Jaindia
Holistic Massage Therapist
(Business Owner)

Business Type: Holistic Therapies
Business Location: London

How long have you been in your profession?
4 years

What made you choose this career?
Its one of my purposes in life and I have always had a profound interest in the healing world.

What training/qualifications did you have to have?
Depending on where you study the training can be from 8 months to a year to gain a full ITEC Dip in Holistic body massage and Anatomy and Physiology.

What advice would you give to someone wishing to follow this career?
I would say go and study massage to gain the qualifications to practice. It can also take several months to a year to get yourself established and to have regular clients.
It can be hard in the beginning to get clients so one has to market and advertise as much as possible.
With determination it can be done!

What’s the best and worst thing about your job?
It's a lovely feeling when I have just finish a massage and the person expresses their feeling of total relaxation or that the initial pain they had in a specific part of the body is now not apparent.
The worse thing is when I have a really quiet day and so end up waiting around for clients to call me.

What’s a typical day like in your job?
Very laid back. I prepare my treatment room which only involves setting up my massage couch and burning lovely oils to create a relaxing atmosphere.
Generally 15mins before the client arrives I spend that time in meditation/visualization to create a 'protective coating' around myself as one can take on others negative energy during the treatment.

What do you hope to gain from the Sistahs 4 Sistahs website?
I would say a sense of support and encouragement and the sharing of ideas and experiences.
I would also like to be able to meet up once in a while with other women as a group to discuss and share these ideas and experiences.


Back to top

 



Tamara Jureidini / Mistee5
Mobile Nail Technician
(Business Owner)

Business Type: Mobile Nail Technician
Business Location: East Midlands

How long have you been in your profession?
11 yrs

What made you choose this career?
Growing up, I wanted to be a beauty therapist and chose to train in Nail Technology first. However when i finally began training in beauty therapy i realised that i really only enjoyed doing nails; so that's what i did.

What training/qualifications did you have to have?
Diploma/ Certificates/ NVQ in Manicure, Pedicure, Nail Art and Advance Nail Techniques.

What advice would you give to someone wishing to follow this career?
You MUST be patient and ENJOY listening to people and making others feel comfortable in your presence. The skills don't come with training but wih practice, so it's your dedication to improving and acheiving which will earn you success.

What’s the best and worst thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is my great sense of achievemnt from seeing my clients' satisfaction;
Whilst the worse part is suffering neck and shoulder tension from hours of working in the same position.

What do you hope to gain from the Sistahs 4 Sistahs website?
Networking for a larger client base.

Back to top

Neith Asante / Huntress
Counsellor/ Doula
(self-employed)

Business Type: Councellor / Doula
Business Location: London

What made you choose this career?
I chose this career because I am passionate about women's choices and how they are acknowledged and supported.

What training/qualifications did you have to have?
Diploma In Practitioner Counselling
C&G Teaching Certificate
Goldsmiths Psychodynamic/Humanistic Counselling

What advice would you give to someone wishing to follow this career?
My advice would be to prepare themselves to become 'spiritual naked', honest,open minded as the journey definitely changes your outlook on life - if your willing to receive its lessons.

What’s the best and worst thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is being self-employed gives me the freedom to work around family and have my own time. Its about being diverse and creative. The worst thing is there can always be a lull in this field.

What's a typical day like in your job?
At present, I'm on sick leave. However, I give support to families, who have recently had babies or are giving birth. I act as an advocate and support the mothers experiences.

Has your sexuality and/or ethnicity ever brought about any additional challenges in your career?
I have to say that my sexuality/ethnicity hasn't brought any additional challenges. However, there's that option may come in at some point.

What do you hope to gain from the Sistahs 4 Sistahs website?
I hope to gain a wide variety of useful contacts and make new friends. Develop myself in different areas and gain support.

Back to top

Chippy
Carpenter / Painter
(self-employed)

Business Type: Tradeswomen / Handywoman / Carpenter
Business Location: London
Website: www.sisterfixtradeswoman.com

What made you choose this career?
I Like working with my hands, and being creative.

What training/qualifications did you have to have?
City & Guilds, technical drawing, 3 years adult apprenticeship with local coucil.

What advice would you give to someone wishing to follow this career?
Apply for apprenticeship/training with your local council or construction companies.

What’s the best and worst thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is being getting the job and doing it well and getting paid for your skills. The worst thing is doing estimates.

What's a typical day like in your job?
No typical day, just variety in jobs that I do.

Has your sexuality and/or ethnicity ever brought about any additional challenges in your career?
Not really.

What do you hope to gain from the Sistahs 4 Sistahs website?
Letting more women of colour know that there are black tradeswomen out there to do the jobs that they usually would pay a man to do, without being ripped off and talked down to, just because you are a woman, regardless of skin colour.

Back to top

Jenesays
Senior Support Worker

Business Type: Health & Social Care
Business Location: East Midlands
Website: n/a

What made you choose this career?
The job was readily available, plus there will never be a shortage of jobs in this field.

What training/qualifications did you have to have?
NVS 3 in Health & Social Care; and going further.

What advice would you give to someone wishing to follow this career?
Think twice. Unless you are in a position to start at a higher position e.g. Manager or Deputy.

What’s the best and worst thing about your job?
The best thing? Well, I am working.
The worst thing would be the obvious - Racial Discrimination.

What's a typical day like in your job?
Living Hell. That "rare" good day would be a bonus Bonus.

Has your sexuality and/or ethnicity ever brought about any additional challenges in your career?
Sexuality no - I am very closetted.
I guess ethnicity will always bring challenges. I tend to challenge my tormentors when challenges occur.

What do you hope to gain from the Sistahs 4 Sistahs website?
Meet people possible make new friends - you name it.

Back to top

Sweetmix
Chef

Business Type: Catering
Business Location: London
Website: n/a

What made you choose this career?
Food is my passion.

What training/qualifications did you have to have?
I trained for 3 yrs in college but experience, more than anything counts!

What advice would you give to someone wishing to follow this career?
You don't necessarily have to go and train for 3 yrs if you are already very experienced. However, going to college and getting the qualification will open many more options for you.

What’s the best and worst thing about your job?
Its all good..!

What's a typical day like in your job?
Busy.....

Has your sexuality and/or ethnicity ever brought about any additional challenges in your career?
No.

What do you hope to gain from the Sistahs 4 Sistahs website?
To meet other sisters in business and to share ideas/experiences etc.

Back to top

Olumide Popoola/msolumide
Ayurvedic Therapist/ writer/ Spoken Word Artiste

Business Location: London
Website: n/a

What made you choose this career?
I nterest in healing.

What training/qualifications did you have to have?
BSc Complementary Health Sciences (Ayurveda).

What advice would you give to someone wishing to follow this career?
Do the course at Middlesex to gain the proper qualification you need to ensure you can get insurance etc but also spend some time in India and study first hand in a good hospital or clinic. you need to see many many patients to gain confidence and to translate book knowledge into practical situations.

What’s the best and worst thing about your job?
Best - Being able to create whatever I want as there are no fixed ideas.
Worst - Having to promote myself and being responsible for all mistakes by myself (without support of a team).

What's a typical day like in your job?
I don't have a typical day yet. Still in advertising and organisation mode.

Has your sexuality and/or ethnicity ever brought about any additional challenges in your career?
---

What do you hope to gain from the Sistahs 4 Sistahs website?
To meet other women of colour in similar professions to share and exchange with. Create a supportive network.

Back to top