JULIE SCOTT

BUILDING YOUR TRIBE: THE VOICES IN MY HEAD

Independent nurse prescriber Julie Scott shares how your mentors, colleagues, friends and patients shape how you practice

I hope my reflections this year will continue to offer thought-provoking insights, to make you pause for a moment, and perhaps to see our profession and ourselves in a slightly different light. In my last column, I drew inspiration from Pixar’s Inside Out, exploring the voices that live inside my head: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, each one representing a part of me that shows up in practice.

But of course, those voices didn’t form in isolation; their wisdom has been strengthened by the real people who have walked beside me over the years. These are the individuals who make up my external tribe: mentors, colleagues, friends and patients, each one leaving an imprint on how I practise and who I continue to become.

They don’t just influence my decisions; they echo in my mind long after the conversation ends, and the ones who remind me, when I need it most, what this profession is truly about.

THE MENTOR: THE VOICE OF CLARITY

Every practitioner, no matter how experienced, needs someone who reflects their own values back at them when the path feels unclear. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have mentors who have helped me navigate the difficult moments, from complex clinical decisions to the quiet self-doubt that creeps in before a presentation or while developing new training content.

A good mentor doesn’t tell you what to do; they help you see what you already know. They ask the right questions, not to direct you, but to help you find your own truth.

Every one of them has helped me grow not just as a clinician, but as a person. I know they are always there for me, and that I can lean on them unreservedly whenever I need to.

Finding the right mentor starts with clarity about what you’re looking for, not just someone senior, but someone whose values mirror your own. The best mentors don’t just share their knowledge; they share their honesty. Look for someone who challenges you kindly, who listens more than they talk, and who sees your potential even when you can’t.

Remember, mentorship doesn’t always need to be formal. It can start with a single conversation, a moment of guidance, or an example that stays with you. What matters most is finding someone who helps you grow without asking you to become someone else. Trust your instincts; mentorship is as much about connection as it is about credentials.

THE COLLEAGUES: THE QUIET ALLIES

Then there are the colleagues who have become something more: the ones who truly understand the unique pressures of aesthetic practice. These connections have shaped me as much as any formal training, reminding me of the value of shared experience.

Our profession can sometimes appear competitive from the outside, but the most successful practitioners I know are those who celebrate others rather than compare themselves.

My tribe of colleagues has taught me that collaboration, not competition, is where progress happens.

I know that my support and respect are reciprocated, and I will always go the extra mile for those in my close network, and often beyond.

THE MENTEES: THE NEXT CHAPTER

Mentoring the next generation has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.

Through programmes like the Epiphany Enhanced Competency Framework and the Junior Trainee Mentorship Scheme, I’ve had the privilege of watching new practitioners find their feet and their voice.

I often learn as much from my mentees as they do from me. Their curiosity and hunger to do better remind me why I fell in love with this field in the first place.

They challenge me to stay current, to reflect on my own methods and to articulate what has often become intuitive.

Mentorship, at its best, is circular. It’s not about hierarchy; it’s about exchange. The more I give, the more I receive, not in recognition, but in perspective.

Sharing knowledge is key: do it without expectation, and you will be filled with abundance. Every opportunity I’ve had in my career has come from building others up and sharing what I know.

Someone once gave me that same chance (a very dear friend, Annie), and I’ll never forget what that meant to me.

Now, being able to do the same for others feels like closing the circle; it’s my way of giving back, because I was once there too.

THE PATIENTS: THE HEART OF IT ALL

If mentors guide us and colleagues support us, patients are the ones who teach us. Every consultation, every moment of vulnerability shared in my clinic room adds another layer to how I understand human nature.

Many of my patients have been with me for over a decade, and I’ve walked with them through all stages of life.

So, look to what your patients can teach you about yourself and your practice. Sometimes they will challenge you too, and we learn from those encounters just as much as the easier ones.

I often say that I don’t see my treatments as transactional; they are part of an ongoing relationship. The most meaningful moments aren’t always about the aesthetic result, but about how someone feels after being seen, heard and cared for; those are the interactions that stay with you.

THE FRIENDS: THE GROUNDING FORCE

Then there are the friends who remind me that I’m allowed to be Julie, not just “Julie the practitioner”. They pull me out of my head when the work feels all-consuming, remind me that perfection is unattainable and laugh with me about things that have absolutely nothing to do with aesthetics.

I’ve been fortunate that many of my friends have also been dear colleagues, and I’ve had the privilege of working with people I truly consider my friends. They make me laugh, they allow me to be vulnerable, and they draw me out of my naturally introverted self. They are the ones who remind me to rest, to breathe and to find perspective. I used to think of rest as indulgent. Now I see it as essential. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and these friends make sure mine never runs dry.

THE ARCHETYPES WITHIN THE TRIBE

Over time, I’ve realised that my tribe doesn’t just consist of people; it’s made up of patterns. Within every tribe, there are archetypes, recurring personalities that give it depth, energy and balance. They are the people who hold up different mirrors, helping you see yourself more clearly.

The Provoker is the one who pushes you to grow. They ask difficult questions, challenge comfort zones and see potential before you see it yourself. You need a Provoker because without someone who stretches your thinking and challenges your self-doubt, it’s far too easy to stay in the familiar.

The Questioner is the one who keeps you accountable. They ask why, not to criticise, but to help you think more deeply. They ensure your choices are guided by integrity rather than impulse. I value the Questioners because they remind me that reflection isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom.

The Harmoniser restores calm when things feel fragmented. In aesthetics, where opinions can clash, they are the quiet diplomat who brings balance. You need a Harmoniser because they bring equilibrium; they help you keep your composure and lead by example.

The Empath is the steady heartbeat of the tribe. They listen without judgement and remind you of your humanity when the world feels transactional.

I encourage you to surround yourself with as many different archetypes as possible. Doing so will enrich your life, broaden your perspective and allow you to grow in ways you might never expect.

CLOSING REFLECTION

When I look at the people who make up my tribe: my mentors, colleagues, mentees, patients and friends, I realise that they all live in my head in their own way. Their words echo when I’m teaching, treating or simply reflecting at the end of a long day.

They are the reason I practise the way I do, teach the way I do, and care the way I do. They are the reason I still love this profession after more than twenty years.

To those who make up my tribe, you know who you are. I hope you know just how much you mean to me. You have lifted me, challenged me, believed in me, and made me better, not just as a practitioner, but as a person. My gratitude for each of you runs deeper than words can really express.

In the end, building your tribe isn’t just about connection. It’s about resilience, perspective and purpose, and surrounding yourself with the people who help you grow, who celebrate your wins, steady you through the challenges, and remind you why you began in the first place. These are the people who light the path ahead, both “Inside” and “Out”.

I do hope you find those that light your fire. Next month, I’ll explore how we turn inward, understanding our own value as practitioners and learning to recognise and protect our worth.

Scott Shares.

Reflections for practitioners who care deeply.

JULIE SCOTT

Julie Scott RGN, NIP, PGDip(Aes) is an independent nurse prescriber, Level 7 qualified aesthetic injector and trainer with more than 30 years of experience in the field of plastics and skin rejuvenation. She is an aesthetic mentor and international speaker, who has won the Aesthetics Awards ‘Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner of the Year’ in both 2022 & 2024, and ‘Best Clinic South of England’ 2023 awards. She also sits on the Aesthetics Reviewing Panel for the Aesthetics Journal, is a Board member for DANAI and is an ambassador and KOL for the JCCP and several leading aesthetic brands.