My Story
My name is Kaliopi Matheakis. I am the mother of two intelligent, beautiful and inspirational daughters. I was born in New York to a Guatemalan mother and Greek father. At 8 years old my family returned to Greece so that my parents could pursue a business opportunity. Their entrepreneurial drive and dedication to hard work and serving people is imbedded in my spirit.
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I am an entrepreneur who is continually expanding my focus while maintaining my original inspirations as an artist, hairstylist, creator and person who is deeply concerned with helping others. Among my entrepreneurial ventures I am the owner and operator of PR/ PuRity Hair Extensions, the first business I established in 2013 after returning to New York from Greece.
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Opening my own salon was my dream or more precisely my goal. I was determined to succeed in my own business. I was not proficient in the language, I did not have much money in the bank, a location in mind, or a client base in the United States. What I did have was years of studying, practicing, and working in cosmetology throughout Europe and a deeply ingrained faith in God.
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My faith in God was instilled in me by my mother while my father taught me the sensibilities and laws of business. At every turn, my mother would remind me to respect the spiritual laws for a fulfilling life. My father balanced this with lessons of practical living that were required to be successful in my personal, professional, and business life.
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My father’s advice meant ensuring that my cosmetologist and business license were properly updated and the fees paid on time. My mother’s lessons instilled in me a desire to help others according to the teachings of our faith. I continue to spend time at the salon serving clients along with my other ventures because of the values my parents instilled in me and my desire to make women become their best selves. In the beginning my determination to get started on solid legal footing required me to borrow less than a thousand dollars from my father to pay for my licensing fees. My father, Michael Matheakis, a successful self-made businessperson, had the means to finance my business dreams.
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My parents were kind and supportive to me throughout my life. They went above and beyond when I was a student, and as I practiced and studied my craft, I did not want to impose on them into adulthood and my American adventure. I came to New York with a song and prayer as they say. I had a dream, packed my bags, and left Greece for America. There were times when I wished I had asked for financial backing from my parents, but I was determined to chase my dream on my own two feet. Often that is exactly what I had to do. Many days I did not have $2.50 in my wallet for the subway fare, and my two feet were my transportation. At the end of every father daughter phone conversation he would ask if I needed anything, my reply was always definitive, “I’m fine dad, thanks.”
My father was my business inspiration. He arrived at Elis Island in the 1960s alone as a young immigrant from Greece with a dream. He did not know the language, nor formal education. He did not have any savings, or a family who could afford to financially support him with his American dream his quest for success. With the odds stacked against him, he succeeded. He as well as my mother believed that honesty, hard work, faith, and following the law were the keys to success, and he was living proof.
I was determined to follow him and fulfill my dreams of success in cosmetology, not just as a recognized artist, but also as a businessperson.
I was blessed with both of my parents encouraging me emotionally and supporting all my creative and entrepreneurial ideas. Even when I took time to study and create art, they believed in my dreams. They stood by my side in case I needed a hand up and needed to be dusted off. Most of my missteps were emotional, and they provided the loving guidance I needed to continue.
I know that there are hairstylists and others in cosmetology who have dreams like mine but lack support. Some are held back by abusive relationships, by family, friends, and employers. I have achieved a level of accomplishment that now allows me to reach out and help others to walk the path to follow their dreams and find their success.
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Other entrepreneurial adventures are offshoots of experience. What I learned from planning my own art exhibitions, participating in numerous New York Fashion Week shows, and being asked to organize a New York Fashion Week Show at the United Nations has now developed into another entrepreneurial venture as an event, party and show planer. The logistical experiences from planning parties and organizing shows led me to another adventure. I organize an annual Resting in Greece Tour. This small curated seven-day exploration of the Isle of Crete offers the unique perspective of a native.
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My latest business venture includes my artistic tendencies combined with crafting. It is called Painting and Restyling For Bright Futures. It is centered around interior designs using small modifications to modify and freshen the look, feel and comfort of homes and apartments. It includes painting motifs, small accent murals, along with accessing and installing affordable cabinetry.
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My goal today is to use my experience to help others. In Greece I use to think about coming to America and opening a business, now I think, “There is more! There is more that I can do for this community that allows me to succeed other than opening a business. I am now able to offer instruction, guidance, and support to others who lack a support network or the means to learn the fundamentals of business.
As I continue to expand my business ventures, I am also expanding my instructional services for hairstylists, salons, and hair extensions artists, event planners, tour operators and interior design. “
I have always counted on key people to be integral to the success of each business. I look for mentor driven, honest individuals to be members of my team. In this way I fulfill my goal as a business owner and my personal goal of providing opportunities for others to fulfill their dreams. I want to help others achieve their dreams and offer my experiences as a guide to their success.
Along with providing a model for my daughters to succeed and become entrepreneurs, I find great satisfaction in helping others find their passions and succeed in business.
