From a young age, Iris displayed a passion for learning and a drive to succeed. She thanks her parents for her values. My father always encouraged me to have a road map in life. And when Iris opened Inspiracion Suri Beauty Salon a few years ago, it represented the culmination of a lot of calculated hard work.

In Cuba, Iris studied Economics and earned an MBA. She dreamed of owning her own business, but felt she needed to leave her country to make it happen. In Cuba I felt that the lack of resources and the poor political climate for entrepreneurs was preventing me from growing.

Unlike most Cuban immigrants, Iris had no family in the United States. In 2007, Iris left her government job, followed her heart, and immigrated to Miami. She was welcomed by a friend who made her feel more at ease, but she didn’t speak English. Back home, I spent years learning Russian in high school and college. But my life took a different turn! she says with a laugh.

In her new environment, Iris did what she knew best; she hit the books. Within months, she was offered a job in a nail salon. This was a stark change from the work she was accustomed to. In Cuba, beauty salons are considered luxury services, she says, and most people do not have the means to enjoy them. In the mornings she studied to obtain her manicure and pedicure license, in the afternoon she worked for the salon, and at night she would attend Miami-Dade College for English.

Work in the salon was satisfying. Iris reveled in making people feel good about themselves and saw good income-earning potential. To increase her client base, Iris decided to acquire different kinds of esthetic licenses. With her training, she began offering manicures and pedicures independently, and full body waxing has became her specialty. Waxing is a very intimate service and I have to think like a therapist to get people to feel comfortable with me. It’s one of my favorite things.

Iris first came to Ascendus in 2013, through the referral of a client. She was about to open her store front in Coral Gables but had run out of money to purchase equipment. She quickly received support and was able to buy waxing tables.

Her second time around, Iris applied for a larger loan to expand her salon. She recently used the money to move to a 1,100 square foot space and installed five hair stations. She currently employs seven people. It’s a big endeavor but an important step in achieving a long-term goal. Ismari, Iris’s sister, has been studying cosmetology in Cuba, and will be immigrating to the United States next year. Iris hopes to make Inspiracion Suri a family business, and provide her sister the support she didn’t have. Ascendus has been like an ally for me, providing me with the tools to set my plan into action.