Johany

A spark ignited in middle school for Johany, in the makeup room at her modeling school. Witnessing the transformative power of beauty, she knew her path lay in helping others feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. This passion led her to eventually create Montes Esthetics, a way for her to “change the way people feel about themselves through esthetics, beauty, self-care, and teaching.”

However, her journey hasn’t been without challenges. After working as an instructor for over seven years, an unexpected school closure forced her to face a difficult career crossroads and decide whether to strike out on her own. “Starting a small business is a lot of work, but what motivated me was the positive feedback I got from students and clients on my skills and teaching ability. And as a mother of two, I want to be able to provide more for them. When I was an instructor, I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to earn more income and advance.” 

Johany credits joining the FSS+ program with Cambridge Housing Authority with giving her the confidence and the financial knowledge she needed to start her own business. “The program has helped me understand how to organize my finances, which I’m now using as I build my business. I knew right away I needed to have a separate bank account, that I could establish a line of business credit and that would be different than personal credit, things like that.”

Johany has been able to use the FSS+ program to build herself up in other ways, too. With the savings she has built through the program, Johany has been able to weather unexpected emergencies, ensure she has transportation to work, and pay down some outstanding bills to improve her credit score. About working with her financial coach, Johany says, “My coach is very relatable because she understands how, for example, if my car breaks down, that can send a trickling effect through the rest of my finances. How one little thing can set you back. And yet she’s so positive in how she expresses herself and how she goes about helping me figure out difficult situations.”

About her experience in the program, Johany shares, “It has been life changing for me and my family because I’ve been passing on all this information I’ve learned. I’m proud of what I’ve learned through the FSS program, because now I’m teaching all these important things to my teenager, my sister, my cousin, even my students.  And I feel so much more confident now when it comes to finding resources, asking my financial coach for help, and solving problems.”

“I feel very lucky to have this opportunity to gain knowledge and resources. I look back and I don’t know where I would be right now. I wouldn’t be in this position to open a business without this level of support. Especially as a mom, you can’t take certain steps without having that sense of security because everything I do affects my kids as well.”

Looking ahead, Johany is actively building her website and marketing strategy, exploring funding opportunities, and even considering a future where she opens her own school for advanced esthetics courses. As she navigates the path of entrepreneurship, Johany is optimistic, fueled by the passion that ignited in her youth: helping others to embrace their inner beauty and confidence.