From Shop Assistant To Beauty Mogul: These Are Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Inside Tips For Building A Successful Business

Dr. Barbara Sturm is a name familiar to everyone in the know about skin care—but before her acclaimed vampire facials, blood creams, and potent serums, the German native began her career in orthopaedic medicine developing cutting-edge treatments for inflammatory conditions.

Applying her learnings from medicine to the field of aesthetics, Dr. Sturm opened her flagship clinic in Dusseldorf and quickly became one of the most respected figures in the field. Her MC1 moisturiser—with a pioneering skin-healing formula—launched in 2002 and solidified her as a pillar of skincare innovation.

In more recent years, Dr. Sturm has expanded her business from one with a cult following to a global powerhouse—Kim Kardashian kickstarting the scramble for vampire facials in 2013 certainly didn’t hurt—with clinics in New York, Los Angeles, and London.

From shop assistant to medical student to aesthetician, Dr. Sturm is here to tell you her secrets to success.

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Below are three key takeaways from Dr. Sturm from Vogue Club’s Career Secrets video.

On Taking Risks

You need to back yourself. Risks should never be taken with the mission of achieving acclaim—instead, what you pursue should see you chasing your passion and challenging yourself:

“Success will come from your inner belief and conviction. You have to have an idea that is not led by success or fame.”

On Recruiting a Team

For Dr. Sturm, a truly productive business does not rely on hierarchy, but instead on knowledge, competency, and congeniality: 
“I want to work as a team—I want to be approachable by everybody. It’s important to me that we are all working together with our patients at the heart of what we’re doing.”

On Keeping Good Relationships

Keeping respectful relationships with others is imperative to your success—whether at the nadir or the zenith of your career: 
“Keep both feet on the ground, be kind, and have respect for everyone.”