Thalia Nguyen is the founder and owner of Niim Beauty Academy, a Montreal-based salon that provides professional nail services and high‑quality training for individuals aspiring to master the art of nail care.
Thalia Nguyen | Niim Beauty Academy
Thalia Nguyen, founder of Niim Beauty Academy: making her business dream a reality with Microcredit Montréal
Arriving in Canada on New Year’s Eve 2016, Thalia left Vietnam to begin a new chapter of her life. Back home, she had already started learning nail techniques, initially as a small student job to support herself during her studies. But what began as a simple side project soon became a true passion, one that would ultimately transform the course of her life.
When she first arrived, Thalia spoke very little French or English. Communicating with her clients was a daily challenge, but her determination to perfect her nail skills also drove her to improve her language abilities and gain confidence. Through working with returning clients, she built valuable relationships, found support, and gradually began to feel at home in her new country.
“Doing nails really brought me out of my shell,” she recalls.
Starting a business in Montreal to make a difference
Thalia’s journey in entrepreneurship started as co-owner of a nail salon in the West Island, where she first gained experience training others by sharing her nail techniques with her employees. It was there that she also recognized a broader need.
“Many immigrant women came to me looking for work, but they lacked the skills and training to do the job. It reminded me of my own beginnings,” she explains.
From this insight, an idea was born: to create a training program that teaches nail techniques while also helping learners develop personally and professionally. The positive feedback from her first students confirmed she was on the right path.
Turning ambitions into action with women's entrepreneurship training
On a client’s recommendation, Thalia decided to enroll in Microcredit Montréal’s women’s entrepreneurship training.
“The program became a stepping stone, helping me better understand being an entrepreneur through hands-on content that gave me the confidence to move forward with my business idea.”
In December 2024, Thalia opened her own salon: Niim Beauty Academy. Located on the Plateau, it combines nail services with a training program for those who want to learn professional nail skills.
The challenge was significant, as Thalia had to leave a loyal clientele and start over elsewhere. Yet she looked beyond this, aiming to create a space for learning and growth where future technicians could not only master their craft but also build confidence, interpersonal skills, and an entrepreneurial spirit, all while continuing to provide high-quality nail services to a wide-ranging clientele. Throughout this process, Thalia benefited from the ongoing guidance and support of Microcredit Montréal, even after the training was complete.
A vision for growth
Today, Thalia’s business is thriving. She is working on putting solid systems in place to ensure sustainable growth and is already dreaming of expanding her offerings with online training, making her expertise accessible to even more women.
From a shy young newcomer to a successful entrepreneur and inspiring trainer, Thalia perfectly demonstrates how perseverance, generosity, and solidarity can turn a dream into reality.
Niim Beauty Academy