Her Story
About Aniya
Aniya Nicholson is the founder of a salon suites business in Huntington Station, New York. She filed the business with the state in July after developing an interest in the model through beauty services and her longstanding fascination with real estate. Nicholson earned her bachelor's degree in international business in May, motivated by a desire to learn languages and engage with diverse cultures, which aligns with her goal of becoming a CEO and founder. Prior to launching her venture, she worked in retail where she achieved top performer status within her first three months, building credibility she applies to her current work. She values honesty and respect in her interactions, particularly with customers. Outside her professional pursuits, Nicholson teaches young and older community members how to swim, sharing her lifelong love of water. She attributes her success to her own determination, supported by advice from her mother and a memorable conversation with a co-vice president of a real estate company who encouraged her to keep pursuing her ambitions despite challenges.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Aniya
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to me. Of course there are people around me that have helped me along the way giving me advice, but I wouldn't be here if I wasn't doing it. I have to give it to me. I attribute to my mom too, and I love my mother dearly. She still does a lot of good things in me, but I could have definitely said I'm done and I'm gonna work a regular 9-to-5 years ago and called it a day. But I did it!
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A customer who was the co-vice president of a big real estate company told me: when I walked in here, I knew that you'd be big. Just by how you present yourself. Whatever you have in your head, just keep going, it might be hard, it might be tough, but just keep winning, and it's gonna work out. You have the drive, you have the intelligence for it. Keep doing it. Even now while starting my business when it gets tough, I'm like I know I can do it. This came from a co-vice president of a billion-dollar company.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Keep your head high. Especially for Black women it's very tough and we are more than often tend to be overlooked or overshadowed. So I would always just tell them keep your head high and dream big. Always dreaming big. Anything is possible. You just have to if you keep it, if you can feel it, it's gonna happen.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Access. Access has always been a game that you have to play long-term anyways but access as start privatizing things, start putting paywalls on certain events and major paywalls I would say is a current struggle because people that want to make it and want to do things but they may not have funds to do it. It is very disheartening. It's like oh I didn't do this so maybe I shouldn't be doing it kind of mindset that people sometimes do take.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and respect. In this current world right now a lot of people aren't very honest or trying to get over on people and I do value respecting the customers because those are people that are giving them money. Honesty and respect are really important for me. Being honest about the work, honest with someone, transparent but I'll respect you.
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