have an entire team invested in their progress. That’s something really special.
Going into this experience, I was nervous- probably more nervous than I let on. Public speaking doesn’t exactly come naturally to me because I’m very much an introverted extrovert. I love connecting with people deeply, but putting myself out there in front of a room full of industry professionals still pushed me outside my comfort zone.
At the same time, I felt confident in what I had to say.
Not because I think we have everything figured out, but because I genuinely believe in what we’re building at Exhibit. I believe in sharing ideas, sharing systems, and sharing the things that are helping us grow instead of gatekeeping them. Our industry grows faster when we learn from each other.
I’ve always been passionate about education and community, and this experience reminded me how important it is to continue showing up, even when it feels uncomfortable. Speaking forced me to step into a new version of myself professionally. One that’s more visible, more open, and more willing to take up space in conversations I care deeply about.
And the response afterward meant more to me than people probably realize.
Having other estheticians come up to me, message me, or tell me they resonated with what I shared reminded me why community matters so much. We all want to feel supported in this industry. We all want to feel like there’s room for us to grow.
I hope I get the opportunity to speak again because I truly believe we’re doing something special at Exhibit.
In just under three years, we’ve experienced growth that still amazes me. We’ve outgrown our space twice, grown from four employees to twenty in just two and a half years, and have even been nationally recognized by Allergan. But beyond the numbers, what makes me most proud is the culture we’ve built.
As an esthetician working in a primarily medical space, I feel incredibly lucky to be supported, valued, and encouraged the way I have been. Not every esthetician gets that experience, and I never take it for granted.
This season of my career has brought me opportunities, growth, mentorship, and learning experiences I could have never imagined a few years ago. And while I’m still figuring things out as I go, I know one thing for certain:
I want to keep building community.
I want to keep sharing.
And I want to continue helping elevate our industry together.