Christopher Szamosszegi never needed to be a registered member of the Potawatomi Nation of the Prairie Band to know he was a Potawatomi.
But it helped him discover himself and keep a connection with his father Robert Kenney after his death.
Szamosszegi, the gay co-owner of a successful Los Angeles skincare company that caters to celebrities, will be one of three guest speakers Tuesday at the Greater Greater Topeka Partnership at Prairie Band Casino.
A descendant of the Pappan family that carried the Topeka settlements across the Kansas River, Szamosszegi will talk about his experiences as a minority business owner.
“It’s an honor to speak,” he said. “Having some of the successes and accomplishments that I’ve had from being in two minorities, I’ve been able to go through it all as a stronger person, and I hope to be able to share that.”
Native American heritage, LGBTQ identity played a big part in shaping Topeka native Christopher Szamosszegi
Although he was born in Topeka and still travels there often, Szamosszegi grew up in Dallas. His father Robert Kenney and his grandmother were registered members of the Potawatomi Nation of the Prairie Band, but the tribal rolls were closed at the time of Szamosszegi’s birth.
At the private Christian school he attended, teachers and classmates often asked him about his ethnicity, as he had darker skin. Szamosszegi would proudly identify as Native American, just like his father, even though he was not yet enrolled in the tribe. The couple even got matching tribal seal tattoos on Szamosszegi’s 18th birthday.
Szamosszegi was also gay, although it took him a while to share it so openly.
“It took time, but I learned not to live fraudulently and to live my truth,” Szamosszegi said. “Coming out is when my life changed course, and that’s when all my successes in life started to happen.”
After moving to Los Angeles, Szamosszegi entered the skincare industry through her then-boyfriend, now husband. In 2016, he hooked up with celebrity beautician Mindi Walters, and with $1,000 in seed funding, the couple founded Mindi Waters Skincare, catering to clients like Megan Fox and Chelsea Handler.
When his father passed away in 2018, Szamosszegi realized he wanted to keep this shared heritage alive. He therefore took the necessary steps to register officially with the Potawatomi Nation of the Prairie Band.
“It was never a big priority, but my dad and I always talked about it, and we were proud (of our heritage),” he said.
Greater diversity can help Topeka-area organizations and businesses thrive, says Chris Szamossezegi
Now set to launch her own skincare business, named Szamosszegi Skincare, Szamosszegi was a perfect fit as the Greater Topeka Partnership considered speakers for its 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit.
“We wanted to bring him to Topeka because his experiences as a Potawatomi and LGBTQ business owner are really relevant, especially in helping others in our community who come from underrepresented groups realize that anything is possible. for them too,” said Bob Ross, senior vice president of marketing and communications for GTP.
Szamosszegi’s story, Ross said, will particularly resonate with summit attendees, as Szamosszegi is emblematic of someone who uses their identity as a strength. It’s a trait that can be valuable both on a personal and organizational level as companies seek to create environments where people can thrive, he said.
“It’s about learning to embrace yourself and be comfortable with who you are as a person, so that you can move on and start achieving your own dreams and also leading others,” Ross said. .
Szamosszegi, for his part, acknowledges that there are both challenges and benefits to owning a minority business, especially as more grants and aids become available for minorities seeking to become contractors.
But instead, he hopes he can encourage Topeka-area organizations and businesses to broaden their mindset.
“We can put people with different mindsets and backgrounds in positions of power and listen to them,” he said. “It just gives you a broader view of the world and can create a better, happier work environment.”
Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 785-289-5325. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia.
