Local North Haven Empowered Businesswomen

Empower Her recently had an opportunity to interview Fortuna Iamunno, owner of Neo Face and Body Aesthetics. Click "read more" to see her story. 

Fortuna Iamunno, a native of North Haven, CT, is a business owner, entrepreneur, and mother; with a passion is to enhance women's natural beauty. Fortuna is the owner of Neo Face and Body Aesthetics in Hamden, CT. Neo is a spa that offers services that help boost women's confidence. This all started for Fortuna 15 years ago when she felt inspired to complete her lifelong dream of owning her own spa, she states

“The first thought of opening up a business was probably when I decided to get into the aesthetic industry.  I always knew from then that my main goal was to be my own boss and go off on my own once I developed a strong clientele. I am proud to say Neo has been around for more than 15 plus years in the town of Hamden.” 
Over the years Fortuna has been blessed to work beside her younger sister Bianca, she is the other esthetician at Neo. Family to Fortuna is everything and is what has driven her to be such a successful business owner. 

“My parents were business owners, and this is where I believe I found my motivation. Without my family’s support, I couldn’t have achieved this dream when I did. I was lucky enough to have the “manpower “ to remodel my first location and without that, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to afford it.”  

This recent year the COVID-19 pandemic brought upon many hardships to small businesses including Neo itself. “The worst thing happened to us, we were hit with a global pandemic, shutting us down for 3 solid months. With the remodel costs, new inventory, bigger bills, etc., it has been catastrophic! The only comforting (and oddly disturbing) reason why I keep my head up and still drive is that EVERYONE has been affected. My days of having a successful business have now been to just survive it.”

The perseverance that came from this was driven by her loyal clients. Fortuna's goal for these women is to deliver great service and to empower them to feel the beauty within their natural look.

“The benefits that our clients are getting are not only enhancing their natural beauty but also helping them with their self-esteem and confidence….. and usually, a good therapy session for some (those are complimentary with each service). I always want our clients to feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and looking their best when they leave the doors.” 

This pandemic has rattled the business, but Fortuna is a strong hardworking woman. She did not allow the pandemic to stop her from work. When the spa was closed, she was at home taking care of her family with also starting up another business. NEOLOGY was created over the pandemic when she started creating homemade products and selling them from her house. Being a businesswoman takes long hardworking hours and it brings its ups and downs. For Fortuna not only is being a business owner difficult but having to be a full-time mom is added on. We spoke to her about how she balances work, family, and life. 

“Being a business owner as a mom is challenging and rewarding at the same time. I think it’s safe to say you never stop thinking or worrying about both, so basically I have 2 kids, well maybe 3 (my husband). At the end of the day, you definitely get this feeling of being a Superwoman!” 

Superwoman is not enough to describe this hardworking woman. Her passion for her business and clients with juggling her home life and now a global pandemic is why we chose her to be our spotlight. Neo is located at 2349 Whitney Ave; Hamden CT check her business out and help support local women business owners.