By Madilyn Moeller, Marketing Content Coordinator

In recent years, medical aesthetics has seen an explosion of products and technologies in the movement toward wellness. From cutting-edge peptides and hormone therapies to IV infusions and GLP-1 medications, aesthetic practices have expanded their services to meet growing demand for holistic, whole-body health solutions. Leaning into wellness has both expanded patient care and tapped med spas into a profitable $2 trillion global wellness market, with U.S. consumers spending an estimated $500 billion, according to McKinsey & Company. 

But wellness is not just for patients. For the visionary women leading the aesthetic industry, personal well-being is a vital foundation for sustainable success. The Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference (WALC) offers a unique opportunity to step away from the demands of business, reconnect with purpose, and realign with all the dimensions of wellness.

Overall well-being is multi-faceted

What is wellness? It’s a measure of general good health and wellbeing, defined by the Global Wellness Institute as “the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.” Dr. Peggy Swarbrick (2006) first defined the eight dimensions of wellness that affect our overall quality of life, which include your physical, intellectual, environmental, emotional, financial, social, spiritual and occupational wellness. She describes them as follows:

• Physical: balance your physical activity and proper nutrition to maintain top functioning.
• Intellectual: learn, apply and share knowledge throughout your life.
• Environmental: feel safe in clean surroundings with access to clean air, food and water.
• Emotional: express your feelings with resilience to stress and challenging experiences.
• Financial: have a sense of control over finances, with the resources to meet your needs.
• Social: develop meaningful relationships and an interest in the needs of others.
• Spiritual: have a sense of peace and balance in your meaning and purpose.
• Occupational: participate in work and activities that bring meaning and purpose.

Women business owners in aesthetics take on extraordinary pressure in their pursuits to build and grow, while spending proportionally little time sustaining their own spirits. The Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference provides the space to indulge in holistic self-care, balancing inspirational learning experiences with wellness activities for mind, body, and soul.

Physical movement and nutrition 

Experiences at WALC combine mindful movement with connection. 

• Take to the water with a guided ocean kayaking trip along the coastline. In 85 minutes of paddling, you will enjoy the sights of the Catalina channel and the chance to get up close to native marine life (the kelp beds are home to bottlenose dolphins, seals and sea lions, and bat rays).
• In a dedicated beach cove range, test your fine-tuned accuracy with archery. Expert coaches will guide you in this test of aim right next to the ocean.
• Engage in some healthy competition with a game of pickleball or tennis, with guidance and encouragement from a professional instructor.
• Physical meets emotional wellness with puppy yoga! Find your balance with an extra element of joy and laughter to help you fully unwind.  
• Enjoy the Nature’s Gym Fitness Session on Saturday morning for a more challenging workout with greater physical rewards—it’s a combination of cardio and body weight resistance training.

Nutritional intake is another key component of your wellbeing, and WALC delivers with a dining menu overseen by Terranea Resort’s renowned executive chef Andrew Vaughn.

Chef Vaughn, who trained with Daniel Boulud and Emeril Lagasse, champions local seasonal flavors and produce, including the resort’s original sea salt, honey, and herbs and spices grown on the property.

Intellectual discussions to propel you forward

Jamie Kern Lima, founder of IT Cosmetics, is the keynote speaker at the Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference, presented by the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa). In her keynote speech, “Becoming Unstoppable,” she will reveal the mindset shifts, strategies and lessons that helped her overcome self-doubt and create innovative skincare and makeup solutions to empower everyone to feel their most beautiful and confident.

Leadership guru, Hall of Fame speaker and best-selling author Cy Wakeman presents the closing keynote, “Reality-Based Leadership: Ditch the Drama and Turn Excuses Into Results.” In it she gives leaders the tools, techniques and proven coaching models to skillfully navigate the interferences of drama that derail the success, cohesiveness and engagement of the teams they lead or interact with. These tools are highly effective in a variety of leadership situations and help to quickly manage conversations to move beyond excuses, hardwire personal accountability while ensuring teams are ready for what’s next moving forward.

Environmental bliss at Terranea Resort

Thrive in the peace of the preserved natural landscape at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Set on 102 oceanfront acres, Terranea Resort offers a tranquil environment for reflection and renewal.

Wake up to sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, breathe in the fresh coastal air and find inspiration in the surrounding natural beauty. Al fresco dining on the terrace and a picnic under the stars will take full advantage of the scenery, with stargazing photography to capture the wonders with clarity.

Emotional health through mindfulness

Get ready to take a mindfulness journey within to discover what’s missing and what might be holding you back from living life to your fullest potential. Tessa Todd Morgan’s two-part interactive mindfulness series, “Mastering Self Through Mindfulness” will walk you through the tools and techniques you need to live a more productive life, while staying calm on the inside. Morgan will help you Find Your TRIESSENCE in order to better care for yourself physically, mentally and spiritually.

Financial fuel to own your ambitions

Learn from the experiences of powerful women in business as they share actionable strategies to grow your business and your bottom line.

In the panel discussion “Unapologetically Ambitious: Owning Success Without Shrinking,” industry leaders Shelby Miller, DNP, FNP-C, Carrie Galpin, and Erika Barry, NP, share their journeys to the top of the medical aesthetics field. In a world where women are often looked down upon for being ambitious and wanting more than the status quo, it is critical to learn tactics on how to own this ambition in a way to leads to results. Learn tips from leading women in the medical aesthetics industry on how they have climbed the ladder and owned their authority without becoming minimized.

Complementing this session is Lisa Lickstein’s presentation on “Unreasonable Hospitality,” inspired by the best-selling book by restaurateur Will Guidara. She explores key concepts in "unreasonable hospitality"; their impact on customer satisfaction, staff retainment, competitive advantage and profitability; and how to successfully install those principals in medical spas. 

“I think the greatest benefits are connections and understanding that as women leaders in aesthetics we’re all kind of in the same boat. We suffer from some of the same problems, we have the same issues with staffing, HR, growing our practices, and understanding that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, that there are mentors, leaders, and peers that are doing these things that we can all benefit from each other.” Dr Kay Durairaj, MD, FACS, Beauty by Dr. Kay

Social connection to renew your passion

Social connection is at the heart of WALC, with networking events and shared experiences designed to forge and strengthen lasting relationships among the high-powered women in aesthetics.

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, celebrated entrepreneur and founder of BrainTrust, presents “Community and Counsel: Building Your Brain Trust.” She dives into the personal and professional impact of social wellness through building your own brain trust—a deeply personal and intentional network of mentors, advisors, peers and truth-tellers who champion your vision and protect your purpose

“If I could put it in one word, I would say empowering. It’s so great to be around so many successful women that are business owners in med spas that are just encouraging and lifting each other and it’s just been an amazing experience so far.” La-Tasha Walker, RN, La-Moné Aesthetics

Spiritual insights for inner strength

Jane Wurwand, co-founder and chief visionary of Dermalogica, presents “Skin in the Game: Everything You Need is Already Inside You.” Taking inspiration from her bestselling book Skin in the Game, she inspires you to trust their instincts and turn your unique traits and experiences into the tools you need to make your dreams a reality.

During the picnic under the stars those included can get insights and inspiration from a professional fortune reader trained in various forms of divination, including zodiac analysis, tarot readings, and Irisology.

Occupational tools for sustainable success

WALC brings powerful, creative, visionary women together—leaders who connect and lift each other up by sharing advice and troubleshooting. At this stage of practice, the top players in the industry learn most from the experiences of peers with the same high standards of patient care and operational excellence.

“Attending the inaugural Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference was a privilege and honor to be amongst my colleagues, peers, mentors and friends. They shared their experiences, knowledge, motivational speeches and quotes freely without fear.” Georgia Cirese, RN, CANS, Owner, Clinical Director and Nurse Injector Georgous Aesthetic Bar

Kiiyonna Jones, PhD, FNP-C, presents “Beyond Business: Using AI to Balance Your Life and Amplify Your Success,” sharing how AI can seamlessly integrate into both professional and personal spheres, helping women thrive in every aspect of their lives.

In the panel “The People Puzzle: Solving for Culture, Capability and Change,” Robin Ntoh and Terri Ross tackle the complexities of management, mentoring, inspiring, hiring and firing. Join these industry-leading people pros to learn tips and tricks to a satisfied, profitable, inspired, kind and efficient team.

Reengage with your wellness at WALC

Make an intentional, ongoing investment in your wellness, starting with the Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference, October 3 – 5, 2025, at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Reconnect with your purpose, recharge your energy, and return to your practice with renewed clarity and confidence.