Jonisha Garcia- Lindsey shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Jonisha , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, I’ve been finding joy in the everyday moments. Motherhood fills my heart in ways I can’t describe. Watching my son grow and change brings me pure happiness. There’s also something sacred about playing music and dancing around the kitchen while cooking a home-cooked meal for me and my family.
I’ve recently gotten back into the gym, and starting my mornings by showing up for myself before taking care of anyone else has been deeply fulfilling. Whenever I can, I head to the beach, sometimes to ride my bike, sometimes just to sit, read a good book, and be still. Those simple moments have become some of my greatest sources of joy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Jonisha Garcia-Lindsey, a native of Belize, mother to a four-year-old son, wife, and serial entrepreneur. I’m the founder of The HLT Collection, formerly known as Hair, Love, Therapy Salon. The heart of my brand has always been to raise awareness around mental health while offering high-quality hair extension services.
Over time, our mission evolved. We’ve expanded to include my work as a beauty justice researcher, focusing on equity, safety, and sustainability within the beauty industry, especially for people of color. Today, we’re proud members of the Beauty Justice Coalition, advocating for safer products and more ethical practices in the beauty industry.
This work has given me a deeper understanding of the systems shaping beauty standards and how they affect our bodies and communities. I’ve been honored to share this message through presentations at institutions like Harvard, Columbia University, and USC, amplifying the voices of those often left unheard.
The HLT Collections’ focus now spans beauty, healing, and education. It’s where artistry meets impact, a space that continues to grow through products, courses, and conversations designed to empower. Our newest venture, the EmpoweredShe Podcast, highlights ordinary people doing extraordinary things to inspire others/ next generation to keep going and to continue “doing the necessary work,” especially in the times we are currently living in.
The HLT Collection represents evolution, a curated experience where beauty, advocacy, and authenticity intersect. In addition to leading the HLT Collection, I also co-founded Eco Salon Pro, a platform created to help beauty professionals build sustainable, eco-friendly salons by reducing waste and choosing non-toxic, ethical products. We provide the resources and tools needed to create a cleaner, greener beauty business.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My parents moved to the U.S from Belize when I was young. My mother moved when I was two years old and my father when I was around ten. I hadn’t heard from either of my parents for sometime during my final year of middle school so my grandmother was left to provide for me and the rest of the family. Every day, I watched her collect oranges and mangoes to sell to the kids at my school just so she could feed all 9 of us living in the house. She was clearly tired and overwhelmed, yet she never stopped.
One day, my 8th grade teacher asked if I was excited to start high school. I told him, “No, I don’t think I’ll be able to go. My grandmother can’t afford it.” He looked at me, stunned, and said with confidence, “Oh, you’re going to go to school. I’m going to help you apply for scholarships.”
I was doubtful. Everyone in my town knew my parents were living in the U.S., and people assumed they were taking care of us. Because of that, I didn’t think I would qualify for any assistance. But with my teacher, Mr. Castillo’s help, I applied anyway.
Months later, I got a call saying I was one of two scholarship recipients in the entire Stann Creek District. My name was printed in the newspaper, and I received a substantial cash award to attend high school. In Belize, like many other Caribbean countries, education is taken very seriously, and parents pay for everything, from tuition to uniforms to books. Getting the scholarship was life-changing for me.
When I received the scholarship, I gave some of the money to my grandmother. I asked her to take me to the credit union to open a savings account to put a little away for a rainy day, and with the rest- I bought a bike, books, uniforms, and paid my tuition. That was the first time I truly felt powerful because I had helped my grandmother carry the load and taken control of my own future.
That experience taught me that power doesn’t always come from having everything you need. It comes from choosing to believe that you can make something out of what you have. It showed me that support, no matter how small, can change the direction of someone’s life. Even now, every time I face a new challenge, I think back to that moment: a young girl in Belize, standing beside her grandmother at the credit union, realizing for the first time that she could shape her own destiny.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized that God dwells in transparency. I began to understand that the stories of our struggles aren’t meant to be hidden. They’re meant to be shared because God uses them to reach others who may feel like they’ll never find victory or healing. My pain became a bridge, not a barrier. If I had not gone through certain things, I would not have experienced certain outcomes. Because I watched my grandmother run her small business every day, it felt natural for me to become a business owner. When I received support from my teacher, Mr. Castillo, it taught me the importance of uplifting others, no matter how small the gesture may seem, because it can make a lasting difference. This value is embedded in who I am and in my business. I do not take it lightly when it is my turn to mentor a young woman or extend a helping hand, because I once needed one myself. I cannot tell you exactly where I got the idea to open a bank account. Honestly, I feel that so much of what I learned at a young age was already embedded in me somehow. But if it were not for that experience, I would not have known how to financially manage a business. All of these things came full circle and continue to shape how I transform my pain into power.
I am no longer afraid of any part of my story because I now see that every experience, good or bad, was meant to serve my highest good and draw me closer to God and to my highest self. I also stopped hiding my pain when I discovered that I had the power to transform it, to turn something painful into something purposeful. I learned that it’s okay to sit with my feelings, to cry, and to feel deeply without judgment. That honesty with myself became the foundation of my strength.
A large part of turning my pain into power came from being honest with myself about where I truly stood. It required me to hold myself accountable and acknowledge the habits and behaviors I developed as a result of my traumas. I learned that true healing could not happen unless I was willing to be honest about my reality and clear about the direction I wanted to go. I also stopped hiding my pain and began using it as power when I realized I was breaking generational patterns that were meant to destroy me. I recognized moments when my life could have taken a very different path, yet grace redirected me. Every time I chose healing over hurt and forgiveness over resentment, I was rewriting the story for those who came before me and for those who will come after.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One foundational truth I live by is the value of a solid work ethic, pushing myself to grow, create, and achieve while knowing when to rest, release, and be fully present in my body. A motto I hold close is not to lose myself to anything or any identity I am tied to, whether it is being a business owner, a wife, or a mother. I believe in slowing down when needed, creating space to listen to my body, and grounding myself when necessary.
Another truth I hold close is my commitment to being better every single day, no matter what that may look like. Some days it means working hard toward my goals. Other days it means extending grace to myself and simply choosing rest and restoration. I love showing up for me, honoring my growth, my healing, and the woman I’m becoming.
A foundational truth that has guided me lately is my desire to align with God’s plans for my life. That alignment has required me to release the anxieties that once fueled the plans of my past. I’ve recognized a flow and an ease that comes with walking in step with God and being sensitive to His voice. It’s a kind of peace that reminds me I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am in alignment with God. That alignment requires constant surrender, but it’s the most fruitful place I’ve ever known.
After everything I experienced as a child, I finally found a sweet spot at age thirty-three. For years, I tried to process my pain and emotions my own way. Then one day, I felt led to invite God into that sacred healing space. I cried, I surrendered, I got angry, and then sad, and then angry all over again. For the first time, I questioned God. I wanted to understand why I had carried the weight of the world on my shoulders so young. I was angry at my parents for leaving me and for all the experiences that could have broken me.
Then came a soft whisper from God: “I have been designing, refining, and building you up so that you can show others what it looks like to take a journey with Me.”
In that moment, surrender came naturally. My prayer since then has been simple: God, use me for Your glory. Help me touch the hearts of others on their journeys because the truth is none of us is exempt from this human experience but we can hold on to our faith through ALL of our life seasons.
On a day-to-day level, I now find peace in the little things and in my home. The love and support of my husband through all these seasons has been profound and has greatly contributed to the peace and stability of our home. Simple acts such as having a cup of tea in the morning, going for a walk, going on a date with my husband, or allowing myself to rest all bring me calm. They might seem small, but for someone who once lived with an unregulated nervous system, they feel miraculous.
The blessings of surrender have been profound. I’ve learned to recognize what and who aligns with God’s vision for my life. I no longer chase what doesn’t align. In that stillness, that surrender, I’ve found peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hairlovetherapy.as.me
- Instagram: theofficialhltcollection
- Other: Apple podcast- EmpoweredShe Podcast
Image Credits
Dion Lack
