From Bedside to Beauty: Nurse-Turned-Aesthetic Director Shares Her Breakthrough

Summary

Podcast Summary: Next On Scene: The Human Behind The Brand

Episode: From Bedside to Beauty: Nurse-Turned-Aesthetic Director Shares Her Breakthrough

Host: Jaclyn Zukerman Delory
Guest: Stephanie Kim
Date: December 3, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode features Stephanie Kim, a nurse turned aesthetic director and entrepreneur. Host Jaclyn Zukerman Delory delves into Stephanie's journey from bedside care to launching her own aesthetic business, discussing legacy, the realities of nursing, entrepreneurial mindset shifts, and the importance of authenticity in building a lasting brand. The conversation blends Stephanie's personal backstory with actionable insights for listeners seeking inspiration to pivot their own paths.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Stephanie’s Inspiration for Nursing

[01:19]

• Stephanie shared that her initial inspiration came from her close relationship with her grandparents, caring for them during illness alongside her brother.
• Quote: “My grandparents played a really big role in it… taking care of my grandfather and grandmother when they were sick… that kind of molded my pathway into nursing.” – Stephanie Kim [01:19]

Bridging Science and Beauty: Entering Aesthetics

[01:32-02:10]

• Stephanie always loved the beauty industry but felt most drawn to the technical and scientific side rather than artistry.
• She discovered medical aesthetics while researching ways to blend her skills and passions.
• Quote: “I'm very, like, sciency and technical. So I kind of wanted to figure out a way to like, bridge both worlds. And I found medical aesthetics…” – Stephanie Kim [01:35]

Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap

[02:21-02:54]

• The decision to launch her business was influenced by Jaclyn and catalyzed at a wellness expo.
• Stephanie emphasizes the importance of self-confidence—and a little bit of ‘delusion’—in making big jumps.
• Quote: “You need to be, like, overly confident in yourself and overly confident that it's gonna work out and slightly delusional at the same time.” – Stephanie Kim [02:40]

Hitting Rock Bottom and Re-Evaluating Career

[03:23-04:34]

• The stress and limitations of bedside nursing, exacerbated by insurance-driven constraints and burnout, especially during the pandemic, led Stephanie to seek a more authentic and flexible path.
• She highlights wanting to maintain compassion and avoid burnout, ultimately inspiring her transition from bedside care to aesthetics.
• Quote: “I want to be the type of nurse that… can be authentic to me and still kind of, like, create my own pathway in nursing as well as in the beauty realm and aesthetics.” – Stephanie Kim [04:15]

The Entrepreneurial Lifestyle: Rewards & Realities

[04:34-05:38]

• While entrepreneurship offers flexibility and the chance to set your own company culture, it also comes with nonstop demands.
• Stephanie underscores the value of creating an authentic environment aligned with her personal vision.
• Quote: “…you are literally working 24 hours a day and eight days a week. But it does give you ability to make your own decisions and kind of create a culture… authentic to your vision…” – Stephanie Kim [05:14]

Self-Presentation and Personal Brand

[05:38-07:24]

• Discussion on Stephanie’s choice to wear black—a color she views as classic, powerful, and versatile. Jaclyn points out the psychological impact of color in visibility and branding.
• Quote: “I think it is a statement piece. I think it's timeless, it's classic… you could really get away with just about any outfit in black.” – Stephanie Kim [06:17]

Legacy in a Sentence

[07:25-08:42]

• Stephanie reflects on the phrase “create your own opportunities,” symbolized by her tattoo and experiences.
• She advocates for “no gatekeeping” in the industry and empowering others through transparency and support.
• Quote: “Part of what I stand for is, like, the no gatekeeping, transparency. Like, I'm truly a girl's girl…” – Stephanie Kim [08:22]

Fun, Games, and Favorites

[09:01-10:26]

• Beauty Product Essential: Color Science tinted sunscreen, Flex Shield in tan.
• Go-to Coffee Order: Caramel mocha iced latte, any coffee shop.
• Dream Celebrity Client: Jennifer Lopez—Stephanie would love to inject her, poking fun at the “all natural” claim.
• Cat Cuddles vs. Runway Adrenaline: Stephanie is a self-confessed cat lover but also thrives in the excitement of runway production.

Stephanie’s Theme Songs

[10:33-11:58]

• Big Energy (Latto), Whole Lotta Money (Bia), and Hustlin’ (Rick Ross) reflect her entrepreneurial spirit and ambitions.
• She gravitates most toward “Big Energy” for its affirmation on the importance of authenticity and attracting the right people.
• Quote: “You have to own your personality and I think that's what attracts clients to you… the energy you put out… I'm a super firm believer in that.” – Stephanie Kim [11:36]
• Fun Fact: Stephanie once provided wellness IVs to Latto and her team in Boston.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You need to be…overly confident in yourself and…slightly delusional at the same time.” – Stephanie Kim [02:40]
• “I want to be the type of nurse…that can be authentic to me and still…create my own pathway…in aesthetics.” – Stephanie Kim [04:15]
• “I'm truly a girl's girl. Like, if you're in my circle, I'm in your circle.” – Stephanie Kim [08:22]
• On entrepreneurship: “You are literally working 24 hours a day and eight days a week.” – Stephanie Kim [05:14]
• On her dream client: “JLo… like, girl, if you get your injections, it's all good, you know, like, I want to inject you. Just own it.” – Stephanie Kim [10:11]

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Important Timestamps

• [01:19] Stephanie’s journey into nursing
• [02:21] Launching her own business
• [03:23] Rock bottom and pivot point
• [04:34] Life as an entrepreneur
• [05:38] The symbolism of wearing black and personal presentation
• [07:25] Legacy in a sentence
• [09:01] Rapid-fire favorites: beauty, coffee, celebrity client
• [10:33] The playlist and authenticity

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Takeaways for Listeners

• Follow your intuition, even if that means pivoting away from what’s expected.
• Self-belief and a willingness to “be slightly delusional” empower bold career moves.
• Authenticity and community over gatekeeping: helping others only adds to your own growth.
• Your story, self-presentation, and energy are central to your public-facing brand.
• The road to entrepreneurial success is rarely linear—but it’s built on resilience, transparency, and embracing your unique experiences.

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Transcript

[A]

Today's episode is brought to you by my wayfair storefront. I rounded up all my holiday hosting must haves from the bar cart and food warmers to take home containers, charcuterie gift setup, and my favorite wine opener. You can shout everything@creatorsoulio wayfair jackiezook. Now let's get into the episode. Welcome to Next on scene, the human behind the brand. I'm Jacqueline Zuckerman delaure award winning publicist, mom and media visionary. I believe visibility isn't just about being seen, it's about being of service. Each week we are going to uncover real stories behind success, the breakthroughs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that made you who you are. Because the truth is, the more we allow ourselves to be human, the more powerful our impact becomes. This is where visibility meets legacy. This is next on Scene. Today's guest is someone who truly does it all. Nurse by day, aesthetic director by night, Stephanie Kim.

[B]

Welcome to the show. Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here.

[A]

I am so excited to have you and I have seen you grow since day one. So I would love to for you to share with the audience, you know, like, outside of a busy life, being a nurse before you even launch your own business. Like, what inspired you to get into nursing?

[B]

I think my grandparents played a really big role in it. We, like my brother and I, we took care of my grandfather and my grandmother when they were sick. And I think that kind of morphed, molded like my pathway into nursing. And that's kind of why I went.

[A]

To nursing school and then why aesthetics?

[B]

So I, you know, I just really always loved the beauty world. And I think that, you know, there's a lot of things that you can do in the beauty world. It's, like, individualized to you. But I didn't necessarily want to be like a makeup artist or a hairstylist. Like, props to them. They're super artistic. But I'm very, like, sciency and technical. So I kind of wanted to figure out a way to like, bridge both worlds. And I found medical aesthetics when I was doing some research and I just dove into, like, researching how to get into the field, and that's kind of how I end up here.

[A]

I love it. And I also want to commend you because I feel like that's one of your differentiating factors with, like, the science backing and everything you do. I mean, you just spoke on stage not so long ago. Like, that was really awesome. I was really proud of you about it.

[B]

Thank you. Yeah.

[A]

So cool. So what really went into launching your own business? Like, why? What made you take the jump?

[B]

Well, you made me take the jump. I launched my business at our wellness Expo.

[A]

I know. I love this.

[B]

Remember, day circle?

[A]

Yes. Yeah.

[B]

We, like, kind of had a conversation over, like, lunch, and I think I was just like, you know what? I'm just gonna do it. And you need to be, like, overly confident in yourself and overly confident that it's gonna work out and slightly delusional at the same time. And I think I just, like, went for it.

[A]

I'm really proud you did. I mean, look how much you've grown. You travel across the country now, teaching people, injecting. It's really impressive.

[B]

It's super cool.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

A lot of really awesome opportunities.

[A]

I know. I love it, and I want to dive deeper because that's what this show is. So, like, tell me, like, in terms of what was your rock bottom moment that you were like, something needs to change. Like, this isn't. This isn't working for me anymore. And it could be personally, professionally, like, what was that moment for you and. And what did it force you to do?

[B]

So I think, like, one of the moments that I can think of is, you know, healthcare is very much insurance driven, and there's a lot of rules that the insurance company just kind of, like, dictates and what nurses have to document at the bedside and things like that. It made it really hard to, like, want to stay bedside nursing. I mean, there's a lot of nurses that are medically bedside, and it's really hard work, and I commend them all the time, especially working through a pandemic. But I just think after getting through that pandemic and realizing, like, how much we go to school to take care of people, we're limited with how much time we can spend with patients at the bedside. And then during COVID I got really, really sick. I was hospitalized, and I thought, you know, like, I don't want to be the type of nurse that isn't compassionate, that gets burned out and doesn't recognize it. I want to be the type of nurse that, you know, can be authentic to me and still kind of, like, create my own pathway in nursing as well as in the beauty realm and aesthetics. And that's kind of like what made me drive my decision to go towards this career path.

[A]

I love that for you. I really do. And I want to commend you because I feel like I've seen, like I said from the beginning, like, the transformation over time, and I Think you inspire so many people by continuing to step into the entrepreneurial role because it gives you the flexibility. It gives you just more of a healthier lifestyle. Right, because exactly what you're saying, like the nurse's job day to day is rewarding because you're helping people, but it's so demanding in terms of your.

[B]

Super, super demanding. Yes.

[A]

Right. But we need nurses in the world. I don't know what we would do without nurses in the world.

[B]

Yeah, it's very demanding, but, like, there's a nursing shortage and there's absolutely a need for nurses, for sure. I think I just chose like a different career path. One, because it does give me flexibility. There's times in entrepreneurialship like, you don't feel like you have any flexibility because you are literally working 24 hours a day and eight days a week. But it does give you ability to make your own decisions and kind of create a culture and an environment in your own company or in your own workplace that is truly authentic to, like, your vision and your goals and your philosophy of business.

[A]

I love that. So I want to talk about what you're wearing today because color psychologically tells us a lot about how you show up, how you feel, all the things. Right. So wearing black, and I love it because that has been the theme of the month. All the people are wearing black, which is cool. So black is like mysterious, it's powerful, it's bold. Right. You're showing a person of authority, but there's a mysterious side to you, which I think speaks very true to you.

[B]

Do you agree with that?

[A]

Because you're like, you're a woman of authority in what you do, but not everybody you meet knows everything about you, which I think is so true about s. Like, from what I know, like, I just love that so much. So what inspired you to wear what you're wearing today?

[B]

One, I love wearing black. I think it's slimming. I think it, like, provides a really good contrast of color with, like, my hair color. So I really like wearing black for that reason. I also really like wearing black because I think it is a statement piece. I think it's timeless, it's classic. You can't really go wrong into any, like, really, you know, theme or any business or casual or upscale event of any kind. Wearing black, I think you could really get away with just about like, any outfit in black. It's just like a really timeless color. I think there's other timeless colors too. Like, I thought. I thought about wearing a burnt orange outfit. I think it's very fall themed. But I was like, no, I'm going to stick true to myself.

[A]

I love it, and I wanted you to do that. So it's amazing. I like the monochromatic because you have white.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So the white and the black, like what?

[B]

I like block contrast colors. So I like that, like, harsh contrast between the white and the black. I sometimes will do the black with, like, a light gray, and I like that color contrast, too.

[A]

I love that. So, okay, thank you for sharing. I just feel like it teaches people a lot about people, and in terms of being visible, how you show up is very important, like what colors you're wearing and how you want people to perceive you. So thank you for sharing that.

[B]

Yeah, I love that.

[A]

I also now want to talk about. If there was one sentence that the world could remember you by, what would it be?

[B]

Ooh, one sentence that the world could remember me by. That's a really hard one. How do you, like, bring it down to one sentence?

[A]

Well, just think of some keywords that stand out to you, and maybe we could brainstorm on.

[B]

Yeah, we could. We could brainstorm. Okay. I. I really like, you know, the thought of manifesting, Like, I think, like, I have a tattoo that says, create your own opportunities, and I really think that that's really, you know, authentic to me. I feel like we create our own opportunities. You know, getting into aesthetics, in the beginning, when I was doing my research, I DMed a lot of Instagram injectors and I asked them for their advice and their tips, and I got a lot of, like, basically, like, not nice answers, saying that I couldn't make it in this industry if I didn't do this or that or X, Y or Z. And, you know, and I think that part of what I stand for is, like, the no gatekeeping, transparency. Like, I'm truly a girl's girl. Like, if you're in my circle, I'm in your circle. I think that that is one of the things that's really important for what? When I teach others or when I educate or when I do a training or speak, that gatekeeping is like a no go for me, and that you create the opportunity that you want.

[A]

I love that. So Steph was somebody who always created opportunities for what she wanted. Yeah, I love that. And I think you do it for others. I think you inspire other people to do that.

[B]

I try.

[A]

Yeah, I think you totally do that. I feel like you're a big cheerleader in support.

[B]

I don't feel like there's really anything anybody like really can do like you want. If you put your mind to it, you can definitely do it.

[A]

I totally agree, but I love that. Thank you. Okay, I want to play game time. And I want to remember my question. Yes. Big fun questions. So what is your favorite beauty product? You can't live without it.

[B]

It is going to be the Color Science tinted sunscreen and the Flex shield in tan.

[A]

That's specific. Why?

[B]

It goes on white like a moisturizer and it molds to your skin color. So I'm wearing it right now. It's makeup, but it's really sunscreen.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Really super great for anti aging. It's my favorite product. Live without it.

[A]

And what's the brand of the company?

[B]

Color Science. It's a medical grade sunscreen. So cool.

[A]

Okay, fun fact of the day. What's your go to coffee order during the day?

[B]

Ooh. Okay. It's going to be a caramel mocha ice latte.

[A]

From where?

[B]

Everywhere.

[A]

Fair. That's fair. I like it.

[B]

Love it. Everywhere.

[A]

And who is your dream celebrity you'd love to inject or style?

[B]

Oh, I think there's a lot of controversy around JLo and I want to inject her because I think that, like, she went out, she came out with the olive oil, you know, skincare line, whatever, and she said that she's all natural, blah, blah, blah. But I definitely think that, like, injections and things like that are not as taboo as they were before. And like, girl, if you get your injections, it's all. It's all good, you know, like, I want to inject you. Just own it.

[A]

I love that. I love Steph. You gotta reach out.

[B]

Yeah, I probably should.

[A]

Okay, we know you are a cat lover, so cat cuddles or Runway adrenaline.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

Because Steph also produces next adrenaline.

[B]

I'm a sucker for the. I love that.

[A]

Yeah, that you are facts and she crushes it. Side note, just putting it out there if you're okay. So now I want to talk about your three songs you picked out. So you picked Big Energy, you picked up Money, Whole lot of Money and Hustler right by Rick Ross.

[B]

Who sings the middle song again? Bia.

[A]

Okay, so she's a master.

[B]

She's a fade of. Did you know?

[A]

Is she actually. Fun fact. Okay, so out of those three songs today, what song sticks out to you the most in this moment?

[B]

So I kind of picked all three because I feel like I can relate to all of them. So it's really hard question because I feel like, you know, like every. Every day you're hustling. Like, I feel like that's a life of entrepreneur and a whole lot of money. Like, I feel like, you know, there's, I think that in the industry there's a lot of money and aesthetics and I think that's what injectors think. Like, oh, you're gonna do a bunch of Botox and you're gonna drive a Lamborghini. And it's like, not necessarily true, but you gotta, like, work really hard and you'll be able to see the reward and then like, big energy. Like, I feel like you have to own your personality and I think that's what attracts clients to you and I think that's how you'll attract like collaborators or like people who might wanna work with you or might want to speak to you or get services from you. You kind. The energy that you put out. I'm a super firm believer in that. And I, I really, I think I have to go with that one.

[A]

I love it.

[B]

And fun fact, I. When she was in Boston last year, I did an I did wellness IVs for her and her whole team. What?

[A]

Fun fact.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You're so fun doing all the cool stuff. Thanks for watching. You can shop all my holiday hosting essentials, including the bar cart warmers, leftover containers, charcuterie gifts ideas and so much more right at creatorsoul IO Wayfair jackiezook. Happy hosting and happy holidays. I'm here to give you your red carpet moment. So follow us on all our podcast channels on any stream from iheartradio Spotify. If you just type in Next on Scene, the human behind the brand. Or you can also follow us on all our social media channels at Next on scene. Can't for you to come on this journey with us, your say is very impactful as an audience member. So come along for the ride and we are going to all evolve together and we can't wait for you to see who's Next on Scene.