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Jade Trevino, BSN

Brave Moves and Bold Steps

This month, we focused on activities that will help position both me and Dr. Madison as Key Persons of Influence in dermatology. We pitched ourselves as speakers for a conference and a podcast, and explored new collaborations that reflect our values and areas of expertise. Each of these efforts is helping us build credibility, visibility, and alignment with the kind of work we want to be known for, not just clinically, but creatively and strategically.

The theme of putting myself out there showed up in a lot of ways this month. Here are a few things I did:

With the help (and gentle nudging) from Kimberly, I submitted my first-ever conference proposal, a pitch to speak on a panel about AI in dermatology at the New England Minority Nurse Leadership Conference. As soon as I read the email from Kimberly asking if I wanted to participate, I felt a wave of fear rush in. But what surprised me was that the fear wasn’t about being rejected. It was about being selected. The idea of standing in front of a crowd and having something worth listening to felt terrifying. But I’m starting to realize that fear is just part of the process of becoming more visible. A few weeks later, I received an update that I had been selected to join the panel. It’s exciting and scary all at once, but I’m grateful to have time to prepare, and I’ll definitely be leaning on Kimberly for guidance every step of the way.

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I also challenged myself by sharing my business idea with both trusted colleagues and strangers.

I started by reaching out to six dermatologists I’ve previously worked with, sharing my idea and asking for feedback. This was something Kimberly suggested I do a couple of months ago, and I told her I’d think about it. It took some time to work up the courage, but I’m proud that I finally did it. Only two responded, but their feedback was honest and incredibly helpful. I’ve been afraid of people pointing out what could go wrong, but I’m learning to take those comments and use them to strengthen the weak spots. If I want this idea to work, I have to get comfortable hearing the tough stuff early.

Next, I used that momentum and newfound courage to ask strangers for their opinions. I posted a one-question poll in five different Facebook groups and got over 200 responses. That was surprising. I received both positive and negative feedback, which was okay. In the book Key Person of Influence, the author says it doesn’t matter what kind of response you get; what matters is that people are paying attention.

Later in the month, I did some cold outreach to dermatologists on LinkedIn to talk about a new research idea. One actually responded and hopped on a call with me. It’s still unclear if anything will come of it, but I’m glad I stepped out there.

I also received a follow-up from one of the leaders of Diversity in Dermatology (DID) about the blog post I had pitched after the conference. Not only did they say yes ..they loved it, and asked if I’d be interested in continuing to write and possibly becoming their Blog Chair. That still feels surreal.

Another highlight was getting to sit in on a brainstorming session between Dr. Madison and Ni-Ka Ford, a Certified Medical Illustrator. Watching them work through ideas in real time gave me a new perspective on how brand partnerships take shape. It was a behind-the-scenes look at the early stages of collaboration and a reminder that creative partnerships often start with simple conversations and shared values. This project will be part of a larger collaboration between Mahogany Dermatology Nursing | Education | Research™ and Enlight Visuals.

One thing I didn’t accomplish was taking the dermatology nurse certification exam. It was a personal goal I set earlier in the year, and I’ve felt disappointed in myself for not following through. But I also know the time I’ve spent on other projects, building confidence, starting conversations, and creating content, has helped me grow in ways I didn’t plan for, but needed.

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Key takeaways this month:

• Fear and growth often show up at the same time. I’m learning that discomfort can be a signal that I’m headed in the right direction.

• Not everyone will respond, and not all feedback will be positive. But the ones who do respond can offer clarity and push my ideas forward.

• Just because a goal isn’t checked off doesn’t mean I’m not progressing. Sometimes growth shows up in unexpected places.

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Challenges I faced:

• I didn’t follow through on studying for my certification, and I’ve had to work through some internal disappointment about that.

• Cold outreach was intimidating. It brought up fears of rejection and being perceived as unqualified, but I pushed through and started anyway.

• Learning how to pitch myself and my ideas publicly is still new for me. I’m building that confidence one conversation at a time.

Looking ahead, I’m committed to getting back on track with my certification studies and setting a clear test date. I’m continuing to work on my systematic review, and I’m making great progress. I plan to meet with the cofounder of DID to explore the Blog Chair position and start thinking about my next article for submission. I’ll also keep sharing my business idea, because each time I do, I get a little clearer and a little braver.

In all, this month reminded me that showing up, even imperfectly, still counts. Progress isn’t always loud or flashy. Sometimes, it looks like quiet courage, small wins, and the decision to keep going.

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Dr. Kimberly Madison, DNP

And Still We Rise

This month, I completed the editing process and 2nd, 3rd, and 4th read of my first paperback: Nursing Aesthetics: An Introductory Guide for Nurse Practitioners and Entrepreneurs. A process that took much longer than I expected, but paid tenfold in lessons and gratitude - a dream realized. When I first graduated with my DNP degree, I asked myself what I would do if I could do anything for free. The answer? Write. Then, I had to decide what to write about. The answer? Dermatology. I created the Mahogany Dermatology Blog, and then went looking for opportunities to learn about dermatology. Found out very fast there is a lot to learn. I knew the only way to successfully learn and retain all that information was to put myself in a teaching position, so I initially used the blog share my lessons in hope that I would also help other people looking for similar content. Fast forward, I’ve now published over 100 articles and changed my life by following my truest passion for the most purest reason. While some people dream of being famous, rich, married, and parents; I dreamed of being smart and seeing my thoughts on paper.

This book serves as the answer to one of the most asked questions: How do I get started if I want to be a Cosmetic Nurse Practitioner Entrepreneur? In this book, I cover everything from the history of aesthetics, to skin of color, 4-week on-boarding templates for employers, training assessment guides for aspiring clinicians looking for a way to evaluate the quality of so many programs, legal and practice considerations, nursing ethics, and gaps in clinical practice and ideas for doctoral nursing (DNP and PhD) research that can address these gaps.

Jade helped me identify multiple schools of nursing we’re interested in partnering with to increase access to dermatology education and tools that help us meet our primary mission. One of many initiatives we’re rolling out this year with the help of one of our biggest partners in dermatology to help us bridge the gap in access to quality resources for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Additionally, she helped me refine a survey we’ll be releasing in the future to address gaps in nursing education when it comes to skin of color. Stay tuned!

These days, my time is limited, when I do hop on a call it’s with founders and entrepreneurs to share our lived experiences, mental health check-ins, inspiration, to further nurture our ideas, and to continue to find ways to keep each other in business. The journey can be lonely, so these conversations have been golden and critical to my success.

I continued with the 4th month of My Biggest Launch Ever - an accelerator business sales coaching program. This month, I started working with two accountability partners to help us to get to our first launch. At first thought, I was immediately stressed because I already didn’t have time to do things by myself, let alone a scheduled time with someone else. But, with a clearly defined time, framework, and focused women who were already successful millionaires in their own right - we made it work! Two titans in the beauty industry with decades of experience and endless grit. I’m so humbled they would even share the screen with me, listen to my ideas, and share their vulnerability. You just can’t Google that kind of experience or ask for that kind of support or feedback from Facebook - no matter how hard you try. This specific experience and my time spent with the community of entrepreneurs is something I dream for each of you. This was another reminder that the secret to success is doing life with others. With their support and a new layer of focus, I worked feverishly to complete my launch while I still had access to the community. I had to start over because I pivoted! You’ll hear more about the launch and my pivot in my July reflection.

Jade and our Houston Besties enjoyed a lovely afternoon under a big oak tree at a local botanical gardens during Memorial Day weekend. It was perfectly decorated with freshly squeezed juice thanks to Jade, lovely picnic blankets, and memorable conversations. I’m so grateful to have these women in my life. They helped make my first year in Texas nothing but delightful and the bond we’ve formed so quickly came right on time for each of us as we navigate different and similar paths at the same time. We are all extremely busy, so the fact they take the time to plan events, click on links to provide feedback, and always respond with compassion is something I wish for you all to experience, especially since finding friendship in adulthood can be challenging. All of these ladies are blossoming before my eyes and I’m here for it! Let’s get to work ladies!

On the final day of the month, I found out my article, “Improving Diversity in Dermatology Nursing Education," was featured in the inaugural issue of DNPs of Color Magazine. The magazine was a complete surprise. I had been invited to write an article for the members, but I didn’t know about the magazine. The article in particular, is the beginning of me laying out my thesis as it relates to the work we’re doing to address gaps in dermatology nursing education and why this is significant. Currently, the article is only accessible to members of DNPs of Color. I want to recognize and honor my dear friend Dr. Danielle McCamey, DNP for this opportunity, the vision that continues to unfold, and her unwavering support despite her own challenges and priorities. She has and continues to serve as an irreplaceable mentor and role model for what it means for Black Women in professional spaces to show up fully - how to navigate the twists, turns, challenges, and disappointments - and yet stay persistent and consistent nonetheless. See what Dr. McCamey, a newly inducted Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), a high honor and great distinct bestowed upon the best and brightest in nursing who have made significant contributions to policy, administration, practice, and academia, has been up to here.

I protected my time and my calendar intensely. I first started blocking more days on the calendar in February when I signed up for My Biggest Launch Ever. While stressful at first, because I’m very regimented, it has turned out to be the best thing. I now have more of a routine, my phone stays on mute 95% of the time, I have more do not disturb days, I always eat dinner at the table, I started spending more time in silence, I reached out to my community for recommendations for a therapist, I’ve reduced the days I record and take consultations and aim to get as much done on those days. This is still a work in progress to be sure, but it’s an important shift that all successful entrepreneurs must make. I put new organizational systems in place, and I’m steadily striving to use them as intended so as my team grows, we have a solid foundation.

By the month’s end, I submitted the files for my paperback and e-book versions of my book and waited. You can now access both by visiting Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and anywhere books are sold. I wrote this book for you and anyone who dreams of starting their own business. I hope you find it provides clarity, builds your confidence, and serves as a friendly reminder: you can move from dreamer to doer by taking the first step.

I want to thank Jade from the bottom of my heart for continuing to participate in this public experiment. Your insight, feedback, confidence, reassurance, vulnerability and maturity are exactly what I needed. I’m so grateful our paths crossed. Excited to see what we’re able to do in the next 30 days!

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Closing Thoughts

Your clinical talent will not build your business. Your willingness to be seen will. Every successful entrepreneur understands that expertise without visibility is a well-kept secret, and secrets don't make an impact. The Mahogany Telederm Internship is our real-time case study in turning expertise into influence. This series is more than a monthly reflection; it's a strategic debrief designed to give you a replicable framework for your own journey.

This month, we focused on the engine of all growth: bold action. We put our strategy to the test. We pitched, we reached out, we collaborated, and we faced the inevitable mix of rejection and acceptance. We did the hard work of building a brand in public, strategically positioning ourselves as the leaders we are becoming. What we shared is not just our story, but a lesson in what it truly takes to command your space. The Mahogany Telederm Internship, created by Mahogany Dermatology Nursing | Education | Research™, is a first-of-its-kind program designed to prepare nurses and nurse practitioners to lead with confidence in clinical care, business acumen, and digital fluency, especially in dermatology for skin of color.

Before the end of the month, we’ll return with our reflections from June. At the end of the year, we’re taking our experience and creating the Mahogany Dermatology framework for each of our entrepreneur friends to follow so you have actionable steps you can implement immediately to start, scale, and optimize your business. We thank you for your ongoing support and confidence.

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About the Authors

Dr. Kimberly Madison, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, WCC, is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner, educator, and author dedicated to advancing dermatology nursing education and research with an emphasis on skin of color. As the founder of Mahogany Dermatology Nursing | Education | Research™ and the Alliance for Cosmetic Nurse Practitioners™, she expands access to dermatology research, business acumen, and innovation while also leading professional groups and mentoring clinicians. Through her engaging and informative social media content and peer-reviewed research, Dr. Madison empowers nurses and healthcare professionals to excel in dermatology and improve patient care.

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Jade Dupree Trevino, BSN, RN

I am a dedicated dermatology professional with over a decade of experience as a Dermatology Medical Assistant, Registered Nurse, and Clinical Nurse Coordinator. Passionate about education and inclusivity in dermatology, I joined the Mahogany Dermatology Nursing | Education | Research™ Internship to expand my knowledge and contribute to the field I love. Through this blog, I aim to share my journey as a source of inspiration for those exploring nontraditional paths in dermatology. I’m excited to help create innovative educational resources and encourage others to discover their purpose in this dynamic specialty.

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