Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Olson.
Lauren Olson, PA-C is a pioneer. After graduating from Texas A&M with a B.S. in Biomedical Science, she was accepted to Baylor College of Medicine and became one the first 1200 Physician Assistants in the US. There are now 150,000. After working in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Family Practice for over 23 years, she opened a medical spa and wellness center before most people knew what a medical spa was. Starting with five employees in 2006, she has grown Radiance Medical Aesthetics & Wellness in The Woodlands, TX to 15 treatment rooms and 24 employees.
“Opening a business right before the recession of 2008, in a field that is dependent purely on discretionary spending, surviving and thriving was certainly a challenge. I received my MBA from the school of hard knocks,” says Lauren. In May, Radiance moved to a beautiful new facility growing from 4300 sq feet to almost 7000 sq feet.
“I love combining the art and science of aesthetic medicine. I also love the creative process of design and building. So designing and overseeing the construction of our new space was rewarding. However we had to deal with all the supply chain issues that everyone is dealing with. But in the end, it is so rewarding and we love our new space. I wonder what my new project will be?”
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The number of hurdles and challenges are too many to name. During the difficult years during the 2008 recession, Lauren’s business partner wanted to close the doors. Lauren knew she could make it work, so she bought out her partner over time and worked many years without taking home a paycheck.
“It takes grit and determination to make a business successful. I’m not a quitter and I won’t settle for mediocrity. My faith is a big part of what kept me moving forward.”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think our culture is what sets us apart. In this industry, commission-based pay was the norm. This leads to a competitive environment. I made a difficult decision five years ago to switch to a guaranteed base salary with bonuses based on goals achieved. We lost five employees at the time, but it was the best thing to ever happen to my business. Those who stayed are real team players, I have been able to offer health insurance, life insurance, a retirement plan, and annual salary reviews and raises. We have an incredibly supportive team with patient/client care being the number one priority. We have systems and processes that translate into a finely tuned operation. Personally, I have had the opportunity to speak on medical aesthetics in China, Brazil and across the US. My favorite procedure to do is lifting PDO threads. For those who are not ready for a face or neck lift, the dissolvable PDO threads give an instant lift of lax skin.
I was named as a Woman of Excellence by the Federation of Houston Professional Women, served as Chairman of the Board of Cypress Symphony and served as President of Aggie Women.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think it’s important to know your strengths and weaknesses. I am a visionary, but I don’t have the time or qualifications to know or do everything, I see the importance of delegating. I have learned to identify those who excel in their field and consult with them or hire them. Hiring a marketing team has made a huge impact on our business. The right marketing has brought in a lot of new patients/clients. However, you can bring in new patients all day long, but if you’re not delivering excellence, they won’t come back. We seem to have found our “secret sauce” because we have been voted the #1 medical spa in The Woodlands three years in a row.
Contact Info:
- Email: lolsonpa@woodlandsradiancespa.com
- Website: www.woodlandsradiancespa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodlandsradiancespa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodlandsradiancespa/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBf5K2ZkD-FI0rp2lv_iEg
