EP:18 Faith, Safety, and Community with Krista Roodzant

In this episode, I sit down with Krista Roodzant, founder of SuiteStyle OC, a sanctuary for women tattooers and independent artists in Orange County. What started as an unexpected leap into entrepreneurship has grown into a thriving haven, reshaping what safety, beauty, and community can mean in the tattoo world.Krista’s path has been anything but conventional, from years as a registered nurse and decades as a stay-at-home mom, to real estate ventures, and finally opening her first salon suites in 2022. Her story is one of courage and faith, and what stands out is her heart-centered approach to business: rooted in prayer, hospitality, and a deep belief that artists deserve spaces where they feel secure and valued.We talk about how SuiteStyle OC has become home to tattooers, hairstylists, estheticians, and more, and why its focus on safety, aesthetics, and belonging is so transformative for women carving their own paths in a male-dominated industry. Krista also shares the challenges of entrepreneurship, what she’s learned about resilience and marketing, and the joy of watching artists build sustainable, thriving careers within her walls. In this episode we talk about: ✨ Krista’s unexpected path from nursing and motherhood to becoming a business owner ✨ The leap of faith that led to opening Suite Style OC in 2022 ✨ Why safety and security are at the core of her vision for artists ✨ How two tattooers asking for a suite changed everything ✨ The surprising misconceptions about tattooing she had to unlearn ✨ What makes artists thrive in independent studios (and what doesn’t) ✨ The role of prayer, intuition, and trust in shaping her leadership ✨ Why aesthetics, design, and hospitality matter so much in creative spaces ✨ How community events and collaboration are transforming isolation into connection ✨ Krista’s perspective on success and why it’s about more than filling every suiteKrista reminds us that building a business can be an act of service, and that sometimes the most powerful legacies come not from doing what we feel most “qualified” for, but from stepping into the unknown with trust, courage, and love.Connect with Krista RoodzantWebsite: https://www.suitestyleoc.com/aboutusInstagram: @suitestyle_ocConnect with Me:Instagram: @thejustinealmarazWebsite: www.justinealmaraz.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudioThank you for listening to Her Ink Empire. Your empire is already unfolding one aligned, intentional mark at a time. Stay tuned.