Our Mission
At Salons for Life (SFL), we believe that arts and storytelling are powerful gateways into lived experiences and personal histories. Every salon’s intent is to go on a journey of self-discovery through a focused artistic experience-in-community. At SFL, we believe that a salon has been impactful if you walk away having glimpsed your unique capacity as an agent for compassionate change.
Our Manifesto
Come as you are. To be seen and heard is a fundamental birth right. In a world polarized by competing agendas and information overload, we have to intentionally and respectfully create spaces where we can unapologetically be ourselves in our diversity and multiplicity, collectively in our similarities and differences.
To know more about Salons for Life, please visit- https://www.salonsforlife.com/
Meet the Team
Nirupa Umapathy
Nirupa founded Salons for Life, a women-run learning community for adults in transitional phases of life. After leaving her corporate role as a Managing Director at Bank of America in 2017, she took a sabbatical to redesign her life around joy and creativity. Salons for Life offers creative playdates for adults, focusing on confidence-building through curiosity, play, somatic awareness, and financial literacy. Nirupa, now an independent investor and writer on trauma and growth, has lived in Jersey City since 2002 and is originally from South India.
Sybil Ngai
Sybil Ngai, a New Yorker and Jersey City resident for over 20 years, retired after 30+ years in project management and IT within financial services and software. Certified in Jivamukti Yoga, she joined Salons for Life as co-founder in 2019 to design systems and infrastructure. In 2021, Sybil began volunteering at a local food pantry, and by March 2022, she became the treasurer of a local neighborhood association focused on managing overdevelopment.
Kate Szekely
Kate Szekely is a creative entrepreneur, actor, theatrical producer, personal trainer, and yoga teacher who channels her love of learning and commitment to craft into all her endeavors. As a co-founder of Salons for Life, she's dedicated to fostering radical self-love within a community. After 12 years in NYC/Jersey City, Kate relocated to Central Florida, where she now enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, and practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
