Today we’d like to introduce you to Skye Sienkiewicz.
Hi Skye, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story has been anything but linear, I’ve changed careers and relocated many times-We could go for lunch & dinner and still not get through all of it! By trusting myself during each pivot it allowed me to persevere, adapt, and learn through each diverse experience. After graduating with a BFA in Fashion Marketing and Management, I spent a year in the corporate world before realizing it didn’t align with my values or passion. There is no right or wrong way to approach life or your career, which has freed me to follow my instincts towards an authentic path rather than convention.
Returning to Savannah became a turning point after leaving the fashion and corporate world. I immersed myself in the wedding industry, assisting with coordination, floral design, and photography—anything I could get my hands on. I even worked as a writer and stylist for Savannah Magazine, further expanding my creative horizons. This experience launched my freelance career in business consulting and management as I found a love for research and problem solving, building my repertoire to help others in their endeavors.
For the past eight years, I’ve focused on helping small businesses and startups thrive through customized consulting services, both locally and remotely. Working with diverse entrepreneurs has been incredibly rewarding, with some clients transitioning me from their consultant to team member, providing me even more opportunities to learn and grow. It’s been gratifying to see my client base expand mostly through referrals—a simple but meaningful vote of confidence.
This work has allowed me to explore other interests too, including living abroad in Spain teaching for two years while maintaining my remote clientele. Since my most recent return to Savannah during the pandemic, I’ve experienced my best chapter yet in this city. I currently divide my time between my consulting business (Skye Collective), managing both Temple Days Spa & Treatment Loft locations, and founding SquareOne, a versatile studio space created to foster community connection. It has been a privilege collaborating with so many talented individuals and businesses to continue their expansion and witness it come into full fruition.
There’s still more to come, as I know this isn’t my final step. I continue to make art simply for joy– both paintings and floral preservation—with plans to share these creative endeavors with the public soon.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve definitely faced significant personal challenges, however, it’s shaped me into the individual I am today. And quite honestly I’m proud of where I am and excited where I’m headed.
After losing my father at an impressionable age I found myself in an unstable place that eventually motivated me in making the difficult decision to distance myself from my mother due to her struggle with alcoholism. In doing so I had to become self-sufficient and my own advocate very early on.
Beyond financial hardships, I faced a persistent lack of support for my dreams. I often heard I would fail or faced critical questioning about my choices and direction. This external doubt eventually manifested as impostor syndrome—constantly questioning if I was truly an artist, a creator, an entrepreneur, or if I was making the right decisions when changing careers or relocating. It’s such a real thing many of us encounter within ourselves and it becomes easier when we realize we’re not alone.
What I’ve learned through this journey is that you are ultimately the one person that you can depend on—you are your biggest supporter. The highs and lows are fleeting, but you are constant. These shifts have served as a reminder that there’s so much value in who has access to you and who becomes your chosen family. I’ve flourished since I surrounded myself with people who not only see my potential but celebrate it. I attribute all of my success to the incredible individuals in my life.
This experience has been forever humbling, shaping my approach to life and work to continue to ‘Be curious, not judgmental.’
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
SquareOne is an open 35×35 studio plus a stage, located above Ukiyo on E. 39th and Bull in the Starland District. I discovered this hidden gem while providing consulting services to Melrose & McQueen Salon and Temple Treatment Loft, where the space is nestled between. Every time I was on site, I couldn’t help but to think of its potential, which inspired me to pitch my proposal to Kristo, the owner of MMQ, who generously granted it to me.
This studio was founded on the opportunity to give back to the local community I call home. Having lived in and out of Savannah for the past 16 years, I’ve returned to this city solely for the people—a chosen family of talented creatives and entrepreneurs who support one another. As a woman and queer-owned business, creating inclusive spaces is deeply important to me. I wanted to create something for the people here while expanding connections and fostering growth and collaboration.
Seeing this empty space put emphasis that there aren’t enough accessible venues curated for locals and a more inclusive age demographic in Savannah. Living here, I’ve witnessed too many small businesses pushed out of their locations with little to no feasible alternatives. It’s been disheartening to see properties bought out, often by out-of-state investors, then left sitting there empty with their potential untapped. Locals need and deserve a place to thrive.
SquareOne became a passion project to provide “a space for everyone”— welcoming local creatives, makers, instructors, and entrepreneurs to host classes, workshops, meetings, and small events. With the intention to meet their needs and promote opportunity and growth.
The first community to embrace us was As You Are Yoga, whose founder Adriana Bozza reached out after being displaced from their previous location. What a validating experience to have such mindful and inclusive instructors facilitating here!
From there, we’ve hosted diverse pop-ups ranging from bodywork and dance to writing and art workshops. Christi Hester, of Soulfed Bodywork, hosted an impactful somatic experience workshop that focused on accessing your sacred rage – the room was packed! They later collaborated with Nikki Sharpe in facilitating a Cacao Ceremony & Ecstatic Dance. We’ve had other locals host their monthly meetups in the space such as Savannah Women in Film and Television, and we’ve become a hub for artists and vendors during the monthly Starland First Friday Markets.
Being granted this space has allowed me to offer SquareOne to the heart of our community. All proceeds we’ve received have been reinvested back into the space to support its continued expansion. It’s been a labor of love that has filled both the space and myself with a loving community—and that’s all I could ever ask for.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are multiple ways to connect with and support our vision:
For SquareOne, we welcome all who are looking for a space to host classes, workshops, meetings, or small events. The studio is designed to be versatile and adaptable to a variety of needs.
The simplest way to support our mission is to attend events at SquareOne, spread the word about upcoming workshops and happenings, and follow us on social media! Don’t forget to follow & support those who host events in the space too! I’m always open to creative collaborations that benefit our community and support local artists or small businesses. Some of the most rewarding partnerships have come from unexpected connections, so never hesitate to reach out with your ideas! Our Inquiry Form is linked in our Bio, as well as our events calendar, and pay links for classes/events.
If you’re a business owner seeking consulting services through Skye Collective, I offer customized support ranging from business strategy and management to marketing and expansion planning. I particularly enjoy working with small businesses and startups who are passionate about what they do. Feel free to reach out to me directly via email: [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squareone.sav/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/squareone.sav
