S1, E3: She Bought A Beauty School And Discovered A Mission To Empower Women - Skinworks, Natalie Parkin

Reinvention isn’t always a straight line. Natalie Parkin grew up sweeping hair in her mom’s salon, built a high-performing career in IT and telecom sales, then bought a beauty school and discovered a larger mission: empower people—especially women—to build flexible, credible careers in aesthetics. What started as a business opportunity became a commitment to advocacy, education, and client safety in one of the most dynamic markets in the country.We dive into how technology quietly powers modern skincare—from alexandrite and YAG lasers to microcurrent and galvanic—while still honoring the human side of care. Natalie explains why communication skills, service consistency, and trust turn services like waxing into stable, lucrative books of business. She also shares why she rejects non-competes and asks employers to earn loyalty instead of enforcing it. In a state with a high concentration of med spas and aesthetics-only schools, that mindset matters.Policy threads through everything here. Natalie breaks down Utah’s shift to a single 1200-hour master aesthetics license, the expansion of a standalone lash license to 270 hours, and what these decisions mean for students, employers, and outcomes. We talk Pell Grants, accreditation, and the push to ensure part-time, female-majority professions aren’t undervalued in federal data. Her advocacy has real wins—from halting harmful bills to ensuring trade schools aren’t left out when support is allocated.If you’re curious about how careers in aesthetics really work, why Utah leads in advanced skincare education, or how advocacy shapes the services you book, this conversation delivers a grounded, hopeful view. We wrap with practical skincare wisdom—wear sunscreen, moisturize, and start prevention early—and an open invite to visit the Skinworks clinic to see training and care in action.Enjoy the episode, then share it with a friend, subscribe, and leave a quick review so others can find stories like Natalie’s. Your support helps us keep spotlighting the people shaping Salt Lake’s creative, caring economy.50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITY Visit www.luxeautomotive.com or use this link to request a quote Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showSmall Lake City Calendar, add for all the events coming up straight to your iCal, Google Calendar, or Outlook: https://42b1ul.share-na2.hsforms.com/2NEaCwuBsSH-fY1z5Hr7DkgJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeKSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod