Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cecilia Berkley, Founder of Corazon Beauty and Cecilia Berkley Holistic Spa, located in Scottsdale, AZ, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My name is Cecilia Berkley, and I am a Licensed Aesthetician, a Facialist, a Certified Holistic Wellness Practitioner, and Herbalist who loves to inspire and serve women. I am also the Founder & CEO of Corazon Organic Beauty, with a global reach including customers in the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe. The list of prestigious clients includes members of a royal family from the Middle East. I also own Cecilia Berkley Holistic Spa in North Scottsdale, Arizona. I am a specialist in Gua She Facial Massage techniques and utilize non-invasive treatments such as Red Light LED therapy and is excited to say I am one of the only spas in Arizona to have an OXYLIGHT machine that can provide "Celebrity Red Carpet Facials" with. One of my clients glowed when I shared, "I walked in and saw Cecilia's beautiful face and was warmly welcomed into her luxurious spa. The ambiance of her spa and her energy is radiant. Long story short, I've never felt more pampered in my life!"

Tell us about yourself

I have been preparing for my career in natural beauty since the time I was a young girl. As a little girl in Mexico, I picked rose petals and put them in a bottle with alcohol and tried to make perfume, starting a lifetime of love and passion for beauty. Additionally, I had a dream of being on television and was very fortunate to have lived her dreams; I had a TV show in Spanish in Phoenix for several years many of the segments were based on health and beauty. Coming full circle, Cecilia realized my life purpose, "I want to do more to help women with their health and beauty. I have started a company that produces pure organic nourishing skincare products. Everything I try to do comes from a place of love, and if you look at the ingredients of my products, that is the first ingredient! My company name has a special meaning to me. Corazón is a Latin word meaning heart!" That truly is where my products are derived from.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My calling goes far beyond superficial beauty. I touch women's lives on a much deeper level by sharing her story of perseverance and the strong belief that you can achieve what you believe and dream despite whatever you may have been through in life. In my Holistic Spa, I use organic healing herbs for a collection of treatments that have been created to restore balance, refresh energy and rejuvenate the spirit. I refer to my product creations as "Organic gourmet skin nourishment" and source the finest, purest ingredients from around the world. Being able to make positive changes in women's lives is by far the biggest accomplishment I have in owning my business.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

My difficult situation started when I was a young child growing up in Mexico. The odds were against me. I grew up in poverty; I was abused and abandoned by my father. Growing up, I saw and went through things that no child should ever have to go through. Despite this, I dreamed and persevered. Because I did not have the opportunities others may have had growing up, I constantly struggled to get beyond my past. This was a giant hurdle for me when I first started my business. As much as I did not want to look back, those things from my past seemed to get in the way. I overcame language barriers; I had to overcome emotional pain and really embraced self-reflection while never ever losing my passion for my dreams.

It has not always been a smooth road. Whenever we set out to fulfill our soul's purpose, we are bound to encounter setbacks or challenges–because our dreams and our heart's desires need to be bigger than the fears that we may be challenged by. Just after Cecilia opened up her Spa, the COVID pandemic began, and she, like many small business owners, was forced to close the doors to her spa for a period of time.

During this time, it was difficult not to get discouraged, but Cecilia's mentality has been to persevere no matter what obstacles come her way. In her core, she knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that her dreams are bigger than any fear or distraction that may arise–and when they arise, she stays focused, continues to act with a pure heart, and seeks to learn from what the experience is trying to teach her.

"With each lesson learned, we become wiser," Cecilia says, "and the wiser we are, the more we understand that our journey is meant to be just that, a journey with highs and lows–both of which must be honored an embraced throughout the various stages of our lives."

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Be true to yourself, and don't try to be like others.
  2. Have a passion for what you do.
  3. Be consistent and persistent in everything you do.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Although things may slow you down, for me, it is part of the journey. Embrace it, enjoy it, and move with it one day at a time. Always be optimistic and empathetic towards others.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website:
https://corazonorganicbeauty.com/
https://www.ceciliaholisticspa.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/DOLCEBELLAINC
https://www.facebook.com/ceciliaberkleyholisticspa/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/corazon.beauty/
https://www.instagram.com/ceciliaholisticspa/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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