Meet Shanese Macklin | College Counselor & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shanese Macklin and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Shanese, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
What matters the most to me is finding true happiness. There are people in this world who have the “the good life”, the car, the house, the family. They could have a million and one things in the world and yet deep down they’re unhappy, sad, bitter, longing for something more to bring them out of a dark place. People can buy all the happiness in the world and some how the happiness they truly crave doesn’t exist. Having true happiness and having it within one’s self is the ultimate gift you can have. Once you’ve established that, everything around you will fall into place and those things bring added happiness. Establish happiness within, and watch your life become worth living.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am currently working as a College Counselor located in Long Island, New York. I graduated with a bachelors degree in Psychology. I started as a teachers assistant but I knew that was not my end goal. Currently I’m working on my Master’s degree and pursuing a career in School Counseling. As this is my professional career, I have always had a passion for skin care. I started my skincare line because of my own struggles with eczema and finding the right products that work on my skin was important to me. Monae’s Skin Care was not an overnight project. Nevertheless, I wrote down my vision and made it clear and began to make my dreams a reality. Monae’s Skin care caters to all skin types and uses all natural ingredients to enhance healthy skin and most importantly leaving you feeling as confident as can be. As I continue my journey my goal is to make an impact, whether it’s being a School Counselor or being a business owner, making a difference in the lives of others is what matters.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, because I live in the “Big Apple” lol, it depends on the time you’re coming because every season in New York has endless possibilities. Now that the holidays are approaching you can never go wrong with going to the Rockefeller Center to see the lighting of the Christmas tree. Then you can always head over to Bryant Park for some ice skating fun! Because you’re in the city you can never go wrong with grabbing one of New York’s finest pizzas, and don’t forget to get your roasted peanuts. You can always take a trip to the Brooklyn Bridge and take in the sites of the New York skyline. If you just want to have some downtime and have a nice calm evening, you can always head over to Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island where you can do some shopping, dine at one of their popular restaurants such as Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, or the Grand Lux Cafe. If you want to catch a movie you have the AMC theatres right next door too.
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?
First I’d like to say I’m a woman of faith and I thank God for bringing me this far. I would like to thank my parents for always believing in me. I want to give a special thanks to my mother for always demonstrating that no matter how hard life gets, keep going. I want to give a special shout to my family and my close friends for believing in my vision and supporting me through this process. Your continuous love and support is much appreciated.
Instagram: @monaesskincare
Facebook: Monae’s Skincare
Image Credits
Professional photo: OliviaJayPhotography