We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ferial Youakim. Check out our conversation below.
Ferial, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I’ve spent much of my life chasing purpose, the desire to help others see their worth, their beauty, and their potential. I’m not chasing fame or success; I’m chasing impact.
If I stopped, I believe the world would lose one small light, the light that reminds others they are seen, valued, and capable of transformation. But I’ve also learned that chasing doesn’t always mean running; sometimes it means walking with faith, trusting that what’s meant for you will meet you where you are.
So today, I’m not chasing to “get somewhere,” I’m chasing to give something. And if I ever stop, it will be because I’ve finally poured enough love, color, and confidence into the world for it to shine on its own.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
ByFERIAL® – Where Color Meets Confidence
ByFERIAL® is a global image and color consulting brand redefining beauty and self-expression through its patented 4X4 Color System – 16 Seasons® and 4X4 Personality DNA™.
Founded by Ferial Youakim, international image consultant, author, and humanitarian, the brand has empowered thousands worldwide to find their direction, confidence, and purpose through color and style.
Ferial’s inspiring journey from refugee to global leader is at the heart of ByFERIAL’s mission: to help people look good, feel good, and do good.
Through international certifications, live trainings, and a growing global community, ByFERIAL continues to lead the world in education, empowerment, and innovation.
Join the movement: byferial.com/empower-group
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Life itself has been my greatest teacher, but if I had to name one influence, it would be my family. Growing up in a Palestinian refugee camp, we faced unimaginable challenges, yet we did so with faith, grace, and determination.
Feeling less than others, treated as a second-class human being, taught me that work is not just about earning a living. It’s about creating meaning, serving others, and doing everything with integrity and love.
Every setback became a lesson in resilience, and every success a reminder to stay humble and grateful. Those early experiences shaped the way I lead, teach, and build, always with heart first.
Today, I carry those lessons into everything I do at ByFERIAL: work hard, stay kind, lift others, and never forget where you came from.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, many times. There were moments when the weight of life felt too heavy, when every door seemed to close, and I questioned if I had the strength to keep going.
One moment I’ll never forget was when I wanted to share my experience and knowledge with others. I approached my own mentor, the teacher who had inspired me to become an image consultant, and told her that I wanted to teach. Her response was, “With all due respect, Ferial, you’re a good image consultant, but I can’t see you as a trainer.”
Those words broke me for a moment. But instead of giving up, I decided to prove, not to her, but to myself, that I could rise higher. I turned her doubt into my drive.
From my early years in a refugee camp to building a global brand, the road has never been easy. But every time I wanted to give up, I remembered why I started: to share hope, empower others, and give back to the people who once gave me dignity when I had nothing.
Faith, gratitude, and a fierce belief that pain can become purpose kept me going. Today, every time I see a life transformed through our work at ByFERIAL, I’m reminded that those moments of doubt were not the end, they were the beginning of something far greater.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
So many believe that success comes from wearing the right clothes, following trends, or looking “perfect.” But true image isn’t about perfection, it’s about authenticity.
I’ve seen too many professionals focus on the surface while missing the deeper truth: when you help someone discover who they are on the inside, their values, energy, and essence, the outside naturally transforms. That’s why I created the 4X4 Color System – 16 Seasons® and the 4X4 Personality DNA™ — to show that color and style are not masks we wear, but mirrors that reflect who we truly are.
When we stop selling image as a façade and start teaching it as a form of self-respect, confidence, and empowerment, we elevate the entire industry, and the lives of those we serve.
A small gift for VoyageMIA readers:
Begin your journey to understanding your personality and color energy with our complimentary quiz https://form.jotform.com/ByFERIAL/NDPersonalityQuiz
.
Your consultant will be Ferial Youakim.
If you’d like to learn more, we’re also offering VoyageMIA readers a free 20-minute discovery call.
Simply email ferial@byferial.com
to claim it.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop worrying about pleasing everyone and apologizing for my purpose.
For too long, I tried to make everyone comfortable, to fit into expectations, to soften my message, to carry the weight of others’ opinions. But life has taught me that time is precious, and peace is sacred.
If I had 10 years left, I’d spend them doing only what adds light, empowering others, building a legacy, and loving deeply. I’d speak more boldly, give more freely, and live more fully, without fear or hesitation.
Because when we stop living to be liked, we start living to make a difference. And that’s the kind of life worth every moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://byferial.com/
- Instagram: @by_ferial
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferialyouakim/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ByFERIALImage
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCylQS6Sk88bQYv5NHL2Si_Q
Image Credits
byferial
