Welcome to "Where Are They Now?", a series that follows the journey of individuals who have attended one of our courses and how they have applied the skills and knowledge gained with us in their professional and personal lives. We believe that learning is a lifelong journey, and we take pride in knowing that our program has had a positive impact on the lives of our attendees.
Introducing Laura Harlan, the newest addition to our "Where Are They Now?" series brings us great excitement. Laura has taken multiple trainings, been a model, and received treatment at The Confidence Lab & Bar over the past few years!
What were you doing before you got into aesthetics?
I originally trained in Internal Medicine and after a few years in private practice with a small group, I was offered an opportunity to work in the Emergency Room. I was a dedicated night shift attending in the ER for over 20 years. When I realized I wasn't bouncing back from the overnights as quickly, I moved on to a vascular clinic for about 4 years. It was during those 4 years that I was approached by a friend and former colleague from the ER to start up an aesthetic practice. I liked the idea, but knew there would be a lot of training to be done in all areas of Aesthetics, so I set out to do just that. Our business journey began. Eventually we went our separate ways and I had a choice to make- go ahead and retire, or take my knowledge and training, re brand, and continue. I chose the latter.
Why did you choose The Confidence Lab's training program?
When my journey began about 5 years ago in Aesthetics, I put a lot of research into how and where to train. I am definitely a "hands on" person. When I came across Rana and The Confidence Lab, I knew that would be a good place to go- I had an amazing experience (on more than one occasion) training there. I was made to feel comfortable, could ask anything without judgement, could customize training for my needs, and at the end of the day left there feeling more confident to take what I learned back to my practice.
What are you doing now?
I currently keep my practice small and absolutely love being available for my clients any day of the week- most just text me when they want to come in. I enjoy really getting to know them, hearing about their lives and building relationships (this satisfaction is something you usually don't get working in the ER). I still work in the ER 1-2 shifts/month as they are short staffed and I still like the fast pace there in small bites so to speak.
What advice would you give to those considering a career in this field?
For anyone thinking of a career in Aesthetics, my advice is to train several times a year as the industry/products/techniques are constantly changing; speak to someone who has been there from the ground up (I personally have met with several nurses and nurse practitioners in my area and shared what I did right, what I did wrong, how to source supplies, how to deal with Reps, etc). Also, read, read, research, and read some more.