During the month of March, we celebrate both Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. Both are an opportunity to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
Dress for Success Luzerne County has brought that message home to NEPA with their Women In Power Campaign, where we’ve partnered with them to highlight incredible women in our community all month long. Each week, DiscoverNEPA will be featuring a Woman in Power. Each woman was asked to answer five questions about work, life and the power of representation.
As co-owner of Klein Horsley Aesthetics, Rachel Klein is focused on helping the women in NEPA find their beauty, both inside and out. With her extensive background in managing aesthetic practices, Rachel ensures that each client receives personalized, top-tier care. Her focus is not only on running their practice, but building relationships and helping the women they serve feel their best for life’s important moments. She is immensely proud that Klein Horsley Aesthetics is predominantly run by women, and encourages her staff to set goals for themselves, including furthering their education and building their expertise.
In your professional and personal lives, what achievements and successes have made you feel powerful? How can other women learn from these stories?
I’ve felt the most powerful (unknowingly) in my opening year of my business. I made so many mistakes, and had so many new experiences. Learning how to handle them, and navigating my own path wasn’t easy but the support and help I’ve received from so many different empowered women reminded me that there was a welcoming seat at that table for me. It helped me grow into the person I truly believe I was meant to be, and that person helps others, through business and life.
I hope others can hear that and know they have so much support, so much they don’t even know, and there’s always room at this table.
What does Accelerate Action (this year’s theme for IWD day) mean for you and how can you use your voice to help Accelerate Action?
Accelerate Action for me personally means taking proactive steps to drive positive change within my business, or within my direct control. With the hopes of having a cascading effect throughout the surrounding community. Within our medical spa, my partner and I have encouraged and aided several of our staff members to move into higher education. (one new Penn State grad, two new estheticians, and one newly esthetics trained PA) The more women we have in important roles, and increased confidence in their value as a contributing team member, I believe the better our community is as a whole.
How have you acted as a mentor to other women, either in your personal life or in the workplace? What makes this kind of mentorship important?
Throughout my career, for over 10 years I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting so many women. Within the safe walls of our private appointments I give support, advice, and even have been a shoulder to lean on. Teaching others that being kind is a kind of beauty you can’t buy in my shop, but sometimes just what you need. Mentoring, or just being a consistent strong figure is just leading by example. Lead and others will follow.
What barriers have you faced in your life (professionally and/or personally that you feel comfortable sharing) and how did you overcome them?
I think being a woman in business, any business, is the barrier. The balance beam in being a business owner, a partner, a caretaker, and finding a peaceful coexistence between all those roles is still a barrier I know I personally fight with. Honestly, I don’t know if I will overcome them. But I think every day remembering your personal value is not derived from one specific thing. It is the wide array of the human experience, the people you meet, the things you get to create, the lives you touch, letting you feel a vast variety of emotions. Isn’t that all just the beauty of living?
As a powerful woman, what would you tell a woman who is struggling in her career and/or having a hard time moving ahead and achieving her goals?
I would tell her that things change, you change, and if your needs are pulling you somewhere uncharted don’t be afraid. Explore the new idea of what maybe could be. It’s okay to be unsure. Few things in life are black and white so learn to live in the grey. If you need help, simply ask.
About Dress for Success
Dress for Success ® is an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to nearly 150 cities in 30 countries. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 2,000,000 women work towards self-sufficiency.
Since Dress for Success Luzerne County became operational in December of 2010, the program has reached 2,500 economically challenged women from the area by providing clothing, job interview support and workforce guidance. Dress for Success Luzerne County continues to create programs to enhance economic and social development, encouraging self-sufficiency through career development and employment retention.
