How Kim Foerster Reinvented Her Career: From Banking to Beauty Entrepreneur

A New Beginning: From Banking to Beauty at 39

NATIONWIDE - AUGUST 2025 - (USAnews.com) — Kim Foerster’s journey to founding Royal Glow Beauty & Esthetics in Boardman, Ohio, wasn’t a straight path. At 39, she was starting over, leaving behind a successful 20-year banking career. On her first day of esthetics school, surrounded by younger classmates, Kim couldn’t help but feel uncertain. “I remember thinking, what am I doing here?” she recalls. But despite the doubts, her determination to follow her true passion never wavered and that leap of faith would transform her life and career.

The Turning Point: From Banking to Beauty

By mid-2021, Kim had reached the end of her banking career. After years of managing branches and working in mortgages, a layoff prompted her to reconsider her future.

But her passion for beauty wasn’t new. As a young girl in pageants, Kim had witnessed firsthand how makeup and skincare could boost confidence and transform how people felt about themselves. She developed a keen eye for detail and a belief in the power of self-presentation, which led her to become the go-to person for spray tans and pageant makeup. In 2020, she became Norvell certified in spray tanning.

Still, taking the leap from side hustle to full-time career was a big step. “I constantly wondered if I’d wasted 20 years and whether anyone would even book an appointment,” Kim admits. But instead of returning to the corporate world, she chose a different path. At 39, she enrolled in esthetics school, earned her license by 40, and opened Royal Glow just a year later. Today, at 42, Kim is running a five-room boutique spa that blends her passion for beauty with her innate ability to connect with people.

A Personalized Experience at Royal Glow

Royal Glow isn’t your typical chain spa. Kim intentionally created an atmosphere that’s more personal, with each treatment tailored to the individual. Every client’s journey starts with a consultation to discuss their skin, lifestyle, and goals, ensuring that treatments are customized to meet their specific needs.

Signature services include anti-aging facials with LED light therapy to boost collagen, dermaplaning for a smooth complexion, and acne treatments for both teens and adults. Spray tanning—one of Kim’s first specialties remains popular among pageant contestants, brides, and anyone seeking a healthy, glowing complexion year-round.

And it’s not just about the treatments; it’s about making clients feel comfortable. “Kim made me feel completely at ease, and my skin has never looked better,” says one loyal client.

Building Community at Royal Glow

But Royal Glow is more than just a beauty destination, it's a space where women can thrive together. Kim envisioned a collaborative environment where women entrepreneurs could support one another rather than compete.

Royal Glow rents treatment rooms to independent professionals, including a nail technician, lash artist, and massage therapist. Together, they create a community of women who cross-promote each other’s services on social media, share client referrals, and brainstorm new ideas together over coffee. “When one of us faces a challenge, we problem-solve as a team,” Kim says. “That’s the power of women supporting women.”

This supportive, collaborative culture has caught the attention of the local community, earning recognition from the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and local media outlets. But for Kim, the most rewarding feedback comes from the clients who return not just for the treatments, but for the warm, welcoming atmosphere she’s created.

What Other Women Can Learn from Kim’s Journey

Kim’s story is more than just a career change, it's a lesson in embracing reinvention, no matter your age or background. For other women considering a pivot, Kim offers three key takeaways:

1. Your past experience still matters. “My banking career taught me organization, customer service, and how to build trust with clients. I use those skills every day in my new business.”
   
   

2. Find your support network. “Surrounding yourself with other women in business gave me the confidence to take the leap when I doubted myself.”
   
   

3. Age isn’t a barrier. “At 39, I felt like I was behind the curve. But what clients care about is how much you care for them, not how old you are.”
   
   

More Than Beauty: Confidence Through Care

For Kim, Royal Glow represents more than just a spa; it’s a place where women can recharge, reconnect, and rediscover their inner strength. “Yes, I want you to leave with glowing skin,” she says. “But more importantly, I want you to walk out with your head held high.”

Royal Glow stands as a testament to the power of reinvention at any stage of life. Today, it’s not just a beauty destination but a community hub where confidence is restored, relationships are nurtured, and new possibilities unfold.

Discover more about Royal Glow and read our customer reviews at royalglow.net.