About Us
Experienced Partners, Committed to Your Success
Opal and Aubergine was born from a friendship that began in Richmond, Virginia, where we met as students at Virginia Commonwealth University. Over the years, our lives have taken us up and down the East Coast, and today we both live and work in New York. As full-time working moms, we share a strong work ethic, big hearts, and a commitment to building thoughtful, sustainable businesses.
Our roots are in aesthetic medicine. Over the years, our experience has expanded across dermatology, plastic surgery, facial plastics, luxury service environments, and private equity-backed practice management, giving us a deep understanding of complex, service-driven businesses where operations, experience, and execution must work seamlessly.
Kathryn’s experience spans operations, human resources, hospitality, retail, and design, with a focus on building strong internal systems and people-first infrastructure. Christina’s career began in clinical medicine and evolved into practice management and operations, where she has been instrumental in helping practices grow and evolve over time. She brings a hands-on understanding of workflows, service delivery, and client experience shaped by years working directly with patients and teams, along with deep experience in operations, staffing, and business development.
Together, we have launched, managed, scaled, and restructured businesses at every stage of growth. We understand the realities and challenges of building a business because we have lived them ourselves. We support both established companies and early-stage ventures, whether that means building a business from inception, refining internal processes, strengthening teams, or stepping in for focused projects such as operational support or ongoing marketing initiatives like monthly email and text campaigns.
While aesthetic medicine remains our specialty, the principles that drive successful practices are remarkably consistent: clear processes, strong communication, thoughtful branding, and scalable systems. These fundamentals allow us to support a wide range of businesses, from healthcare and wellness to service-based and entrepreneurial ventures, adapting our approach to each client’s goals, stage of growth, and operational realities.
Opal and Aubergine exists to provide thoughtful strategy, personalized guidance, and hands-on support. We work closely with founders and teams to bring clarity to complexity, strengthen day-to-day operations, and create businesses that feel more aligned, more organized, and more sustainable over time.
We genuinely love helping businesses grow and supporting the people behind them, and we would love the opportunity to partner with you.
Meet The Team
Christina Valencia
Co-Founder & Lead Consultant
I have 25 years of experience in the medical field, starting in the emergency room as a unit secretary and technician, and working my way up to practice management. Throughout my career, I've gained experience across various specialties, including over 5 years in cosmetic dermatology and more than 10 years in facial plastics. I’m certified in several treatments such as Ultherapy, HydraFacial, Virtue RF Microneedling, Laser Hair Removal, Microdermabrasion, and Xtrac Laser. I take pride in delivering exceptional patient care, focusing on creating positive treatment experiences and achieving outstanding results. Beyond my clinical expertise, I’m passionate about helping practices grow. I’ve had the opportunity to play a pivotal role in developing multiple businesses from the ground up, helping them reach long-term success. With extensive experience in all areas of business—staffing, human resources, finance, marketing, and event planning—I’m adept at driving growth and improving efficiency within practices. I’m also skilled in operations management, including policy and procedure reviews, documentation, and improving client retention strategies. I take a hands-on approach in organizing office spaces and developing loyalty programs, ensuring that patients have the best possible experience. My goal is always to make patients feel informed, satisfied, and valued. Currently, I’m excited to be working alongside Kathryn. As a consultant, I continue to apply my expertise to elevate patient care and business operations.
Kathryn Palmieri-Coonley
Co-Founder & Lead Consultant
I built my career from the ground up—learning in the field, not the classroom. With over 12 years of leadership experience across dermatology, facial plastics, and medspa operations, I’ve led teams and scaled practices from Baltimore to Brooklyn, blending grit, empathy, and sharp business instinct every step of the way.
My background is cross-functional and deeply experiential: operations, HR, hospitality, retail, and design. I’ve worked inside private equity-backed groups and boutique startups alike, giving me a rare ability to spot inefficiencies, build systems that last, and elevate both patient experience and team culture.
I specialize in solving the “messy middle”—the places where good intentions get lost in broken workflows or burned-out teams. My approach is hands-on, human-centered, and results-driven. I partner with aesthetic businesses ready to refine, reset, or scale without losing who they are.
As a full-time working mom, I lead with care, clarity, and conviction. Through Opal and Aubergine, I offer consulting rooted in real-world insight—not theory—and a belief that beautiful businesses are built from the inside out.