Today’s Notable Young Professional is Project Skin MD Business Director Vanessa Grutman, whose entrepreneurial spirit has shaped much of the company both before and since its launch. What advice does she offer other young professionals? Find out in today’s profile…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
I manage Project Skin MD, a centre of excellence for laser, aesthetic dermatology and anti-aging medicine. The clinic is visionary and focuses on excellent care, outstanding customer service and unmatched results. We want our customers to feel that Project Skin MD is a destination more than just a doctor’s office. Being the Business Director, I have a lot of different responsibilities – from managing a team of 10 beautiful professional clinicians to maximizing client experience and satisfaction, to ensuring our business is growing every month. We officially opened for business in September 2012 but I have been involved in the planning and implementation phases of this project since July 2011.
Why did you start working at your company?
I love starting things from the ground up. In fact, all of my jobs have always been about starting something new – it wasn’t planned like this but looking back, it makes sense. Part of me is an entrepreneur, so I enjoy the freedom a new project gives me. It is more challenging and you have to invest more time but I just love how fast you learn and rewarding it can be.
I was involved in the planning of Project Skin MD more than a year before its opening and at some point I realized “I’ve got to be part of this.” That’s how I decided to change direction and bring my contribution to the branding, design, thinking, recruiting and overall development of Project Skin MD. When I believe in something, it becomes second nature and that’s what happened with this project.
What was the inspiration for this career route?
The desire to start something new, visionary, unique and exciting along with a team of highly experienced professionals.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis?
Finding innovative and strategic ways to set ourselves apart from the competition. I enjoy using the creative side of my brain and thinking out of the box.
The most challenging part?
Making sure every member of our team remains on the same page and shares the same vision with the same end goal for our customers.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I want to be a positive leader and hope to be evolving in an environment where I will make a difference.
What does success look like to you?
I find leadership and entrepreneurship very inspiring.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
I have had a few important milestones in my (young) career. However, I tend to appreciate and embrace the little successes I encounter every day. I still have so much to learn that I find it’s the best way to stay grounded and realize what you bring to the table and what really makes a difference.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
If a job doesn’t seem or feel right when you wake up to go to work in the morning, it probably isn’t the right one for you. Don’t wait several years before considering a career change or exploring other options. Work should be fulfilling and enjoyable (not always of course…but most of the time!). Fear of change is a big setback for most people but I personally embrace change when there is a valid reason behind it. In that case, I think change is constructive and quite refreshing!
Do you support any charities?
At Project Skin MD we try to be very close to our patients and we therefore support many charities that they are involved in. Since we’ve opened, we’ve participated and donated to more than a dozen different organizations.
If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
I want us to be more involved in our community as we grow and become more settled. I feel helping women recovering from breast or skin cancer by working on reducing the appearance of their scars and making them feel great about themselves would be really rewarding.
What to you is notable? I love the idea of connecting young professionals that are forward-thinking. It is clever and inspiring. What more can I ask for?
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
iPhone and iPad…funny enough, though, I don’t use a Mac computer!