When Souny West was laid off from Corporate America 3 years ago, she decided to start her own business: W Salon. Realizing that her talents were more concentrated in business development, she recognized the talent of her sister, Sue, who is a fabulous hairstylist of 15+ years. Having always had an entrepreneurial spirit, it was inevitable that she would start a business of her own some day. Her sister’s talent was what she truly believed. Souny knew she could successfully brand her sister’s skills using her background in social media and marketing.  Together, they have created a recognizable salon brand in less than 3 years through their focus and determination to be unique in their industry.                

Describe yourself in three words:            
I am known to Dream Big, Motivate and Inspire Others.

What do you consider your greatest professional achievement?
I would have to say being asked to represent small business owners for the 2012 Presidential Candidate Campaign for Gov. Mitt Romney and also being recognized as The Small Business Owner by Springfield Chamber of Commerce for 2012.

What are your professional goals for the next six months?          
To seek additional location's for the W Salon...  

How does your company stay connected through social media?
Due to my background in Social Media and Marketing, it has become a part of our lifestyle and behavior to always keep a pulse of various industries through my hootsuite dashboard daily. We follow various fashion & beauty brands, trend-setting bloggers and also sites like Entrepreneur.com and Ted.com to continually grow and think outside the box.

What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?   
Would love to try owning a hotel one day...        

How do you maintain a work/life balance?          
I try to work a 9 - 4 schedule and keep my evenings and weekends open to being a mom and wife. Although at times it becomes challenging as I find myself working when I put the kids to bed, I try and stick to that schedule as much as possible.  

What websites do you visit every day?
Ted.com, Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, Refinery29.com

What is your favorite drink – and where can you find it in Northern Virginia?
Being allergic to alcohol limits me to some extent, so I'll share a drink I often find myself enjoying twice a week in the afternoon as a treat.  Sweet Passion Iced Tea Lemonade by Starbucks - An infusion of hibiscus and natural tropical flavors, mixed with lemonade and hand-shaken with ice. My favorite.

What are your favorite people/places/things in Northern Virginia?
I love visiting Old Town Alexandria with my family.  We love walking up and down king street with ice-cream, cupcakes and a warm cup of coffee in hand.              

What is your goal for retirement?  
I don't find myself pondering on the idea that one day I will quit and sit along the beach watching sunsets. Entrepreneurship is in my blood. I find fulfillment building a business and watching it grow. It may be a hard habit for me to break. Would love to leave a legacy enterprise behind for my children and family.           

Do you have any advice for women who would like to start their own company?
Create your brand and allow others to absorb your company brand. People don’t consume based on what you do; people consume based on WHY you do it.