Meet Lily Gazaryan

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lily Gazaryan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lily, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from Armenia, Yerevan. I came to the U.S. when I was 6 years old. I came here with my dad, 9 months after my mom came here with my brother. Living in Armenia was very rough, because we didn’t have money, my parents were very young when they got married and had me. I grew up with having very little. I remember growing up wanting toys, dolls and games, but my parents couldn’t afford it. My dad was young to work, my maternal grandfather was helping us, by sending money, food, clothing to Armenia. After my brother was born, my grandparents decided to bring us to America. Coming to the US was hard too. We came here not knowing the language, not understanding how anything worked. My parents were not able to find work to support us, and to take care of us. It was difficulty growing up wanting things but couldn’t afford to have. As I got older, I always wanted to be in the medical field. That was my passion, I love helping people get better, feel better. So, I graduated high school early. because I wanted to work, and continue going to school. I started taking pharmacy tech program, but I didn’t like it. Than, I moved on to medical assistant, which by the way I love. It makes me feel great that I am there with the doctor help them every step of the way, along with helping my patients. Than I went back to school for surgical tech. I knew I wanted to do something more, something bigger and better, and expand my knowledge. As, I worked at multiple offices settings with multiple specialties, I got more knowledge of how everything worked. I was the head medical assistant as well as a medical practice manager. I managed a practice of over 15-20 employees. The doctors and other providers would always say, “Lily, your like a doctor without a degree, you need to go back to school,” and would laugh. But even then, I knew that was not what I wanted, I knew I wanted do to something for myself, I knew I wanted to have my own business some day but I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted. I knew I wanted something in the medical field and in aesthetics, but I was doubting my self a bit knowing the challenges it comes with owning and operating big practices. Until one day I was talking to my husband about it, and told him that maybe I should open up my own management company and manage different medical practices as well as an aesthetic med spa/ beauty bar, since I knew everything about how to run a practice, payroll, hiring etc. He gave me a big confidence boost and told me “you got this babe, what ever you want to do, I got your back, I know you love beauty and aesthetics, as well as working in the medical field, you will be a great business owner entrepreneur, especially because you always put your heart into the things you love to do, you got this baby” that gave me so much power! So I pushed myself to work even harder. I decided to open my own management company to start. I knew it would be financially be hard, since it was during and after COVID, and I was the only one working at the time after my husband had lost his job. I knew I had to make changes, I had a 4 year old and a 1 1/2 year old at home, I knew I had to change my life and my families life. I knew that I didn’t want to live from pay check to pay check any more or to continue working for someone else and building their businesses and their dreams. I knew I had to make changes since my expanses were getting more as my kids were getting older. I knew that we wanted to provide the best life for our kids, giving them everything they ever wanted. I knew that at the beginning it would be hard. I had to push my self mentally to stay strong, because I knew having a business would be a good thing but also challenging. For me, that meant being away from my family for long hours to work, being in business meetings, late night office works, etc. I also knew it was going to be hard financially starting up a luxury medspa spa/ beauty bar. I knew I wanted my beauty bar to be very luxurious, very upscale, with over the top details, products and services. I had to do what ever it took for me to build my luxury medspa that I always wanted. So that meant I had to do what ever it took to build both of my businesses up. I knew I didn’t want my boys growing up living a hard life. My husband and I want our kids to have the best of everything and anything that they ever wanted. My husband supported me and continues to support me in every aspect of my life. He helps me with everything and anything. He helps me with our kids, with our house work, and everything in between. Without my husbands support, push, and motivation I don’t think I would’ve been able to do it all. After opening my management business, I finally decided to open up my beauty bar/ Med spa .. ALGM Beauty Bar, in Van Nuys, CA. I love the aesthetic world, its another passion of mine, both making people feel great about them selves with a little bit of medicine involve. I love seeing our clients come in get SNATCHED and leave happy. When they feel great leaving the spa, it makes me as a business owner feel amazing inside, because I know we were able to make them feel great about them self. Even with just a basic monthly glam facial. I get this over whelming feeling, when my clients complete their services and I ask them “how was it”, and they response is “amazing!” I love that! That means I have done my job right as a CEO by hiring the right team of professionals. With that being said, I am very happy that I was able to get this far in life all by my self, of course with the love and support of my husband, but everything else I’ve done it by my self. I am proud of myself for all my successes I have so far. I am building my empire from ground up and will continue to succeeded, as long as I push myself and never give up, I know I can get to where I want to be! ALGM Beauty Bar is here to stay, grow and GLOW! ALGM Beauty Bar – Where Luxury Meets Beauty! We are LA’s number 1 LUXURY BEAUTY BAR! 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is a luxury Med Spa/Beauty Bar in the heart of Van Nuys, CA. I decided to open it in Van Nuys because there is not many med spa/beauty bar’s in the area. I wanted to open somewhere that everyone in the surrounding areas can come and enjoy themselves. Not everyone wants to go to Beverly Hills, or drive to Ventura Blvd just to get couple of units of Botox or a simple Lip filler. Our clients are people around our area. They coming during there lunch break because we are up the street from there work place, or just next to where they live. I am very proud of my hard work and how far I am. No, it was not easy, not one bit. After opening up the spa, lot of people that I had hired were taking advantage of my kindness. They lied during interviews, and make me believe they were the best of the best. After hiring them, and having them around for couple of months, that when everything would come out to surface. Thats when I need I had to change everything, and get rid of everyone and start all over. I changed the business name, because lot of problems occurred with that, I changed my staff, I changed business name, my medical director, my branding, everything was redone. Changed my logo, my business cards, documentation, this time I had hired attorneys to help me navigate it the right way, the correct way, so that way people that I would hire were qualified professionals. After searching for qualified professionals, I found them. They work hard, they are dedicated to build up the brand and to be by my side. It was hard because after spending a lot of money the first time, then after 6 months later, I had to change everything again. I spent lot more than, then I have made. Which I know its ok because I know having a business is not always easy. You win some, you lose some. and I understand that its a lot of time and money invested in my business. Ive learned a lot from my mistakes, I’ve learned to be nice but not to be there friend, not to give them power to control me or my medspa in any way. To keep a distance and give them warnings and write ups if its needed. I want the world to know that when they come to ALGM Beauty Bar, they are not just getting a simple facial or just a lip flip, they are getting a full relaxing service, they are getting a luxury service. My beauty bar is clean, luxury, glam, calm, relaxing atmosphere. When clients come, they leave happy, and excited to be back. We are professional team of aesthetic providers, and we are here to provide them with the best of the best. My brand represents luxury and beauty all at the same time.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came for a visit, I would first take them to get a relaxing a facial at my medspa. I would take her to get pampered and relaxed first, than I would take her get some yummy lunch at an Armenian restaurant to get some delicious food, then I would definitely take her shopping, we would go to the casino a little bit just to walk around and play a little, The next couple of days we would plan each day as it comes. I would take her to the famous Santa Monica Pier with dinner there for the evening, go to Malibu’s Paradise Cove for some lunch on the beach and just to relax by the beach. I would do all this with my family as well. If my friend had any family in the area, then we would definitely invite her family as well to go along since its always fun going with a group of people.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shout out to my husband! My backbone, my number 1 fan, my supporter in everything I do, my best friend, without him and his support I wouldn’t be where I’m at right now.

Website: ALGMBeautybar.com

Instagram: @ALGMBeautybar

Other: personal instagram @_artlil213_