From the Corporate World to Entrepreneurship: Danielle Gronich
This entrepreneur’s journey began with her 10-year personal struggle with skin issues. After failing to find a solution that works for her, Danielle left her corporate career, went back to school, and learned everything that she can to find the answers herself. She is now a skin care expert and businesswoman currently growing her brand. Together with co-founder, they aim to help people feel good about themselves and experience clear confidence.
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Q: Tell us about your current work roles.
Currently I am in love with two businesses! One is San Diego Acne Clinic, my hands-on skincare practice where I perform acne facials and help people clear their skin. The personal aspect is very rewarding to me and I absolutely love it. The other is CLEARstem Skincare, which is a product line I formulated to be dual purpose, effective against acne and aging! My co-founder, Kayleigh, was a clinic patient and we both had a dream to bring some revolution to the beauty industry, so we partnered together and created this brand!
Q: What led you to that career?
My own acne struggles went on for over ten years and wrecked my skin and my confidence. After two rounds of Accutane (and countless rounds of lasers and antibiotics) failed, I became hell-bent on finding the real solutions for my skin. I enrolled in esthetic school simply to access the information I wanted to get my hands on. While there I realized a HUGE need for a holistic, effective acne clinic so I left the corporate world, combined my biology background with all my new, specific acne information and started the clinic in 2016.
Q: What is your educational background?
I have a Bachelor's in Sociology from UCSB, an esthetics license, and several acne-related certifications. I particularly love biology and genetics and studied biology during most of my educational years.
Q: Did you have any life-changing experiences that led you to what you’re doing today?
YES! having a series of terrible bosses who I couldn't stand to work for. I realized I needed to be in charge of my own life and create the happiness and success I wanted because doing all this work only to be unsatisfied was not working for me.
Q: How has your family and upbringing influenced your career choices?
My father is an entrepreneur and I have learned that this can be up to 50% genetic! I think seeing him be in total control of his life and schedule is what made me want to strive for that. I have always had a natural disenchantment with authority and rules so being my own rule-maker has been a long-time coming!
Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing?
Proud to help people clear their skin and give them back the confidence that they lost due to acne. The emotional component is very heavy and can elicit shameful feelings which spiral into other areas of people's lives, so being able to turn that around for people feels truly amazing.
Q: What would you say motivates you most to do what you do?
Aside from helping people with their acne, I love using my brain in new ways, like learning new marketing strategies for CLEARstem and formulating new amazing products. I also just love creating and generating positive energy in different ways, whether that a hot new webinar topic or coming up with new treatment protocols in the clinic!
On Making a Career Shift
Q: How did you find the courage to leap from one field to another?
It was scary as hell and I cried because the uncertainty was crippling, but I had a supportive partner and a couple of mentors who helped me.
I found the courage and was faced with a choice: do I go find another BS corporate job or do this thing that lights up my mind and spirit that could be so much greater than anything I've had so far? I had to go with the second option.
Q: What has been the greatest challenge for you when it comes to switching careers?
The greatest challenge was being a beginner again. My ego felt uncomfortable so I made it a point to become an expert fast so I could feel empowered even though I was new.
Q: What advice do you have for others who are still trying to find their passions?
Ask yourself what problem you wanted to solve for yourself is. And would you love to help other people with that? Also, what would you like to talk about all day long?? Find those things, and then see if a potential career could be made off of that. If you are solving a problem you are far more likely to have a business idea that could materialize.
Ask yourself, what would you like to talk about all day long??
Q: What’s next for you, what are you looking forward to?
I am looking forward to growing CLEARstem, I would like to double in revenue by September! I am also looking forward to expanding my personal brand as the country's Acne Guru and spreading much needed acne advice via our podcast interviews and our Ditch Your Acne Course! I want everyone who struggles with acne to know that this course could literally save them from YEARS of suffering with their skin!
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Learn more about and connect with Danielle at:
Website: https://linktr.ee/danielle.the.acne.guru
Instagram: @danielle.the.acne.guru