After over 20 years of working in corporate and federal sector, Sandra D. Troutman decided that she wanted to spend the next part of her career integrating her information technology training and experience with her passion for wellness. She decided that she would apply those skills to her business.
She also is a certified agile project manager and certified information systems security practitioner working within federal and state government spaces. In addition to her professional career, she developed a career in fitness and wellness. She worked as a group fitness instructor, competed as a body builder, and become an avid marathoner and cyclist.
Le Bijoux Day Spa LLC is the first, African American woman-owned day spa in Frederick, Maryland. As its founder and CEO, Troutman had the vision to create a serene oasis that combined French Caribbean essence with the tranquil elegance of a luxury day spa and wellness center. Her goal is for the Le Bijoux Day Spa LLC to be a premier day spa that is touted for its ambiance and quality customer service, and a pillar of the Frederick business community.
She answered a few questions for rolling out about her journey:
As a Black woman, what do you consider your superpower(s) to be?
My faith as a superpower goes without saying. My faith and relationship with God sustain my entire being.
As a Black woman, I believe we have infinite superpowers because of our ability to adapt and be agile based on the circumstances that we find ourselves. Throughout history, I have seen evidence of Black women overcoming the odds and giving rise to inspiration to future generations of women because of ability to just “be.” Our ability to be present, be vocal, be loving when we are treated less than.
As a Black woman, my presence is a declaration of audacity. Whenever I walk into spaces where we typically are still a minority, in number and/or representation, I understand that my presence and participation are critical. My superpower of keeping our head on a swivel. I have found that as a Black woman, I had to learn how to navigate in the corporate arena and social circles by using breadcrumbs of the past as an indication for future actions.
If you could thank any Black woman for her contributions to history and society, who would it be and why?
I would like to thank Sheila Johnson for her leadership, strength, presence and grace as an accomplished Black woman in business. In particular, her ownership and leadership of the Salamander Hotels & Resorts gives me a blueprint of achieving respect and success in the spa and hotel industry. As a reference and template of excellence, I strive to provide my customers with a unique spa experience that is built on world class standards and an attention for detail.
Why is it important for more experienced Black women to reach back and help younger women of color?
As a mother, entrepreneur and community advocate, I have a responsibility to bear witness to how other Black women’s impact has shaped my career choices and life decisions. It is my responsibility to testify how the prayers of my ancestors, grandmother, and mother have protected me and guided me in my daily walk. The presence of Black women’s contribution in myself is a testimony of how I have been loved and sheltered from the world’s “worst” but still I have produced the best that I could based on what I was given.
Experienced Black women have to reach back and give our younger women the tools to be successful and clues of how to navigate certain conversations and interactions.
As a successful woman in business, what is your greatest or proudest achievement?
My greatest moment was the realization that I solely funded and established the first minority women-owned luxury day spa in Frederick County. During the grand opening, everything clicked for me. Cognitively, I understood what being a “business owner” meant. This was not the first business that I owned and operated. But this was the first brick and mortar location where I considered to be my flagship location. The emotional connection with that realization hit home for me during the speeches and declaration of my day spa.
My proudest moment was to have my mother come to the spa and pray over it. She was able to see her vision for her daughters in America come to fruition.
