Vicky Grammatikopoulou, the CEO and founder of Vie Aesthetics, is an entrepreneur, language specialist, and higher education professional with superior leadership and operational talents, as well as social connectivity and networking skills.
Vicky created Aspekt, a private language school, when she was 25 years old, and this was her first foray into entrepreneurship. In 1997, she relocated to the United Kingdom to pursue an MA in Languages in Education at the University of London. She then went on to teach Modern Foreign Languages and eventually became the department head at a secondary school in Essex. She then worked at Middlesex University and Goldsmiths University as a University Senior Lecturer. It was while working at Goldsmiths that she ended up going part-time as Vie Aesthetics grew. Eventually, she resigned from her role and became a full-time CEO.
Below are highlights of the interview:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
Having your own business, and in my case, having four companies to run, means that there are very fuzzy boundaries that define where each persona stops and starts. In general terms, on the outside of work, I am a wife, a sister, and a daughter. I am a bubbly and sociable person; I love cooking and hosting family and friends. I have a passion for the arts, I love the theatre and the cinema, and I love painting in my free time. I paint for myself because I feel that the perception and use of colour is one of the most beautiful ways to express your conscious and subconscious emotions. I have now started acting lessons too, reigniting one of my past passions. Creativity, to me, is so important in every aspect of life. Being creative and making decisions about new projects is one of the most exciting aspects of my job. I know the constant growth and change can be challenging for my team at times, but stagnation and standing still is not an option. I am loyal and love being around people. I need to know things and always explore new trends and try to understand the things that are going on around me. I find learning new things fascinating and am always looking for a new field of knowledge to conquer. I believe in working hard and playing hard and building this ethos into all of my schedules.
Tell us the inception story of Vie Aesthetics.
The inspiration came from observing how much my husband, an established NHS consultant, enjoyed his aesthetic medicine work, which he had started alongside his NHS work. He really loved the transformations and the impact on his patients’ quality of life and confidence, but he did not feel comfortable with the establishments he was offering them through. It felt more like “selling” rather than “serving.” Hence, he was thinking of giving it up, as he felt compromised as a doctor who wants to uphold his medical standards in everything he does. Seeing how his aesthetics work was such a creative outlet and how it balanced out his very serious work as a leading hospital geriatrician, I wanted to help him continue without having to compromise.
This is when I had the idea of creating a model clinic where he could enjoy the creativity of aesthetic medical work combined with the principles that guide excellence in medical practice. This is how Vie Aesthetics started.
I saw that, as a customer, you would have to choose between either the casual and unregulated context of a beauty salon or the stern and sterile no-frills approach of a medical setting. So, I set myself the task of creating a stylish, aesthetically pleasing, and comfortable clinic environment that combines outstanding customer care with clinical excellence, safety, and innovation. This marrying of beauty and medicine, together with a holistic approach to health and wellness, was at the heart of my endeavour.
My guiding principle was, and still is: “What type of clinic would I wish to visit? How would I wish my experience to be like if I needed an aesthetic treatment? ”
Little did I know that the huge success and growth of the company meant that I would eventually give up my day-time job as a university lecturer for my hobby. I did embrace the business fully- this is my life now. And I could not be happier!
What has been your biggest learning since becoming an entrepreneur?
Sometimes business is a lonely place, despite being surrounded by people most of the time. People aren’t always going to see what you do or appreciate what you do, but this is key to having a sustainable business and keeping things rolling even in a crisis. As an entrepreneur, I have found that sometimes you miss having somebody to talk to and tell you that you’re doing a good job. You need to have a very healthy personal life with supportive family and friends. Having boundaries and balance is key.
How do you motivate people to go the extra mile?
The natural expression of enthusiasm is what motivates many people. I am a little bit of a crazy enthusiastic person around the office and in meetings- I think it helps other people to feel motivated, as people who connect with this enthusiasm, excitement, and motivation will stick, and those who don’t connect will eventually fall off by themselves. To motivate other people, you must put yourself in their shoes and find out what it is that makes them tick. Always thinking how to create win-win situations goes a long way, too.
What gets you up in the morning? What motivates you?
A genuine passion and excitement for what I do is what gets me up in the morning. Having an amazing and supportive network of colleagues helps to get through the bumps in the road, but truthfully, I love what I do, so I look forward to waking up and starting a new day. Having surrounded myself with amazing people means that I cannot wait to get to the office.
What sort of characteristics in employees contributes to success?
Being honest about what they know and what they don’t know; being open about their worries, fears, and aspirations; and being loyal. Loyalty, honesty, and feeling a sense of ownership over your responsibilities are the most important attributes, in my opinion. This comes with the culture of the organisation that you work in.
What is the best way to build a great team?
Trust and communication between team members are crucial. Having clear boundaries is important to building a great team, but again, honesty, loyalty and ownership are the key qualities that build a great team that is efficient and successful. Staying away from a blaming culture and instilling a learning culture is a healthy environment to promote growth and empowerment.
What does “performance culture” mean to you?
I believe that performance culture can be one of the biggest contributors to anxiety in our society today. This can depend on who is setting the performance indicators and whether somebody gains job satisfaction, feels valued, and is part of the company culture at the end of the day. Any measures or KPIs that are being used must reflect the culture of the company. It is important to have a clear goal and message behind performance indicators, so everybody is on the same page. I personally believe in celebrating every kind success and focussing on improvement and progress, rather than stifling and stressful target setting.
Kindly describe how you will specifically know what success looks like for you.
Feeling connected to yourself and others on every level is the most important thing for feeling successful. If you are connected to your colleagues and staff and to the world out there, then you will find success. Success isn’t simply about making balance sheets or being acknowledged; it is about feeling that you contribute; knowing that what you do matters; seeing the journey that led you where you are; having thirst for more of what you do. At the end of the day, it is creating VALUE on all levels that makes us feel accomplished, and successful. No success is just money or just titles. The best legacy that you can leave behind you is to leave your stamp on something.
What is some of the advice you give to aspiring women leaders who see disability as a career barrier?
I would advise them to take their perceived disability as a strength, to be a beacon and lead the way for others. Looking out for others who have broken barriers is a good strategy to get motivated. It is only our own perceived limitations that can define how far we can go. I say, challenge your self-limiting beliefs, challenge your environment, network, use resources available, and you will make this world a better place. I am totally inspired by Rose Ayling-Ellis, the first deaf winner of Strictly Come Dancing. She has carved a new path for others with disabilities to feel empowered and to be represented on mainstream television.
What are your future plans to sustain Vie Aesthetics?
I am continuously working on developing the Vie Aesthetics brand into a well-oiled self-sustaining machine that empowers clients and staff. To this effect, we invest heavily in staff development and systems. We are planning on setting up a training academy for Continuous Professional Development in our field of work. Creating partnerships and collaborations is also key in creating value and a sustainable model. We only look for the best. For me personally as the CEO, I do not plan to rest and want to continue developing our practice and expertise further. I am currently looking at the online market and global platforms to create consumer-friendly pathways and opportunities for promoting wellness and antiaging technologies. We will always be prepared for setbacks but will continue to dream big.
Website: https://www.vie-aesthetics.com/
