Daily Inspiration: Meet Tiffany Sumler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Sumler.

Hi Tiffany, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey has always been rooted in education, creativity, and entrepreneurship. I spent over 16 years working in Baltimore City Public Schools, where I served in various leadership and instructional roles, including master teacher, staff developer, department head, and mentor supporting both students and educators. Education shaped who I am because I’ve always had a passion for helping people grow, build confidence, and discover their potential.

At the same time, I had another passion that started years earlier while I was in college — doing nails. What began as a hobby and creative outlet slowly grew into something much bigger. Over time, I began building a clientele while still working in education, and during my 14th year in the field, I opened a nail salon while continuing to teach full-time. Balancing both careers required sacrifice, discipline, and faith, but it also showed me that passion and purpose can exist together.

After relocating to Georgia, I decided to pursue another passion of mine — beauty and wellness. What started as a creative outlet eventually grew into Polish Me Pretty Nail Studio, a space designed to provide luxury nail care while also promoting healthy nails, self-care, and confidence. Building my business wasn’t always easy. I’ve worn every hat imaginable, from renovating spaces myself to learning branding, marketing, leadership, and customer service through hands-on experience.

As my business evolved, I realized I wanted to create more than just beautiful nails. I became passionate about nail care, healthy nail practices, wellness, and helping clients feel confident through self-care. That passion also inspired me to begin creating my own natural products focused on nail and skin wellness.

Today, Polish Me Pretty is more than a nail salon to me. It’s a brand centered around empowerment, professionalism, education, and opportunity. I mentor aspiring nail technicians through apprenticeships, teach beauty industry skills, and encourage others to pursue entrepreneurship and trades as meaningful career paths. My background in education naturally carried over into the beauty industry because teaching and mentoring will always be a part of who I am.

One of the things I’m most proud of is being able to combine creativity, business, mentorship, and service into one purpose-driven career. Whether I’m working with clients, mentoring future beauty professionals, speaking to students, or building opportunities within my community, my goal is always the same: to inspire others to believe in themselves and understand that success can come from passion, consistency, and faith.

I’m still growing, learning, and evolving, and I’m grateful for every step of the journey so far.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but every challenge has helped shape me into the woman, educator, and entrepreneur I am today. One of the biggest obstacles was relocating to a completely new state and trying to build a business and a life from the ground up without having a strong support system or many connections. Starting over in a new place can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to establish credibility, build relationships, and grow a business at the same time.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What I do goes far beyond nail services — I help create experiences centered around beauty, wellness, confidence, and self-care. I am the owner of Polish Me Pretty Nail Studio, where I specialize in healthy nail care, structured manicures, creative nail artistry, and luxury self-care experiences. Over the years, I’ve also expanded into creating natural wellness products focused on nail and skin care because I truly believe beauty and wellness go hand in hand.

What sets me apart is my background in education and mentorship. Before becoming a full-time entrepreneur, I spent over 16 years in Baltimore City Public Schools serving as a teacher, master teacher, staff developer, department head, and mentor. That experience shaped the way I lead, teach, and connect with people today. Even within the beauty industry, education has remained a huge part of my purpose.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are definitely people who deserve credit for helping me along this journey. One of the biggest influences in my career has been my mentor, Ms. Michelle Hawkins, who was my cosmetology teacher. She believed in me from the very beginning, even during times when I didn’t fully believe in myself. Her encouragement, guidance, and willingness to pour into me helped shape not only my skills, but also my confidence as a professional. Even to this day, she continues to support me, answer questions, offer advice, and remind me to keep pushing forward. Having someone who genuinely believes in your potential can make all the difference, and I’m incredibly grateful for her mentorship.

I also have to give a tremendous amount of credit to my husband and family for their support throughout this journey. Building a business requires sacrifice, long hours, and unwavering dedication, and his support gave me the ability to truly focus on growing my vision. Whether it was encouragement during difficult moments, helping me stay motivated, or simply believing in my dream, his support has meant everything to me.

I especially have to acknowledge my mother and father , who played a major role in helping me balance both education and entrepreneurship. There were many times she helped by watching my children so I could continue working full-time while also building my business. Having that kind of support allowed me to pursue my goals, stay committed to my vision, and keep pushing forward even during exhausting seasons of life. I truly could not have done it without her help and sacrifices.

I’m also thankful for my loyal clients, students, apprentices, and supporters who have trusted me throughout the years. Every person who has supported my business, referred a client, encouraged me, or believed in my vision has played a role in helping Polish Me Pretty grow into what it is today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.polishmeprettynailsalon.com
• Instagram: @polishmeprettyllc
• Facebook: @polishmeprettynailsalonandboutique