Today we’d like to introduce you to Rochelle Rudolph.
Hi Rochelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I had no idea what I wanted to do five years ago let alone become a CEO of my own business. In college, I couldn’t decide what to major in so I switched a few times from psychology to health sciences to nutrition, ultimately realizing that transferring to a university was something I couldn’t afford. That’s where I started thinking outside the box and thought maybe it would be fun to be a wedding planner since I love working with people. I shadowed one for a summer – definitely not for me. I looked into personal training but it didn’t get me excited. So I went back to my academic roots in science and applied to the local Dental Hygiene Program. I’ve never tried harder for good grades in my life. When I found out I didn’t make it into the lottery-based program, I was encouraged to apply the next year which would give me a higher chance of getting in.
At the same time, a new long-distance romance was evolving and I felt myself coming to a crossroad decision of should and must: should I let this newfound love fizzle out and cross my fingers I get into the program next year, or must I follow my heart and start a new life in Los Angeles? A little piece of me knew dental hygiene wasn’t really my calling, and maybe that’s why I didn’t get in the first time, so I started thinking maybe there’s something else out there for me that I just haven’t discovered yet. I followed my heart and I’m so glad that I did. When I finally moved to Los Angeles at 24, I felt like I had woken up to the real world. I applied for work in a field I had never done and was hired as a receptionist at a Dermatology + Plastic Surgery Center. I was a terrible receptionist, but being in that environment sparked the flame for me. I noticed I would research things the doctors were doing or conditions that patients had outside of my work hours just because I found it all to be absolutely fascinating. I immediately knew working in skincare was where I needed to put my education. The day I put in my two weeks, I sat down with one of the doctors and excitedly told him about my plans enrolling in esthetician school. He laughed and said I’m wasting my perfectly good education on something I’ll hardly make any money doing.
On my first day of school at Academy of Beauty in Culver City, I felt an immediate sense of relief. For six solid months, I went to school from 9 am to 5pm, then worked at a Chinese dumpling house from 5:30 pm to 11 pm where I was forced to wear these atrocious XL pressed blue collared shirts with an earpiece that had the manager yapping in my ear every 24 seconds. It’s comical looking back. For the first time in my life, teachers and students were acknowledging my talents in class, with no sleep and a dumpling diet to top it off, I was shocked! The more positive reinforcement I received the more I wanted to do. I was moving in flow, faster than my mind could catch up so there was no time to even second-guess what I was doing. I interned with an esthetician that would let me – one kept a bottle of wine in her drawer and sipped it in between clients, another let me shadow her at a high-end medical spa, and it only took one full day of waxing for me to decide that was officially on the no list.
Shortly after school, I found my dream job at an acne clinic in Santa Monica and quickly become the Lead Esthetician. A little over a year into working there, I do something I immediately regret: I send a ranty email to my boss and the next day, I’m fired in the middle of my shift. Now I’m really looking at myself hard in the mirror thinking I should just give it all up and move to another state because at this point, my whole career is over. After a week of disbelief and feeling real sorry for myself, I finally decided to start looking for a job. Now I realize I am once again at another crossroad decision of should and must: should I continue what feels safe and work under someone else, or must I take another leap and become a solo practitioner, trusting I have everything I need to make it work? I took the leap and rented a closet-sized room in Beverly Hills, so tiny you could hardly squeeze past the bed. I quickly realized I needed more space so I started renting a room inside a children’s chiropractic office in West LA.
At the time, commercial/office rentals were few and far between so I was willing to take anything. The chiropractic office turned out to be a nightmare; that could be its own story for another time. I moved again and when I finally found space inside a holistic center, I knew it was somewhere I could grow my business. Within the last two and half years, The Modern Ü has blossomed into a business that I feel extremely proud of. It’s rewarding to see my client’s skin transform over time and ultimately their confidence. This year during the pandemic, I was closed for eight months which meant I had to pivot as many businesses did. I created facial kits, an online store and started a line with a cleanser in the works. Of course, I arrived at another crossroad decision this year so if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my journey so far, it’s that the choices in life between should and must is obvious; always follow your heart and the rest will fall into place. In October, I turned 30 and moved into my own skincare suite. I’m very excited to see what this next chapter brings!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The Modern Ü is a skincare clinic based in West LA. I offer custom facial treatments, chemical peels and alternative anti-aging therapies. I’m falling in love with gua-sha! I enjoy working on all types of skin but specialize in correcting acne, discoloration and scarring. I live for a good transformation, it fills my soul. I am most proud of my before and after photos – it’s how most people find/choose me! I’m most likely known among my clients for my signature facial extractions, which, not going to lie can be painful but SO worth it if you’re breaking out. I’m all about creating results in my clients skin.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
1. I rescued my dog, Sofie, in 2017 from a shelter – best decision of my life!
2. I’m Soiux Indian and half French
3. I had braces for 6 years. When I was little I had a huge gap in between my two front teeth
4. I’ve never broken a bone
5. I worked in the food/service industry from 15 up until I became a full-time esthetician
6. I graduated from high school early
7. I have two younger brothers. One is a chef at Eataly
8. I got a sleeve (tattoo) when I was 18. My first tattoo was in Nicaragua when I was 17 and I hid it from my parents for a whole year
9. I’m a sun-libra, rising-aquarius, moon-cancer, number 11
10. I will drop money on yummy healthy expensive food because it makes me feel good and what we put in our bodies is everything!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: themodernu.com
- Instagram: themodernu
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-modern-%C3%BC-los-angeles-8
