Story & Lesson Highlights with Sakina Garba

Sakina Garba shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Sakina, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
There have been many moments in my life when I felt the urge to move quickly, but looking back, I’m grateful I didn’t. Over the past decade, I poured myself into building a skincare business, only to face unexpected challenges financial struggles, personal setbacks, and the kind of life events that can make you question everything. In those moments, it would have been easy to act out of panic or impatience. But choosing to wait, to breathe, and to trust my own timing turned out to be a blessing.

That pause allowed me to gain perspective. I realized that setbacks don’t mean the end of a dream; sometimes, they are simply a chance to reshape it. Now, with renewed vision, I’m preparing to relaunch my company Fulbe Aesthetics on an even greater scale bigger, stronger, and more intentional than before. Slowing down gave me clarity, and in that clarity, I found the confidence to create something truly lasting.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sakina Garba, and my story begins in southwest Atlanta, Georgia, though my roots reach back to Nigeria through the Fulani and Hausa tribes. From a young age, beauty and wellness were woven into my life. I grew up watching my mother braid hair as a side hustle alongside her nursing career, and by the age of eight, I had picked up the skill myself. What began as play soon became passion, and by my teenage years I was already styling clients and building a love for helping people feel confident in their appearance.

After graduating high school, I attended Georgia State University while also earning my certification in hemodialysis. My medical training gave me a deep understanding of the human body, but my heart was always drawn back to beauty and wellness. That passion led me to the Elaine Sterling Institute in Atlanta, where I trained as an aesthetician and graduated at the top of my class. For me, aesthetics was more than skin-deep it was about healing, educating, and empowering people to embrace their natural beauty.

In 2021, I opened my first skincare studio on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. Though it was short-lived due to financial setbacks, it ignited a vision that has never left me. Life took me on a new path marriage and a relocation to Nigeria, the land of my ancestors. From there, I created Fulbe Aesthetics, a brand that blends my West African heritage with modern skincare science. My mission is rooted in a holistic approach: drawing from traditional beauty practices, natural botanicals, and advanced medical treatments to restore not just the skin, but the confidence and spirit of each client.

What makes Fulbe Aesthetics unique is our commitment to both heritage and innovation. We don’t just treat skin; we honor wellness as a whole. Currently, we’re expanding in Abuja, Nigeria, where we’re building a spa that incorporates professional skincare treatments, Pilates for spiritual wellness, and exclusive luxury products not yet available in the region. For me, it’s not about chasing profit it’s about passion, education, and the joy of watching someone light up when they see results, when they truly feel good in their own skin. That’s the heart of my journey, and that’s the soul of Fulbe Aesthetics.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?

The part of me that I’m releasing is the version of myself that stayed quiet, played small, and hid my true potential. For years, I thought humbling myself meant holding back, but in reality, it only kept me from stepping into who I truly am. That chapter has served its purpose it taught me patience, resilience, and self-awareness. But now, I’m ready to let it go and fully embrace the best version of myself: confident, bold, and unafraid to share my gifts with the world.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me lessons that success never could. At my lowest points, I felt torn down, belittled, and close to giving up altogether. I went through a marriage that drained me of my spark and left me questioning my worth. But walking through that pain became my greatest teacher. It forced me to confront myself with honesty, to find discipline in the middle of chaos, and to discover the strength it takes to choose what is right even when it’s hard.

Success celebrates the outcome, but suffering carved the resilience, self-respect, and clarity that now define who I am. It taught me that true power is not in avoiding pain, but in rising from it, stronger and more confident in my own worth.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is the real me. My life’s motto has always been to stay true to myself, and that’s exactly how I choose to live. Whether you meet me in public or in private, what you see is who I genuinely am. I don’t put on a mask or try to be someone else, because authenticity is the foundation of everything I do. I also hope that by living openly and honestly, I can encourage others to embrace their own truth. While not everyone chooses to be genuine, I’ve learned that real connection only comes when we show up as ourselves and that’s the kind of energy I surround myself with.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I only had 10 years left, I would stop procrastinating immediately. For so long, I’ve delayed certain dreams and projects because I told myself I needed everything to be perfect before starting. I now realize that chasing perfection often holds us back more than it helps us. Life has shown me that nothing will ever be flawless, but what matters is the courage to begin, the discipline to keep going, and the consistency to see things through.

I would remind myself that time is precious, and waiting for the “right” moment can cause you to miss the opportunities that are already in front of you. Instead of overthinking, I would take action on my ideas, trust the process, and allow growth to come through experience. At the end of the day, success doesn’t come from perfect timing it comes from showing up, even imperfectly, and refusing to quit.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @fulbeaesthetics
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sakina-g-a53a971a6
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/YSf5FnSy4Ds?si=ZPQplmMA9SAwtl6k