Welcome back to the Aesthetic Business Masters Podcast, where host Nicole Montgomery speaks with the innovators, educators and entrepreneurs shaping the future of the aesthetics industry.
In this episode, Nicole is joined by Renée Altakrity, founder and master educator of SQT Australia, to talk about her journey from cosmetic tattooing into advanced skin treatments and education, the science and philosophy behind bio micro needling, and what it takes to build a business that genuinely supports practitioners rather than simply selling them product.
Renée Altakrity is the founder and master educator of SQT Australia, a company providing clinics with bio micro needling technology, education and ongoing practitioner support. Renée's career began in cosmetic tattooing before expanding into advanced skin treatments and education. Drawing on a background spanning leadership, business management, project management, finance and human resources, she identified a gap in the industry for stronger education and genuine partnership with clinics — a gap that led to the creation of SQT Australia, now used by more than 650 clinics across the country.
Topics Discussed
Renée's journey from cosmetic tattooing into skin health and educationHow her own experience with acne shaped her approach to client careFrustrations with symptom-focused treatment in the wider skin health industryWhat SCT stands for and the meaning behind the brandWhat inspired the creation of SCT AustraliaThe role of education in SCT Australia's modelThe challenges of introducing bio micro needling to the Australian marketWhat bio micro needling is and how it differs from traditional micro needlingWhat spicules are and how they are sourcedThe client experience, comfort levels and recovery windowThe skin concerns SCT Australia is most commonly used forHow to tell genuine innovation apart from passing trendsGaps in industry education and ongoing practitioner supportSCT Australia's onboarding process and phased training modelManaging staff turnover and ongoing clinic supportBalancing business leadership, education and motherhoodAdvice for practitioners considering starting their own business or brandWhere Renée sees the aesthetics industry headingWhat success means to Renée personallyA rapid-fire round and a preview of SCT Australia at Beauty ExpoKey Learning Points
Lasting client outcomes depend on client education and commitment, not just the treatment itself.A treatment protocol alone does not build a successful business — critical thinking and business management matter just as much.Genuine innovation is distinguished from trends by whether it is backed by evidence, delivers consistent results, and holds up over time.Ongoing support after initial training, not just the training itself, is often what determines whether practitioners succeed with a new treatment or system.This episode is a useful listen for clinic owners, practitioners and industry suppliers interested in how education-led business models are built, what genuinely differentiates a new treatment category from a passing trend, and how founders balance rapid business growth with the realities of family life.
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Learn more about SQT: https://www.sqtaustralia.com.au/
Leave a review: https://g.page/r/CV4WjGUImNh-EBM/review
