Aleta Simmons | Simmons Skin Center
Owner of Simmons Skin Center
Dr. Aleta Simmons is the owner and founder of Simmons Skin Center and the educational platform Get the Skin-E. In this video, she shares how she built a thriving dermatology practice from the ground up while learning how to run a business, manage her mindset, and stay committed to growth.
Getting Started
Dr. Aleta Simmons didn’t set out to be a business owner — she set out to care for people. A board-certified dermatologist, she launched Simmons Skin Center to provide medical care for skin, hair, and nail health. Entrepreneurship wasn’t second nature, so she took courses, sought guidance, and learned by doing. What gave her the push? Her patients. “When are you going to start seeing people again?” they asked. That demand gave her the confidence to open her doors — and never look back.
Growing with Intention
For Aleta, growth starts with the inner work. She’s a strong believer that leadership begins with self-awareness. Therapy, mindset work, and honest conversations about personal limits are as vital to her business as any spreadsheet or strategy. She invests in education, values collaboration, and constantly asks herself, Where can I grow next? From her practice to her podcast — The Gorgeous Plate — Aleta is building with purpose, clarity, and care.
Entrepreneurial Wisdom
Her advice to other entrepreneurs is clear: don’t do it alone. Find mentors. Build a circle of professionals who believe in you. And when things get hard — because they will — keep going. “People usually give up right before the breakthrough,” she says. What makes the difference isn’t just talent or timing. It’s resilience, reflection, and the ability to surround yourself with people who help you move forward.
“Be a lifelong learner. If you’re not filling your knowledge gaps, you’re standing still.”
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Hi, I am Dr. Aleta Simmons. I'm a board certified dermatologist and owner of Simmons Skin Center. I also have a educational platform called Get the Skinie. I take care of patients and their hair, skin and nails, but I also like to educate communities on those different conditions so they can empower themselves to get the right treatment.
I don't know anything about being an entrepreneur or I didn't, and I had to really learn from other people, take advice. I've done programs to further educate myself, which is something that I recommend to everybody if they're not familiar with running a business. I know how to be a doctor. I can take great care of patients, but I don't know how to run a business.
But I guess I can say a few years later now I do some of my early successes as an entrepreneur was having a client. Going into starting my business, many people were looking for me. Dr. Simmons, when are you gonna start seeing patients again? Where are you going to be? I already had that base to go ahead and launch my business.
One of the hard lessons I've learned as an entrepreneur is that I have to have management of myself. Having a therapist is important. I think I've learned more about myself starting a business than I have in any other, uh, section of my life. Because learning how to manage a business, you can't manage it if you haven't managed your home life.
Whatever personal mindset changes you need to address, you have to do all of that in order to manage your business appropriately because all of that comes out. I think some entrepreneurs may fail before they succeed because they give up too soon. I keep having people tell me, keep going, because people usually quit right at the point where they're about to take off, and if you keep going, I.
I think that is an important piece, but also having the support. You can't do this alone. I think I've been successful because I've, I seek out a course to take a program to do. I keep people around me that can help encourage me. I like to fill in my knowledge gaps. I'm always learning, and I think in entrepreneurship that's important.
Networking is important. My advice is to have a relationship with a banker and to have a great support team if you are a new entrepreneur. You need someone that's gonna help you flesh out your ideas, just to bounce things off of. I can be found lots of different ways. I'm on social media, Instagram and Facebook at Get the Skinny, and I just started a brand new podcast.
It's called The Gorgeous Plate. It's with my friend chef Tiffany Sutton. She's a food scientist and a chef, and we combine food, nutrition and skincare. Into one podcast and you can find us at the gorgeous plate on Instagram and TikTok.
Why We Share These Stories
We believe that celebrating Tennessee’s entrepreneurs will inspire the next generation of bold thinkers, risk-takers, and community builders. Entrepreneurs don’t forget where they come from—and they carry the power to transform not just their businesses, but entire neighborhoods, towns, and local economies. See more entrepreneur stories from the Patton Foundation.
