Growing with Couture: How One Employee Evolved Through Multiple Roles

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What does it mean to truly grow with a company from its earliest days? In this heartfelt conversation, we sit down with Dominique, who has been part of the Couture Med Spa family since its first year of operation. Her remarkable journey from document scanner to social media specialist mirrors the evolution of Couture itself—from a small team in a single location to a thriving business with multiple spas across different states.

Dominique takes us through her professional metamorphosis, sharing how she progressed from scanning paper records to becoming a medical assistant, client care coordinator, location manager, executive assistant, and now a client liaison and social media specialist. Throughout these transitions, she balanced her career growth with personal milestones, including marriage and motherhood. What makes her story particularly compelling is how seamlessly her professional development intertwined with Couture's expansion.

The most striking aspect of Dominique's narrative is her emphasis on Couture's consistent family-like culture. Despite significant growth, the company maintained its warm, supportive environment—something Dominique credits as central to both her personal satisfaction and professional success. "Couture raised me," she reflects, highlighting how deeply intertwined her identity has become with the company. For those in the aesthetics industry or considering it as a career path, Dominique offers valuable advice: "Be gentle with yourself. It's a lot of information and it's always evolving."

Whether you're curious about career growth in the aesthetics industry, wondering how companies maintain their culture through expansion, or simply enjoy stories of personal and professional development, this conversation offers genuine insights from someone who has experienced it all firsthand. Listen now to discover how the right workplace can become not just a job, but a second family that supports your growth every step of the way.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Welcome back to Couture Conversations, the
podcast where we dive into allthings beauty, confidence and
the incredible people behindCouture Med Spa.
I'm your host, lindsay, leadesthetician here at Couture.
Today I'm excited to be joinedby Dominique.
Dominique has been with Couturefor almost since the very
beginning and we'll be exploringher amazing journey with the

(00:36):
company, how her roles haveevolved over time and the growth
that she has seen along the way.
So let's jump in, dom, hello,thank you for joining me today.
Thank you for having me.
I'm very excited.
I am too.
So I'll start off with a funlittle story about Dominique.
So the very first time that Ihad met Dominique well, I don't

(00:57):
know if I would necessarily saymet her, but I was you probably
don't even remember this.
So I was a little, I was alittle newbie esthetician and I
had just graduated, probablylike six or seven months ago,
and I worked down the street ata doctor's office and I was born
and raised in Ocoee and Iremember seeing that a med spa

(01:19):
had opened in Ocoee and I'm likeI put a med spa on Ocoee, brand
spanking new.
I was like no one's going to goto a med spa on a co-e, but I
was super excited because I wasjust in a session.
I'm like maybe they needsomeone.
So me and two of my coworkerson our lunch break came by the
spa and I was talking, I walkedin, I was like, oh, I just want

(01:40):
to see what you guys do here andeverything.
And I forget who it was at thetime.
But they, you know, kind ofshowed me around, showed me
everything.
They were like, oh, we do this,this and this.
And they were like oh, and wedo like lip filler.
And they were like, look, shejust got her lips done and I'm
like, don't worry, it was you,oh no, and your lips look great,
by the way, but I remember youbeing like they're super swollen
right now.
I like they'll go down, comeback and check them out in like

(02:01):
two weeks and you can see, comeback, come back, um.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
But yeah you, sometimes it gets scary that
swelling is is real for somepeople yeah, I was not.
I personally love the swelling,but if you're like never seen
it before, you're like whoa, andthat was like don't worry it
goes down.

Speaker 1 (02:20):
So that was me.

Speaker 2 (02:22):
I had never seen like filler or anything and they
really did.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
They looked good, they weren't like super crazy or
anything, but I remember beinglike oh, she just got her lips
done and she's like working Likeshe got it, oh, okay, so
excited so yeah, and then I sentmy resume over, yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
But that was.
That was the first time that Ihad met you and they were all
like this is Dom, she's got herlips done.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
So that was the first time that I had met you and
they were all like this is Dom,she's her little dog.
So that was my firstintroduction with you.
Oh, I'm glad I loved it.
It was great memorable it mademe love couture, made me want to
be there.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
So you have been with couture since almost the very
beginning right, yeah, I think,um, you know, we we were
planning our one yearanniversary party which was like
circus theme or something, andyou know it was a very small
team and actually, yeah, it'sjust kind of been a ride from

(03:15):
there.

Speaker 1 (03:16):
So how did you find Couture?
How did you start at Couture?

Speaker 2 (03:19):
Honestly, my mom was a member, so I was moving back
home and she mentioned it toDiane and was like I, my
daughter's coming back, like shedoesn't really have anything
set up here.
Diane was like, bring her in,like let's, let's interview her,
let's figure out if we can dosomething.
And uh came in, uh interviewedwith Ashley Uh, it was seven

(03:43):
minutes long and I think Istarted like that next Monday or
something.
Um, so, you know, I obviouslymy mom was a member, but I had
no idea that she had even, youknow, was doing any of these
treatments.
And so, you know, at first Iwas like what, what do I even do
?
Um, I actually didn't start inthe med spa.
I was hired as a just you know,1099 helping scan documents in

(04:09):
because we had just switched tothis new system and they were
switching away from paper, andso I did that gosh for a month
or two and Diane was like, ifyou finish that, we'll figure
out where you want to go.
She was like, if you finishthat, we'll, we'll figure out
where you want to go.
And she was like you can eitherwork.
And back then it was, you know,front desk and then, uh, you
were a medical assistant and shewas like we'll figure out which

(04:31):
one you want to do.
And of course I wanted to beher right hand.
I wanted to be a medicalassistant.
So, um, after scanning goshendless amounts of paper I think
me and the shredder were likethat but after doing all that,
it kind of just took off fromthere and yeah, we ran it.

Speaker 1 (04:52):
How many of you were working at the time?
How many employees did you guys?

Speaker 2 (04:55):
have.
It was Ashley Diane, me and Ithink well, we had an
esthetician at the time, andthen one more person, and you
know, that was our crew, thatwas everybody.
So were you pretty much the onlylike client care coordinator,
yep I ran the floor and you knowI was doing, I was rooming, I

(05:19):
was numbing, charting, you know,eventually it became more of
like a cross-train thing and Idid everything, um, but you know
, and just having that coregroup, and then you know, seeing
how things have evolved, it's,it's been awesome what part of
that, um being a client carecoordinator at that time did you

(05:43):
enjoy the most?
Oh geez, um, what did I enjoythe most?
I was all so fun.
I think you know I wasobviously younger, um, and we
were just so close and justbeing able to.
I mean, it's like going to workwith your best friends every
day, um, in like a good way, um,so you just you do your tasks

(06:11):
and then you know, a lot oftimes we'd go out and have
dinner afterward or we'd go hangout together, so, um, I don't
know it's, it was just kind of acombination of everything.

Speaker 1 (06:23):
So how has your role changed since those first couple
of years that you were withCouture?
Kind of take us through yourjourney of what you don't have
to go in super detail of all ofthem, but just kind of like what
are the different things ordifferent roles that you've done
with Couture and kind of whereyou are now?

Speaker 2 (06:37):
So, obviously, scanning documents and then, you
know, medical assisting for acouple of years.
I did take about a year break,not working at Couture, but I
did come back and so after thatI went back to being a client
care that's what we called themwhen I came back was client care

(06:57):
coordinators.
I did that for a couple ofyears and then I moved up, I
became a manager and I managed.
For a couple of years I manageda couple of the locations and
then from there I became aexecutive assistant and after

(07:20):
that I have also had two babieswithin this time frame.
So after I had my seconddaughter, pepper, I came back
and now I'm in like a clientliaison, like social media
position and we do a lot ofmarketing and I just work a lot

(07:42):
with client relations and it'sit's been a blast.
This has um been a very funrole and you know, moving
between all these roles and likehaving that prior knowledge of
all of those past um positions,I think it it just really helps

(08:02):
um me in this role understand,like the client side, but also
what the team goes through andhow I can support both sides.
It's really awesome.

Speaker 1 (08:14):
What have been some of the biggest challenges that
you've faced, whether it waspersonally, professionally, just
kind of growing with thecompany.

Speaker 2 (08:22):
I think, um it it like we were discussing this
previously I think there hasn'treally been like a challenge
other than, like you know,growing pains.
You go into a new role andthose are new skills that you
have to learn and, um, differenttasks and things that you have

(08:43):
to grow into.
And the challenge has been fun,like because you know, I love
like moving around, like allthese things, and so learning
all these new things and skillshas it's been a challenge, but
it's also been really exciting.

Speaker 1 (09:03):
What has been the most rewarding part of your
journey.

Speaker 2 (09:07):
Um, I love that I get to work so closely with the
clients, um, but also I get towork very closely with the team
and now, um, having like beingthat middleman is very rewarding
for me, because it's like I canhave a good relationship with

(09:27):
the clients and then go and havefun with the girls and it's
it's very rewarding for me, likeI feel very personally
fulfilled on both sides.

Speaker 1 (09:38):
So, since you've had kind of a front row seat to all
of the growth with Couture, whatdoes that look like from your
perspective?
Yeah, what is the?
How have you seen Couture grow?

Speaker 2 (09:49):
Oh it's, it's changed in every way and not changed in
so many ways too.
Like the, the culture and thevalues are very grounded and
rooted into who we are, and justseeing that being able to be
scaled on like a bigger levelit's I mean, that's rewarding in

(10:12):
itself.
It's like you have that thatsmall core team feel it's very
warming, like very comforting,but you're able to scale that.
And all the teams are sodifferent but they all work so
well together.
All the teams are so different,but they all work so well

(10:34):
together.
So you know, it's just nice tobe able to see how it's evolved
in a way that still feels likefamily I would.

Speaker 1 (10:43):
I think that's spot on Couture very much feels like
a family.

Speaker 2 (10:56):
I've interviewed a lot of people so far that have
been with the company, and thatseems to be a common thing,
which is great.
It doesn't matter if there's ahundred team members in a room,
like you know all of them, youfeel so comfortable with all of
them and we all know how to haveso much fun together, and so
that's really comforting andthat, you know, keeps it
exciting too, cause, like whywould you want to go and be and
work anywhere where it doesn'tfeel like that that just I
couldn't do it, and so you know,being able to be privileged in

(11:19):
that aspect is everything we're.
We're lucky.

Speaker 1 (11:23):
Yes, we are very lucky.
Are there any standoutmilestones that you really were
like?
This place is is growing.
We're doing this.

Speaker 2 (11:33):
I mean, you know, we went from.
You know Ashley and Diane wentfrom a 10 by 10 room to what a
ton of locations now and we'restill growing.
And I think when Oviedo andOcoee uh, opened so close
together, I think it was like mygosh, like we're doing this.

(11:55):
Everyone was strapped in and Imean we took off from there.
So after that it was like Mary,and then we franchised and we
franchised again and we keptfranchising, so like yeah, I
think Oviedo and Ocoee for mewas like oh my gosh, like here
we are.

Speaker 1 (12:16):
When we went to a different state.

Speaker 2 (12:18):
Yes, and that was, that was like the second tier
part to to that as well as likewe're not just in Florida
anymore and we're not just evenin one one, one other state,
like we're in multiple states.
Um, so let's take it, take itall over, take it nationally,
take it global nicole.

Speaker 1 (12:38):
Okay, so I'll ask you this because when I was
interviewing nicole, um, one daywe had talked about like, oh,
maybe even like internationally,other places, dream place for a
couture to open and you get togo work at it.
Where, where would, where wouldyou want to be?
Like, anywhere in the world?
Anywhere in the world, you canbring couture and you get to
work at it.
You get to be there, hmm.

Speaker 2 (13:00):
I think so If I was staying in the U?
S, I would probably go a littlebit more North, like maybe, uh,
like the Carolinas or something, just something with a little.
I want a little season.
You know, I Florida is nice ina lot of ways, but I do enjoy a
good season.
Um.

(13:20):
So I think somewhere where,like like the Carolinas or
somewhere around there, would bereally fun.
Um, but if we're talking global, um Antarctica no, I'm just
kidding, I'll go with you yeah,um, but let's see, I think maybe
somewhere in like Europe, um, Ithink that would be really fun.

(13:42):
I'm not, I'm not picky if I'min Europe, like let's do it.

Speaker 1 (13:46):
Let's do it.

Speaker 2 (13:47):
Um, so yeah, I think somewhere in Europe would be
really fun.
Yeah, that's it All.
Right, you hear that.

Speaker 1 (13:55):
Carolinas or Europe, let's do.

Speaker 2 (13:57):
Europe.

Speaker 1 (13:59):
Do you have any favorite memories from the early
days at Couture?
Are there any like fun or funnymemories that you have?

Speaker 2 (14:08):
One time, before one of our events, I did fall down
the hill in the back of winterpark, so I was all dressed up.

Speaker 1 (14:15):
Wait, what was the theme that year?
What were you dressed up as, doyou remember?

Speaker 2 (14:18):
Oh gosh, I don't even know it was.
Yeah, I took a tumble down thehill and of course there was an
audience out there who saw meand I'm pretty sure my dress
went up and people saw that.
So, uh, I didn't, it was a notso graceful, graceful recovery.
So, um, that was fun.

(14:39):
And then, let's see, I just, uh, I just enjoy, like we do so
many fun events and so when,even when you're working,
they're, they're fun, um,dressing up and just being a
part of that, those are all goodmemories, our events are.

Speaker 1 (14:57):
They're so fun.
Clients don't know, they don'tknow it all goes into it
beforehand.
I don't know, but they have,but they enjoy it when they
enjoy it and I think it almoststartles them too, Like we.

Speaker 2 (15:09):
we turn it into a very immersive event.
So those are all really fun,good memories.

Speaker 1 (15:15):
If you ever get the chance to come to any of our
parties.
Yeah, coming out.
We got someone up too, I knowwe do?

Speaker 2 (15:21):
I'm excited.
End of the year is always, youknow, look out.

Speaker 1 (15:26):
So a couple spa questions, I guess.

Speaker 2 (15:30):
What are.

Speaker 1 (15:32):
What would you say?
Your favorite treatment is?

Speaker 2 (15:35):
Ooh.
So you know, I feel like as youget more busy, you get less
time to kind of do these things.
Like, realistically, I alwaysenjoy a good IPL Helps.
Well, back in the day I was apepperoni face, so it really
helped with my acne.
But I think now, as I've gottenolder, my skin has changed.

(15:59):
It's not so much a issue for meanymore.
But I do really enjoy a gooddermaplane with hydrofacial or
dermaplane with FI or nice, likethose are my go-to um facial
options.
Um, I have really been enjoyingour new uh cryotherapy Yep, so

(16:19):
I've done a couple of those.
I have a little bit of mom mombelly going on, so, um, we're
working on that and, yeah, I tryto do what I can.
Obviously, botox fillers thoseare always a classic favorite.

Speaker 1 (16:36):
So Nunu doesn't know the cryotherapy that she was
talking about, that is, it usescold to destroy fat cells.
So we do have a lot of peoplewho use it.

Speaker 2 (16:45):
It's great for cellulite reduction.
Tightening skin is really.
I've seen some amazing resultswith that, even Um, so it's very
versatile and so I've beendoing the whole body like just
dunk me in it.
Yeah, whole body.
I just.
Whenever I'm in winter parkwith Cynthia, I'm like just
anywhere, anywhere that looksgood, just go for it.

(17:08):
Touch me, just let's tighten itanywhere that looks good, just
go for it.

Speaker 1 (17:13):
Touch me, just let's tighten it.

Speaker 2 (17:20):
So any advice that you would give someone just
starting out in the aestheticsindustry Um, be gentle with
yourself.
It's a lot of information andit's always evolving.
We're always getting new things, we're always testing new
things, looking into new things.
So just you know, allowyourself time to learn.
I think you know, even from aclient perspective, seeing

(17:41):
everything we offer is veryoverwhelming.
So when you're, you know,coming into aesthetics,
everyone's telling you what'sright, what's wrong, what to do,
what not to do, and so I thinkfinding people who you really
click with and trust is theywill guide you through.

(18:02):
But yeah, just be patient withyourself.
There's a lot going on and wealways want to keep evolving in
that too.

Speaker 1 (18:13):
What does being part of the couture family mean to
you personally?

Speaker 2 (18:16):
It's my career, it is my family.
Um, I spend a lot of time here,so it's like I'm very close
with you and everybody else, andso that is very comforting.
Um, but yeah, it's, it's.
I mean, couture is literallypart of who I am.
Like.
Couture raised me, um, so Imean there's definitely that

(18:40):
aspect too of just like this is,this is my life, this is what
I'm passionate about, this iswho I choose to spend my time
with, um and I.
I believe in the brand and thisis obviously helped shaped me
today.

Speaker 1 (18:55):
So yeah, yeah, I mean even I think about when I first
met you to where you are now,just watching you, how you've
evolved, not only professionallyat Couture, you know, I've seen
all the different jobs thatyou've taken on, all the
different responsibilities andyou've excelled at it and you've

(19:16):
done amazing at it and I lovewhere you are right now.
Um, you know, expanding our, oursocial presence and our social
media, and I've, you know, I'veenjoyed watching that part of
you, but I've also enjoyedwatching the personal side of
you.
Like I said, you know, I'veenjoyed watching that part of
you, but I've also enjoyedwatching the personal side of
you, like I said you've had twokids in between.
You've gotten married, you'vegrown into an adult.

(19:38):
I know I'm all grown up.

Speaker 2 (19:40):
What's happening?
I'm almost an adult.
I think I don't know there'smore adultier adults, but I'm
trying.

Speaker 1 (19:49):
I mean, I'm adultier than you and I'm definitely not
an adult.
I think I don't know.

Speaker 2 (19:52):
There's more adultier adults, but I'm trying.
I mean, I'm adultier than youand I'm definitely not an adult,
so yeah, I'm like, hmm, whatelse do I want to do?
But yeah, it's been really fun.
It's um, you know, I think,even just being in this new
space, like this new role thatI'm in, um, I have been very
pleasantly surprised with howclose I've been able to work
with you, even like justbouncing ideas off of everybody

(20:16):
and kind of taking a stressfulbecause it can be stressful a
stressful position and making itthe Dom version, essentially
like more fun and relaxed andjust enjoyable, because I don't
want it to feel like a chore foreverybody and I don't want it
to feel like a chore for meeither, especially when we can

(20:37):
have so much fun with it.

Speaker 1 (20:38):
so I think that's that's really been enjoyable we
love the dom version and it'sbeen nice because it's this role
has brought you back into thespas a little bit more, because
for a while, especially withbeing like, assistant and all of
that kind of took you a littlebit more out of the spas, which
was great.

(20:58):
It was needed.
Certain things obviously happenbehind the scenes that need to
get done, but this role hasreally brought you back into the
spa, yeah, and you know, we seeyou in the locations, we
interact with you every day, um,and so I think it's been really
exciting to kind of watch yougrow in this new role, which has
been really fun.
Yeah, it's been a blast for me.

(21:19):
So you have any any finalthoughts or comments or anything
before we go?

Speaker 2 (21:26):
Um, just, you know like it's been a pleasure.
It's been a pleasure, you know,like seeing everybody and me
taking on new things, and I'm,you know, I'm dealing with new
people now and I'm learning newthings.
It's just been so delightful,it really has.

(21:49):
So I, I just I hope that itjust keeps being fun, and I
think it will.
I think it will.
You'll keep it fun.
We always keep it fun.
Couture always keeps it fun.
Yes, we always keep it fun.
We always keep it, keep it real.
Yep.
So yeah, that's it Awesome.
Well, thank you so much forjoining me today.

Speaker 1 (22:09):
Thank you for having me Well, I'm excited to continue
to watch you grow and continueto excel in this role and see
how our um, socials andeverything that you put all the
hard work into evolves, so keepan eye out, so you can.
You can see all of Dom's lovelywork that she does on all of our
social media.
So, um, you can follow us onInstagram, tik TOK, youtube,

(22:31):
facebook.
Um, you can visit our websiteat couturemedspacom, and if
you've enjoyed this episode,please don't forget to like and
subscribe.
You can share it with any ofyour friends, um, and we look
forward to seeing you next time.
Thanks for coming.
Very, very lovely, lovely time.
You did good, thank you.