Eva Kerschbaumer: Turning her Grandma's jewellery into Pittsburgh Spa Empire
"You are not alone. There is a reason you are there, and there's going to be people, or whatever that is, going to help you to achieve whatever is your dream."
"I essentially stole that ring from my mother. I'm not proud of that move actually. I was just very desperate."
"I want you to feel good versus look good."
"Do it again all over. All the crying, all the things, don't be scared, do it again exactly all over."
Eva Kerschbaumer arrived in New York from Hungary in 1996 with just $50, no English, and no family. In this candid Low to Grow episode, she shares how she learned English from reruns of Gilligan's Island, opened her first day spa in a renovated walk-in cooler, and built ES Spa into a 7,000 square foot Pittsburgh sanctuary serving celebrities and executives. Eva talks immigrant resilience, people-pleasing, building a brand from nothing, and why mental health belongs in every conversation about beautiful skin.
What you'll learn
- When you move somewhere new and feel alone, remember there is always someone — a stranger, a mentor, a supporter — who will help you toward your dream.
- Learning a new language as an adult builds deep patience and empathy for others navigating the same barrier.
- People-pleasing can slow your growth — pretending to understand to keep others comfortable delayed Eva's English by a year or two.
- Clients and community will champion you when they see you work hard and act with integrity — word of mouth built Eva's entire brand.
- Focus on being genuinely good at your one craft rather than on self-promotion or appearances.
- Trust your first gut instinct — Eva says it has never failed her, and doubt only crept in when she let others influence her.
Key moments from the conversation
The ring she isn't proud of
Eva opens up about selling her grandmother's ring against her parents' wishes to fund her move, calling it a decision born of desperation that she still battles with despite later buying her mother a nicer one.
Learning English from Gilligan's Island
She describes decoding English through the exaggerated gestures of sitcom actors, and the embarrassment of overusing 'Gee Willikers' until a friend told her to stop.
Building a spa in a warehouse at night
After a handshake lease collapsed, Eva and her husband operated in a corner of a warehouse behind curtains while painting and renovating the rest at night, with their son strapped to her back — funded by clients who literally wrote checks for a laundry machine.
Feel good versus look good
Eva explains her philosophy that skin is the 'wrapping paper' for a special body, and that her role is almost like a psychiatrist — addressing nutrition, sleep, vitamin D and gut health so clients feel good, not just photograph well.
What she'd tell the woman on the plane
Looking back, Eva says she would do it all over again — every tear and mistake served her later — and urges her younger self to be brave and trust that first gut feeling.
Frequently asked questions
How did Eva Kerschbaumer come to the United States from Hungary?
In 1996 Eva sold her grandmother's jewelry, bought a one-way ticket from Hungary to New York, and arrived with just $50, no English and no family. After spending her money on a hamburger and a taxi to Penn Station, an Amtrak conductor helped her reach Pittsburgh, where she has lived ever since.
How did Eva Kerschbaumer learn English?
She learned English while working in a local salon and by watching reruns of visual, gesture-heavy sitcoms like Gilligan's Island and Three's Company, where over-acting made it easier to guess what characters were saying.
How did Eva build ES Spa from nothing?
She opened her first spa in 2002 in a renovated walk-in cooler at a local yacht club with three employees. After a lease fell through, she and her husband found a warehouse space, painted and renovated it at night while operating by day, and grew it into a 7,000 square foot spa by 2005 — powered largely by client word of mouth and community support.
How do you overcome feeling like an outsider in a new country?
Eva's advice: don't be afraid to make eye contact and say hello, share your story, and surround yourself with like-minded, positive people while cutting out toxic ones. Coming out of your comfort zone and letting people help you is essential — you become who you surround yourself with.
What does Eva Kerschbaumer believe about skin and mental health?
Eva believes your skin reflects what you put in your body and how you care for yourself, and that neglecting grooming is often the first sign of depression. She wants clients to feel good rather than just look good, and argues mental health screening and psychology should be taught in schools and treated as routinely as a dental checkup.
Who is Eva Sztupka-Kerschbaumer?
Eva Sztupka-Kerschbaumer
Master Esthetician / Entrepreneur
Eva Kerschbaumer is a Hungarian-born master esthetician and founder of ES Spa in Pittsburgh. She emigrated to the United States in 1996 with $50 and no English, learning the language while working in a local salon, and opened her first day spa in 2002. Today she runs a 7,000 square foot green-certified spa whose clients include A-list celebrities, professional athletes and Fortune 500 executives, and she still sees nine to twelve clients a day while training other estheticians.
