Women In Wellness: Dr Kellye Schab of Balanced Wellness On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help

Women In Wellness: Dr Kellye Schab of Balanced Wellness On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

You don’t have to know it all to get started. Perfectionism is a weakness and can stall you along the way. So, remember that even the greatest of greats don’t know it all but they know where to find the answers and will get back to you later.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Kellye Schab.

Dr. Kellye Schab is a Functional Medicine Specialist™, owner of Balanced Wellness LLC, Doctor of Pharmacy, speaker, upcoming author, patient advocate, hormone health expert, and independent Compounding Pharmacist who has improved lives working with aging women for 20+ years. She empowers busy women to say goodbye to overwhelm, exhaustion, hormone imbalance and weight gain to achieve sustainable energy, whole-body balance, and effortless weight loss.

Besides advising hundreds of practitioners on hormonal prescribing options, Dr. Schab has spoken at a virtual summit, lectured to a university audience, and developed professional events to bring awareness to options for better health, aging, and hormone control.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

Growing up as a daughter of a Pharmacist, I learned quickly that there was a pill, suspension, or diagnosis for everything. I was raised with a constant supply of vitamins, antibiotics, tablets, and cough medicine. My amazing father, the Pharmacist, used to use medical terms around the house to be silly and educational such as “pass the sodium chloride” or “brush your teeth before you get trench mouth.” This propelled my interests for the sciences.

At the university level, I majored in biochemistry and took my first job at a hospital pharmacy as a technician when I was 18 years old. The excitement of taking classes at the medical school and working alongside many healthcare professionals both inspired and intimidated me. I had a memorable group of classmates that pushed each other to excel with each exam, lab, and lecture. I couldn’t thank them more for the comradery and dedication that we all developed towards being our best and creating the drive to succeed.

When my education started to progress and I was accepted into pharmacy school, I thought I had it all figured out! I would get my Doctorate, go back to my hometown, and work with my dad in hopes of taking over his pharmacy. Oh, how I was wrong. Pharmacy school was very intense and introduced me to so many new areas of pharmacy that I was unaware of. I credit my university with showing me many great areas of the profession and giving me the tools for development.

Once my career started taking off as a compounding pharmacist, I found myself immersed in a world of bio-identical hormones, adrenal care, thyroid function, gut health, and the intertwining dance that these hold with each other. Not only did the basic concepts of hormones make perfect sense, but the practitioners I worked with were not being taught about them and needed help. Let me restate that — the practitioners were taught the basics of hormone physiology but they were not taught how to treat hormonal decline with much more than manufactured, brand named medications that were marketed to them.

Fortunately, a handful of physicians and nurse practitioners regularly reached out to me at the pharmacy for help when their patients insisted on another form of care.

My exposure to the basic building blocks of health kept showing up in many areas of my profession yet very few people seemed to be practicing with those basics. I was determined to help more practitioners and patients open their minds to replace the body with what it was missing instead of covering up a diagnosis with a band-aid.

Over the past 15 years, I have gained experience, education, and practical exposure to the world of functional medicine. Oddly, I hadn’t applied that term “functional medicine” to what I was doing yet. I did, however, feel like an anomaly in my area of expertise, constantly recommending and defending the basics of nutrient replacement, adrenal care, gut health, and hormone balancing to an audience that had not learned of their importance.

Finally, the concept of functional medicine was introduced to me at a conference in 2017 at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. I had found the space, the professionals, and the science that I needed to support the area of medicine that nurtured my professional soul. This was truly the beginning towards my career expansion of a whole-body focus on health and the fire in me is blazing!

So, what is Functional Medicine? The Institute for Functional Medicine states it simply as a “biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease.” Finding the actual cause of an illness, symptom, or disease is quite different from using conventional medicine that only treats the problem.

And who is a Functional Medicine Specialist™? I am! I acquired my certification in December of 2021 and am ready to share my story, my message, and my advice to aging women everywhere!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

Over the years, I have worked with many women in the same capacity of saliva testing for hormone imbalance. So, when I started doing something new, hair tissue mineral analysis, I found some shocking information about my own family’s health!

We tested three of my household family members hair for nutrient depletion and heavy metal toxicity and all three results came back high in uranium!

What I find most fascinating about testing is that you discover things you may have never known about your health yet it can explain some of the most basic symptoms that you have been experiencing and written off as “normal” or “age.”

This new knowledge about uranium toxicity prompted my research into the issue and how to resolve it. I discovered that the city water system in my area is elevated in uranium due to it being a naturally occurring metal in our soil and that there is an acceptable level of it in many municipal systems. Excess uranium exposure can lead to kidney issues and coincide with elevated radon exposure.

We promptly changed the water filters in our house, which was long overdue, and will test for radon exposure in our homes air. Additionally, we are focusing on increasing our movement and improving our vegetable and water intake to better detox our bodies. We plan on retesting in 3–6 months to reevaluate our process.

The biggest lesson I learned is this: If you don’t know, you may not try to do better. But if you know, you have the incentive to do your best.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I am a huge advocate for both partners in a relationship to understand what struggles the other may be experiencing. For this reason, I often encourage the partner to hear what measurable results are out of range to support the journey towards health. But not all relationships work that way!

One couple stands out in my mind that I worked with years ago. In retrospect, the husband may have thought he was helping his wife get over an aging obstacle that was affecting their marriage.

I reviewed her hormone results to both of them, explained the reasoning, and suggested lifestyle modifications, stress relief, and submitted prescription recommendations to her physician.

She was silent. He answered all of my questions, thanked me for my time, and they went on their way. The eeriness of that moment still haunts me.

If I had been more mature and able to read the room better, I would have insisted on having some alone time with her. My heart tells me that their relationship required more than labs and a symptom questionnaire for evaluation. She needed a safe place to talk, or encouragement to find that safe place.

What I learned is that it takes more than lab work and a scale of 1–10 to truly understand a person. Emotional connection, safety, mental clarity, and resources are essential for the whole picture. Again, functional medicine takes all of these aspects into account!

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Years ago, I decided that I had to find a way to help women learn that there is a better way to grow up hormonally sound. They also needed to know that menopause doesn’t have to be a sentence that ends with a period!

I am fortunate to have a career that has me surrounded with knowledge, evidence, and clients to learn from but I needed a platform to share this information. I dabbled in a Facebook page and developed a website in hopes of blogging about the conversation. Unfortunately, I needed more guidance to reach a bigger audience and a plan to do that.

Upon becoming a Certified Functional Medicine Specialist™, I finally have the platform to share my voice. By regularly sharing knowledge bombs, allowing my audience to know and trust me, creating programs, and developing webinars, I will better be able to reach those women out there that didn’t even know they needed me. I feel that as humans, we can complicate situations and make them confusing but I am here to make the journey simpler so that we can all grow up feeling healthy, vibrant, and sexy.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Doing what is best for our health is not always a simple task. I firmly believe we need reminders and reasoning to refocus us along our journey. My lifestyle tweaks may seem basic, but they hold great value. Hopefully, they will redirect someone towards a simpler, more balanced way of living which in turn will benefit the body, mind, and spirit.

  1. Create your sleepy time oasis. If I just said, “get better sleep,” then you would probably turn the page. Boring! Instead, make your bed and bedtime routine a destination that you can’t resist because sleep is essential for health. Purchase new bedding and a new pillow, try some relaxing essential oils, get comfortable with a guided meditation app, improve the darkness in your room, dust your headboard, add a plant to your room, and reevaluate the wall décor. Bedtime supplements are also essential: Melatonin, magnesium, or chamomile to name a few. Lastly, stretch! Sit on the floor and do 5 minutes of simple stretches to melt away the day.
  2. Think about your food as medicine — Nourishing goldmines! I can tell you how to eat better but I bet you have a good idea about what is good and bad for you. So next time you prepare your meal or order off the menu, think with each bite! Is this something that my body will use as fuel? Is this serving a nutritional purpose? Am I giving my body a nutrient gift with this meal? It can feel powerful knowing that your meal is serving a purpose.
  3. Manage your stress by simplifying your life. Many of us have complicated lives because of all of the demands we put on ourselves. Think about ways to narrow down your daily decisions and tasks to lessen the impact stress has on your life. Clean out your closet, get rid of excess belongs that clutter your decisions, say “no” to someone who asks to add to your plate, say “yes” to someone who offers help, decrease social media use, plan your meals for a weak, unclutter your home, and finally, declutter your mind and focus on the important things.
  4. Move that body daily. I hesitate to say “exercise daily” because that is not the point. Getting up off of the office chair/couch, and moving your legs, arms, and torso, and leveraging movement every day is another daily dose of medicine. Movement helps maintain balance, strengthen bones, keeps your joints flexible, and motivates the mind. Movement is multifactorial and your future body will thank you.
  5. Cultivate connections with real people, with your own eyes, in person. Our new world has become so skilled in the online space. Even I, the former extrovert, loves staying in my bubble and doing my own thing. Yet, humans need connection for our moods, self-worth, and health. Spending time with a trusted friend can lower anxiety and depression, improve our emotions, and help our immune system. So, reach out to a friend, maintain your six feet, and share a laugh or two. Your heart, body, and soul need it!

If you could start a movement that would bring the mfost amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I truly wish I could start a movement that normalizes the menopause conversation. I want a new way to say it so it doesn’t sound so old, grey, and dry because 50 is not the same 50 as it was 50 years ago! I believe pre- and menopausal women are beautiful and strong. They are powerful, capable, wise, and adventurous! Every woman, if given enough time, will experience menopause either naturally or surgically and we can live many valuable years beyond that transition. The younger generations need to know that growing up as a woman today means that they have more life to enjoy and thrive in.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

  1. You don’t have to know it all to get started. Perfectionism is a weakness and can stall you along the way. So, remember that even the greatest of greats don’t know it all but they know where to find the answers and will get back to you later!
  2. It’s easier than you think. This reflects back on my issue of cluttering our thoughts. If you put all of your thoughts out on the desk, it looks overwhelming, but with the right guidance and processes, you can make big things happen.
  3. Just take that first step. You can’t get started if you never step out of your comfort zone! Challenge yourself and know that even if that first step doesn’t work out, it is one more step toward reaching your dreams.
  4. Not everyone will support you and that’s ok. The people who matter to you most will cheer for you and support your vision. If someone doesn’t stand alongside you, you have then learned a powerful lesson about their character. Their reasons for not celebrating you may never be known, but at least their response will help you declutter acquaintances that you didn’t know you didn’t need. Surround yourself with good energy and you will be unstoppable!
  5. You won’t regret it. Perspective is everything. Did you succeed? Awesome! Did you crash and burn? You are closer to success than you were if you had not tried. Every situation we encounter, every experience we participate in, brings us closer to victory and creates character along the way. You can’t live with regrets but you can live with wisdom that you earn along the way.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

In today’s new world, with all of the changes we have faced as a society, mental health is everything! My family had a very unfortunate year of loss which led me to find talk therapy for my teen daughters. They needed to learn tools for coping with loss and navigate through these new, detached lives that were forced upon us all. Mental health counseling helps us get away from that sometimes-unreasonable voice in our heads that doesn’t always serve us well. Also, mental health awareness is a gift of its own. Knowing that there are better, healthier ways to deal with situations is often a positive start. If you don’t know you have options, you can get stuck in a negative spiral that can hold you down. Additionally, recognizing that someone is struggling, then acknowledging their pain, can make a difference in their life. Helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

If my philosophies resonate with anyone, I would love to connect! Visit my website at https://drkellyeschab.com/ , LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkellyeschab/ , or book a free 15 minute call at https://calendly.com/drkellyeschab/get-started .

Thank you for these fantastic insights!


Women In Wellness: Dr Kellye Schab of Balanced Wellness On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Designer Mary Patton: 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Candles and lamps. I hate overhead lighting. At night, I have a ritual where I turn on all the lamps and light candles for ambient lighting. I stick with one type of scented candle at a time — right now my house has Boy Smells Ash everywhere — it’s delightful!

As part of my series on the “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mary Patton.

Mary Patton Design specializes in residential and commercial interior design as well as home and event styling. Mary creates elegant, eclectic interiors — mixing modern with vintage; high art with personal treasures — to create moments of unexpected beauty. She believes interior design should be accessible, and an enjoyable experience for clients. Mary’s designs have been published in both national and regional publications, including The Wall Street Journal, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart, Better Homes and Gardens, HGTV, Lonny, Modern Luxury, and The Houston Chronicle.

Prior to starting her design firm, Mary worked in the fashion industry for Calvin Klein and Theory. After several successful years in New York, she moved to Houston and launched the acclaimed Mary Nichols Handbag Collection — a collection that was featured nationally in People Magazine, InStyle, and Brides.

Mary holds degrees from Southern Methodist University and Parsons School of Design. When not designing, she enjoys painting in her studio and spending time with her family and friends.

Thank you so much for joining us in this series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

From my earliest childhood memories, I wanted to be a fashion designer. That was it — I knew it in my heart. I am from Houston and was too scared to move to New York City for undergrad. So, I went to Southern Methodist University in Dallas and majored in painting and alternative process photography.

A year after college at age 23, I found myself a married schoolteacher and was living in Houston. I taught art and fifth grade social studies — I was a terrible teacher. I was extremely depressed, knowing this was not my life path. So, I applied to Parsons in New York City to study fashion on the little table in a little chair in my classroom.

I was accepted and my then husband and I moved to New York. Parsons was the opposite of what I expected. Also, I did not have a clue of what to expect. However, after teaching elementary school, everything by comparison has been easy.

During my time at Parsons, I learned that I in fact, hate sewing. I decided to shift my goals and I started a handbag line. I had no idea what I was doing but figured it out. I had my handbag business, Mary Nichols Handbags for eight years and learned about all areas of manufacturing a product, marketing, all the things by trial and error. The business was not very profitable, but it taught me priceless life lessons.

My husband and I moved back to Houston for his job, and I split my time between Houston and New York for a while. Unfortunately, the marriage did not last. I was traumatized by the divorce –and anyone that has been through it knows how bad it is. But I stayed focused on my small business.

A few years later, I got re-married and shortly after became pregnant with my daughter, Violet. I had Hyperemesis, a condition that you are so sick throughout the entire pregnancy. I couldn’t work or do anything — I was basically in bed for nine months. When Violet was a few months old, I had an identity crisis about what to do. The purse business was not making money, so I let it go, which was difficult. It had been my identity for much of my adult life. A friend of mine encouraged me to just start saying I was available for interior design work and to see what happened. A big career change at any point in life can be very scary, it’s best not to over think it and go for it.

I took her advice and started with small projects — my first was having pillows made for a friend’s sofa. Having had the fashion and art education was enough I felt to move forward to work doing interiors.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?

Funny things happen to me all the time. I am a magnet for it and try to laugh though life. One of my early clients is a good friend. I went to meet with her at her home to discuss re-designing her son’s room. When I got to her house, she came outside to tell me that I would need to walk into her house backwards and let her 100 plus-pound German Shepherd smell me before we could proceed, and so that he would not attack me. I love animals and just leaned into it, because I knew that death by German Shepherd was not my fate.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I had several projects going on and I absent mindedly ordered the wrong custom bed for a client. The fabric was outrageously expensive. We delivered the bed and staged the room — I was thrilled with how everything turned out. She called me that evening and graciously told me it was the wrong bed. I told her I would double check my notes and call her back. She was correct. I took a moment, cried a little bit, collected myself, called her back, apologized for the mistake and said I would gladly replace the bed. I was able to sell the incorrect bed later to another client, so in the end it was fine, but that taught me to quadruple check custom orders.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

I am finishing a renovation, re-decorating of a 100-year-old Tudor-style home. It is so beautiful; I cannot wait to have it photographed. We kept all of the cool elements that show how old the house is but modernized the kitchen and furniture. Just because the house itself is formal, does not mean you have to use formal furnishings.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier,” Mother Theresa. I think the luxury of being able to hire a designer to enhance your life is such a gift. The experience should be joyful.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

During my school teaching days in my early twenties, I would come home from work and watch Oprah. She inspired me so much to be brave. I am also so grateful to my friend that encouraged me to shift careers into doing interior design work.

Thank you for that. Here is the main question of our discussion. What are your “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

1. Declutter. Don’t think about it — throw it away or donate it. Having a bunch of stuff you do not need weighs you down spiritually and emotionally.

2. Add plants. I formerly was not a plant person, but being the cliche that I am, got very into plants at the start of the pandemic. I encourage all of my clients to have at least one in every room. They purify the air, bring nature in, watering and caring for them is not a chore, but very enjoyable.

3. If something brings up a bad memory, get rid of it. This may only be a me problem, but I assign memories to objects and clothing. If it is something that reminds me of something negative, I get rid of it. This is a form of decluttering but can apply to larger items.

4. Sage. I sage my house every day with my daughter. It’s a fun ritual and even if it doesn’t actually do anything, it makes the house smell nice.

5. Candles and lamps. I hate overhead lighting. At night, I have a ritual where I turn on all the lamps and light candles for ambient lighting. I stick with one type of scented candle at a time — right now my house has Boy Smells Ash everywhere — it’s delightful!

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

Women being kind to other women. I think one of the biggest problems in the world is misogyny, and it trickles down to female relationships. If women could just be kind to each other — we could get a lot accomplished.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this, especially if we tag them 🙂

It would be Oprah. I would cry like she gave me a car! She changed my life. Secondly would be Jay Shetty — his teachings of kindness through social media make keeping Instagram worth it. Thirdly, Antoni Porowski from Queer Eye. I think we might be best friends; he just doesn’t know it.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

On Instagram: @marypattondesign.

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational!


Designer Mary Patton: 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Brittany Farinas of House of One: 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Giving your living room a fresh coat of paint can really transform your space. Whether it’s a fresh coat of white or opting for a bold accent wall, it can make a huge difference.

As part of my series on the “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Brittany Farinas.

House of One is a multifaceted Miami-based interior design firm, specializing in curated luxury residential and commercial projects. By prioritizing creativity and an exceptional client experience, CEO and Creative Director Brittany Farinas is known for guaranteeing that every client experiences The Art of Living With Style. With their promise to deliver a distinct style of seamless luxury living, HO1 creates fluid interiors through elaborate spatial planning and FF&E selection. Making it their mission to design spaces that tell a story and exceed the expectations of their clients through high quality 3D visualization, HO1 strives to create stunning, experiential properties while encouraging their clients to become creative collaborators.

At House of One, no design is ever the same. Brittany and her team are able to showcase this through custom furniture design, which is what the firm is most known for. Having designed some of the most notable interiors in South Florida and with works featured in AD Pro, Domino, Vogue Living, The Wall Street Journal and Haute Residence, to name a few. House of One has carved and solidified their place as one of the fastest growing and most influential firms in the interior design sphere.

Thank you so much for joining us in this series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

My mom worked at El Dorado Furniture for 15 years. I spent most of my childhood there, roaming the showroom, and hanging out in the sales office. I completely overlooked interior design as a career and my mom never tried to push anything onto me — she always encouraged me to be free-spirited and to express myself through any avenue I wanted to. After high school, I went to Florida International University for nursing school and quickly realized that’s not what I wanted to do. I’ve always expressed myself through different arts — so, after doing extensive research, I realized that I wanted to pursue real estate and interior design. I worked at a prominent commercial real estate firm while studying interior design at the University of Miami. During that time, I got the opportunity to work on my first residential design project. From then, it’s been a domino effect and I’m so happy I chose this path because it’s what I am most passionate about and couldn’t imagine my life any other way.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?

The most interesting story that happened to me since I started my career was one of my clients, who is like family to me, purchased his first home in 2019, which we worked on and sold it fully furnished once we completed it, which was never part of his plan. During the renovation process, we always admired the house on the corner of his street. He surprised me one day when he told me he sold his house and bought the one on the corner. We were convinced this was going to be his forever home, and we designed it with such great attention to detail. Well, it turns out…He just sold this home, again fully furnished, and now relocating to another, which we will work on together. Each home just gets better and better every time!

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When I was working on my first project, we selected a white paint color — but only swatched it in some of the areas in the home. After the entire home was painted, there were areas that looked completely pink. After going through that, we now swatch paint in every room of the project, because paint always has a funny way of changing colors depending on what is reflecting in the room.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

We’re working with a non-profit organization at the Lindsey Hopkins Technical College, run by Karen Fryd and Diana Venturini. They have converted two rooms into a prom room, where they invite unprivileged kids to come once a year to have a full prom shopping experience. They can take home a full outfit with shoes and accessories. We are redesigning the space with more of an elevated boutique feel. They also have a shop where they invite families to come in and be able to shop school supplies, food, clothes, and shoes all at no cost. We are excited to reveal this project next year- and grateful to be able to give back in their community through the power of design.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My favorite life lesson quote at the moment is: “Where your focus goes, energy flows.” This is such a powerful quote because being able to stay focused in the present moment is so important when becoming inspired for a project, or when having to manage the day-to-day project management aspect of the design process.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I’m very grateful for one of my mentors, who was my boss where I worked in commercial real estate. He taught me a lot about how to deal with clients, how to provide top quality customer service, and how to be patient.

Thank you for that. Here is the main question of our discussion. What are your “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

  1. Giving your living room a fresh coat of paint can really transform your space. Whether it’s a fresh coat of white or opting for a bold accent wall, it can make a huge difference.
  2. Accessorize! One of the biggest pain points I see in the design industry is understating the need for accessories. A fully accessorized space is what is going to allow one to appreciate the other furniture elements in a room and what ties everything together.
  3. Throw pillows are a terrific way to bring color and warmth into a living room. We love hand-picking our fabrics and turning them into pillows to make a space feel custom and beautiful!
  4. Good lighting is important to have in a living space. We design our living spaces to have functional lighting and mood lighting. Nothing worse than having a living room that is either too bright or too dark and not in between.
  5. Layering is important to make a space feel cozy. Whether it’s layering a monochromatic scheme of pillows, throws, and accessories or wood, stone, and other materials — this is what is going to give your living room that visual interest.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

I would say let’s start to treat our on-site workers better. I feel that oftentimes they don’t get the proper credit for making a project happen. They are the execution of our designs, and a sizable portion of our population is construction and on-site workers in Miami.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this, especially if we tag them 🙂

Kelly Wearstler! I look up to her in so many ways. She is such an icon and has inspired me to take more risks, and to own being myself. I would love to be able to chat with her.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Instagram: @Brittanyalexa_ and @houseofone_

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational!


Brittany Farinas of House of One: 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Dr Rose Ngishu On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s…

Women In Wellness: Dr Rose Ngishu On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

That “failures” are necessary for growth. Mistakes are teachers. Just don’t hurt people along the way. It is very fulfilling actually to look back and see that it was in the failing, that I was making progress.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Rose Ngishu.

Dr. Rose Ngishu is a board certified internist, functional and lifestyle medicine specialist, and a wellness coach in full time practice. She has over 23 years of clinical practice. Besides her primary care practice, she helps overwhelmed female breadwinners in high stress and burnout relax, rejuvenate, and take control of their lives.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

Absolutely, first off, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to do so. I was born in Kenya, and immigrated to the US in 1998. Having come from humble beginnings, life was not easy. I also had an adverse childhood experience at the age of six and seven, that totally robbed me of my peace and confidence. My healing journey started at the age of fourteen, when I came to faith in Jesus Christ. I had big aspirations. So I worked hard in school, at home, and later on at work. When I came to this country, I was faced with a whole new set of challenges that I was not at all equipped to face. At some point I sunk into deep depression, and would have ended my life. With God’s help, I pulled through. Now, I can honestly say, my faith saved me. I didn’t even have money to seek professional help. That is why I am passionate about the spiritual and psychological issues of wellness .

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

Sure! The most interesting story that happened to me since starting my career is the level of personal transformation I have experienced. I started out to help others, however, this has helped me so much more I think. I am not the same timid self I was when I started out. My overall health is better now than when I first started. I did not realize how empowering my personal journey would become to those I am serving now. Sometimes I share it with my patients and clients, and am blessed even further with the breakthrough they get.

Main takeaways are:

  1. Nothing is at all in vain. Your experiences are powerful, and they are tools to help others and your future self.
  2. Seek help, even if you don’t have money, there are still some resources that you may not know of unless you ask.
  3. Lastly, do your best, even if it hurts. You are sowing into your future, and the harvest will be sweet.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Sure! The biggest mistake I made when starting out, and this was scary, was I entered the room of a patient with neutropenia without wearing my personal protective equipment (PPE). They were placed in what we call “reverse isolation” precautions. With my naive understanding at the time, I thought that meant the patient was who needed to wear the PPE and not the healthcare worker. The patient was alarmed that anyone would do such a thing. She asked me to go back and dorn my PPE before I got closer to her. I was surprised, but stepped back outside to do that. Later, I realized I was wrong, and learnt some big lessons:

  1. Don’t assume things in medicine mean the same as they do in ordinary english. If in doubt, double check.
  2. Listen to your patient, they may know something you don’t. Let them advocate for themselves, and clarify things as necessary.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Getting someone well is more than just prescribing a pill. Additionally, it is one of the most precious gifts you can give anyone. They feel lively and empowered, when their whole system is in balance. They contribute better to the world around us all as well. It is a snowball effect. The smiles on their faces, the restored vitality, not to mention the economic impact, when disease, the cruel robber is subdued.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Hmm! There are many, here are some of my favorites:

  1. Change your language. Even when things are tough, tell yourself everyday that you are a winner. Our thoughts and confessions bring possession. We tend to show up as, and manifest the energy we carry inside. Just think of the millions of eggs and sperms your parents had, you won conception. And in spite of the odds since conception, you are here. I will tell you my personal experience with this. There was a time in my life, when I spoke very condescendingly about myself, and I did not even realize it, until a co-worker at McDonalds in Midland, TX called me out on it. From that point on, I changed my language. It has helped me tremendously, and I am still working on it.
  2. Get six to nine hours of sleep daily. Sleep is the most restorative and empowering thing we can give ourselves. Eliminate whatever it is that causes you poor or inadequate sleep. I have seen how sleep deprivation causes illness often. It is scientific proof too, that sleep deprivation reduces our lifespan.
  3. Take at least one to five, 5-minute brain breaks throughout the day. It is refreshing and boosts productivity. That way we get more done faster, and can have more time to play.
  4. Forgive. Anyone and anything that has hurt you. The longer we partner with and cuddle on the hurt, the tighter it holds us in bondage. This is for your wellness, for your peace. No one is getting away with anything. Sooner or later, your perpetrator pays. So, you don’t have to be the one serving them revenge. Unless they seek forgiveness as well, rest assured, their wrong will find them out.
  5. Eat for longevity, not for survival. No matter how long we get to live, we will be in our bodies long enough to feel the effects of how we treat them. Nourish it as such, and it will be kind to you in return. I remember one time one of my children had a tummy ache from something bad they ate. They were fussy and hurting. They looked at me and said, “this guy is not being nice to me.” I was shocked, wondering who else was around besides them and I. So I asked, “which guy, baby?” The response, “this one,” pointing to the stomach. I almost laughed out loud, but realized my baby was simply trying to communicate with the right words they knew. So, we need to be mindful of what we eat

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I would invite everyone who has ever had an adverse childhood experience to consider lifelong coaching. I would also require insurance to provide it as a benefit. Sometimes health related issues come up earlier in life and sometimes they surface later on. While medications are important, that alone is inadequate.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

Before I became a healthcare worker, I wish someone told me:

  1. To focus more on the psychosocial factors, because they are the most impactful and yet the most challenging to address.
  2. That no matter how much I have learnt, I will need an ongoing team of mentors or coaches. This is because none of us has figured it all out yet, and change is constant.
  3. To prioritize personal wellness, because those I serve “drink from my cup,” and I can’t afford to have it empty.
  4. It is okay to truthfully say “I don’t know.” No matter how much anyone knows, being a “know-it-all” blinds and harms others rather than it heals.
  5. That “failures” are necessary for growth. Mistakes are teachers. Just don’t hurt people along the way. It is very fulfilling actually to look back and see that it was in the failing, that I was making progress.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Mental health. The mind is the engine of all else. It is in charge of our learning and behavior change. Nothing changes until the mind does. So, it behooves us to work extra hard to help those who have illness in those faculties. It is like they have a double or triple hit.

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

  1. www.drrosengishu.com
  2. www.linkedin.com/in/rose-ngishu-md-181b7850/
  3. www.instagram.com/rnngishu/?hl=en

Thank you for these fantastic insights!

Thank you as well. Blessings.


Women In Wellness: Dr Rose Ngishu On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Inspirational Women in STEM and Tech: Dr Stella Kafka of The American Association of Variable Star…

Inspirational Women in STEM and Tech: Dr Stella Kafka of The American Association of Variable Star Observers On The 5 Leadership Lessons She Learned From Her Experience

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Don’t get intimidated: There is a specific reason why we are selected to serve in a committee, participate in a panel, give a talk, and this reason speaks for itself. We have the same (sometimes more) qualifications as our male colleagues, and we need to educate them on how they should behave towards us!

As a part of my series about “Lessons From Inspirational Women in STEM and Tech”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Stella Kafka.

Dr. Stella Kafka is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of AAVSO. After obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Athens, Greece, she moved to the United States and earned her Master’s and Ph.D. in Astronomy with a double minor in Physics and Geophysical Sciences. There, she also received the Hollis and Grete Johnson Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Research. After completing her Ph.D., Stella held a series of prestigious postdoctoral positions and fellowships, first at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile (CTIO, where she received the National Optical Astronomy Observatory Excellence Award), then at Caltech’s Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC), and finally as a NASA Astrobiology Institute Fellow at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. As the Executive Director of the AAVSO, Stella aspires to build strong communities of professional and amateur astronomers who jointly work towards understanding some of the most dynamic phenomena in the universe. She resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her puppy, Ruru. When she’s not stargazing, managing the AAVSO, or making significant scientific discoveries, she enjoys reading, exercising, and traveling.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I was born and raised in a big city (Athens, Greece) where, at an early age, I was encouraged by my parents to be curious and explore nature. Having said that, I didn’t have access to a dark sky. I was always curious on how nature works, what are the phenomena and principles that govern the world around me, so I pursued a BSc in Physics at the university of Athens.This is where I got in touch with Astronomy: as an undergraduate, I did my thesis in astronomy, and was enamoured by the process of learning about the universe through analyzing light.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began at your company?

Well, here’s one for you: The first day of my tenure was February 1, 2015. It was a Monday, and we were in the middle of a viscous blizzard. So, instead of sending an inspirational email to my new co-workers at the AAVSO, I simply instructed them to stay home and not come to the office because the conditions of the roads were horrible and I didn’t want them to get hurt while driving to the office… What a start!

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I underestimate snow. Seriously, Feb 2015 was the first time in my life where I shoveled snow, resulting in a back injury… Not everything that looks easy is easy in real life…

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

The AAVSO is an international non-profit organization of variable star observers whose mission is to enable anyone, anywhere, to participate in scientific discovery through variable star astronomy. Professional astronomers have neither the time nor the telescopes needed to gather data on the brightness changes of thousands of variables, and amateurs can make a real and useful contribution to science by observing variable stars and submitting their observations to the AAVSO International Database. The public can just step outside and use their DSLR cameras to supply data for this. We offer workshops, online courses, manuals, mentors, databases and tools for data upload/downloading, opportunities to directly communicate and work with professional astronomers in exciting key projects. We all are a community of like-minded individuals who respectfully interact and learn from each other, explore the universe and reveal properties of the most dynamic stars out there!

Professional astronomers rely on citizen scientists to gather this kind of data. Astronomy is one of the few sciences in which individuals without a formal degree can contribute in meaningful ways to scientific projects and produce original and significant results. From a practical standpoint, it’s really difficult for a professional astronomer to be able to gather all the data they need for their work by themselves and information sharing is huge. We use the information gathered by amateurs to round out their data and make important discoveries. With such an active membership, we are able to get people looking at a certain star from all over the world within a matter of hours.

For example, when Betelgeuse’s brightness dropped in 2020 in a way that was not recorded in its 130-years, AAVSO observers had been taking data. Thanks to the AAVSO observers we have a good record of those brightness fluctuations. This information was essential for professional astronomers to understand the underlying reasons. That was a really cool project!

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

An exciting new initiative launching in 2022 is a free-for-all Spanish language webinar, which will introduce astronomical concepts to individuals whose native language is not English. We hope to reach out to as many people as possible!

Ok super. Thank you for all that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Are you currently satisfied with the status quo regarding women in STEM? What specific changes do you think are needed to change the status quo?

I am certainly not satisfied with the status quo, but I hope we are making progress. More and more women have successful high-profile careers, we are mentoring and empowering the next generation of leaders and are building a strong support group for one another. This is an ongoing process, and will take several generations to change, but we need to keep up our hard work, showcase our abilities and go after opportunities. I am here to support as many individuals I can, in the hopes that they will emerge stronger to change the narrative.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women in STEM or Tech that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts? What would you suggest to address this?

The biggest challenge we are dealing with now are perceptions from the past. Those led to tolerance of sexist/inappropriate comments and jokes, gender stereotypes on roles in the workplace, perceptions on individual’s capabilities, and a culture of tolerance that is hurting underserved communities. First and foremost, we all need to be aware of our personal biases and get out of our comfort zone to deal with all this. Also, listen. Listen to people, situations, suggestions, and start thinking of how we can make safer spaces for all.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a woman in STEM or Tech. Can you explain what you mean?

Ugh.. personal experiences: individuals commenting that “I am cute so why do I waste my time overthinking things” to individuals telling me that “I am too smart for a woman” … the list goes on. Such comments are demeaning and aim to undermine my work and abilities.

While growing up, I feel that I lived in a very safe bubble. My father was always my cheerleader — always championing for my success and supporting my endeavors. Experience the “real world” was always through his goggles: I am a strong, intelligent woman, and I can do anything I put my mind into. Yes, I was very fortunate. My mother nurtured my natural curiosity while making sure I knew how to prioritize, achieve, and celebrate accomplishments. I was really blessed with such an amazing support group… I wouldn’t be able to make it without them.

“Real life” hit after I acquired my PhD, where I experienced gender discrimination in every aspect of my professional life (research, publishing, giving talks, discussing new project, serving in committees). In some cases I was selected as the ‘token woman’’ in the room; no one expected me to have opinions, contribute in discussions or have a voice about anything. Well, this didn’t sit well with me, as I made a point to showcase my abilities and earned respect. It was difficult and sometimes exhausting to have to prove myself in such settings whereas my male colleagues who had the same kind of credentials, were considered worthy professionals from the beginning.

What are your “5 Leadership Lessons I Learned From My Experience as a Woman in STEM or Tech” and why. (Please share a story or example for each.)

Speak up: people tend to underestimate women in professional settings, and are sometimes surprised that we have opinions.

Don’t get intimidated: There is a specific reason why we are selected to serve in a committee, participate in a panel, give a talk, and this reason speaks for itself. We have the same (sometimes more) qualifications as our male colleagues, and we need to educate them on how they should behave towards us!

Be you: don’t try to emulate anyone or conform to norms. As women, we bring unique perspectives, talent and wisdom, and this needs to be recognized and celebrated.

Build a network and rely on it: I have many wise women and men who have provided wisdom and support throughout my career. I make my own choices, but I love having sounding boards for ideas. My mentors give me perspective and a sense of belonging in a community.

Lift others: each one of us is someone’s role model and cheerleader. Be that amazing person for someone else and help them shine!

What advice would you give to other women leaders to help their team to thrive?

We need to build a strong network and support each other. We need each other for success. If you think I can help, please reach out!

What advice would you give to other women leaders about the best way to manage a large team?

Make sure you understand the culture of your team. Talk to your colleagues and listen. And establish a “no tolerance” policy. Harassment, discrimination, bullying, subtle sexism do not belong in your workplace. Make sure you set the tone from the beginning, and take care of your colleagues.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

I am deeply committed to doing my part to change the future of astronomy for women and minorities. At the AAVSO, I established norms for what constitutes open, welcoming, and inclusive behaviors through relevant internal policies and practices. We actively embrace diverse viewpoints during discussions, and we participate in the decision-making process. I also introduced a zero-tolerance policy for discriminatory behavior such as bullying, harassment and micro-aggression, and sponsored webinars to identify and discuss such behaviors. All our employees are offered equal access to all our in-person and digital resources, including webinars, mentoring, professional development opportunities and software to hone their skills, enhance productivity and enable collaboration. I also established flexible work hours, especially as covid-related challenges such as unequal availability of home workspace generated anxiety.

For the AAVSO community, we have drafted ethics policies for our in-person and virtual events and our online forum conduct. Those documents include reporting misbehavior and establishing disciplinary actions. I spearheaded programs engaging a diverse audience and increase accessibility to information and resources: founded our youth program “AAVSO Ambassadors”; introduced closed captioning and transcripts on our online events; conceived and secured funding of a Spanish language webinar series (so that information is accessible to individuals for whom Spanish is a native language); I introduced double-blind referee process for the Journal of the AAVSO (ensuring that JAAVSO articles are judged based on their merit and not the author’s gender and credentials), and immediate access to all accepted manuscripts. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility are key components of our 2020 strategic plan priorities.

I also volunteer to serve in committees that aim to improve the status and opportunities of women in STEM, and I am mentoring young women and giving talks to younger individuals, introducing various resources that could help with their career.

For me, my success is only a small part of what individuals can achieve in their lives. I am certain that there are amazing, intelligent, ambitious women out there who would shine immensely, if they are given the right opportunities and support. I strive to provide those opportunities and support in any way I can!

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

Respect for each other and for our planet. This would be my aspiration, and would lead to a better society and a sustainable planet.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” This is one of my favorite RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) ​​quotes, and I have it on my wall in front of my desk. Reminds me that we are stronger together in our challenges in life…

We are very blessed that very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂

I wish I could meet Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but it’s too late now. I would love to meet Michelle Obama or Amanda Grossman. The former is a role model, the latter an inspiration…

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.


Inspirational Women in STEM and Tech: Dr Stella Kafka of The American Association of Variable Star… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Alison Cooper of Alicia J Diamonds On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and…

Female Founders: Alison Cooper of Alicia J Diamonds On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Top line is vanity, bottom line is sanity. You could be successful with your sales but if you’re not making any money there is no point being in business! You need to turn a profit and when you start in business it’s easy to get taken in with sales and ignore the bottom line. If someone made me aware of this in the earlier days, it would have been very beneficial to hear!

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alison Cooper, Founder and CEO of Alicia J Diamonds.

As an entrepreneur and natural innovator, Alison Cooper finds creative solutions to gaps in the market. She has founded and scaled several multi-million-pound global businesses.

She sold En Route International, her £40m leading airline catering brand, to The Emirates Group in 2017, and went on to create Alicia J Diamonds. Alison noticed that clients who wanted to buy a high-quality diamond engagement ring didn’t know where to start or who to trust, and that many jewellers weren’t offering good advice or value for money. Alicia J stepped in to solve that problem.

Alison’s approach is hands-on. She has always been a frequent business traveller to the Middle East, and in her downtime, enjoyed buying beautiful jewellery there, learning about gemstones and diamonds in the process. With this new business idea in mind, Alison expanded her knowledge by training with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as a diamond specialist. Then, together with her handpicked team of experts, she set up Alicia J Diamonds to help people make the right choice when buying diamonds and precious gems, whether they’re after an engagement ring or a sparkling present to themselves.

Alison’s integrity, expertise and honesty, and her go-getting entrepreneurial spirit and sociable personality make her an engaging person to be around and work with. She also spends time helping young businesswomen who need an extra leg-up, via the Women Supporting Women initiative at The Princes Trust.

www.aliciajdiamonds.com

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

I’ve always been entrepreneurial, ever since I grew tomato plants and sold them for a £20 profit for the Guides. I went to Germany to be with my boyfriend after studying and ended up starting a language school, and later a sandwich company.

In 2002, back in the UK and single, I set up En Route International, an airline onboard service company. In 2017, I sold it to the Emirates Group, having spent 15 years building the company from scratch into a multi-million-pound global business. Once I left, I wanted to do something different. I’ve always enjoyed buying gemstone jewellery when I travel abroad, particularly in Dubai, and saw that people didn’t know where to start when buying diamond jewellery in the UK. It particularly struck me when a friend of my son’s asked me for help in buying an engagement ring. I realised that there was a market to help people understand what to look for, and for someone to give them expert design and buying tips. Alicia J Diamonds was born. We offer a truly personal gemstone and diamond jewellery service. We help people design beautiful bespoke jewellery, as well as offering ready-to-wear jewellery online, too.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

When I named my previous company En Route International, I was determined that we would be truly global. The first country we went into was the USA. At the time, we had auditors, because I knew that selling down the line would be easier with fully audited accounts. They basically said to me that 82% of British companies which go to the USA, fail, and they didn’t think I should attempt it. But I knew that we needed to expand internationally to get the attention of international carriers. America was a vast market. If you get a deal on American Airlines or Delta, the volumes are huge. So, I said, I’m not taking that advice, I’m setting up in the USA. It was hard, but we made it a success, which came when we put in American staff rather than UK staff with visas (another learning curve). It’s an example of my determination when I know something is worth doing. I wanted to prove them wrong, and I did.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Before I started En Route International I ran a sandwich business in Germany. I was only in my early 20s and hadn’t realised that the sandwich business in the UK couldn’t just be replicated in a different country. Here, packaged sandwiches were booming. Factories were opening up and M&S were selling them like hotcakes. I just literally thought I’m going to have that for Germany. I learned very quickly that chicken tikka and prawn mayonnaise are really only popular in the UK! Germans prefer salami and cheese. At first it was only British nationals living in Germany who bought my sandwiches. They were very happy because I was giving them comfort food from home. It was just a silly mistake really. It taught me that you can’t take a concept that’s successful in one place and simply use it as a blueprint to roll out in another country.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

When I set up En Route International, I had a Non-Executive Director, James Drayton, who was an experienced CEO of airline catering companies. He was my sounding board. He was on the board but wasn’t involved in the everyday running of the business. I would tell him my crazier ideas, and he would always say, ‘Don’t go into work and tell the team about this yet. It’s a great idea, but let’s discuss it first.’ Because in the early stages I would upset my team by saying something one week and throw another idea at them the next week. He taught me how to really work out which ideas should become company strategies, by doing more research before I hit the Go button, without unsettling my staff with too many ideas at once.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this EY report, only about 20 percent of funded companies have women founders. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women to create companies. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from founding companies?

I think, honestly, it’s because women think they have to prove an idea in its full entirety and make money before they ask for help. Also, they just don’t brag and talk things up like men do. Many women will exhaust their personal savings and max their credit card before they go to the market to get an investor, or involve the bank. Whereas, it’s proven that men don’t spend their own savings, they go and shout about their idea straight away. And it’s better to get that investment in early.

Women are more judged by society and have the pressure of guilt if they have a family, too, which can put them off. Most men feel it’s their role to go off and work hard outside the family. As a man, if you’re asked about your sales forecast by a VC or PE, it’s proven that you get a more positive response to your responses. With women, more negative questions are asked.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

Sadly, it’s been proven that women don’t support women. There are many women who have made money but are they backing women-led businesses afterwards? More of us need to put our money where our mouths are!

I think, as well, there’s a lot of financial jargon used in the city and by VCs and private equity (the majority of whom are men). They all speak this language. If you’ve not come from a finance background as woman, you can feel intimidated by the language and what is often a room full of men. We should work to make sure that start-ups can access help in understanding how everything works — by offering women founders more of a helping hand.

In America, positive discrimination is used to help female-led businesses. When applying for tenders as a supplier in the airline industry, my applications would be more weighted because I’m a woman founder. I found it empowering knowing that my business was 100% female founded. But here we don’t have that. It’s only around 2% of VC or private equity money that goes to women founders. I would support legislation and incentivisation to improve that percentage.

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

Being a woman founder is an excellent opportunity to have freedom, and not be confined by set holidays and working hours. If you run a successful company, it will give you a better work-life balance, particularly with children growing up. I made the choice to pay for my son to go to boarding school, but then spend quality time with him in the holidays. We went on many amazing trips, which he hugely benefitted from. But I wasn’t at the school gates at 3pm every day. You have to make an arrangement that works for you and not beat yourself up or feel guilty, or be guilt-tripped by others.

It’s also a great role-model for your children to become a successful female business owner. Then it’s not just about dad earning the most money and supporting the family.

I think women are generally more empathetic and I think they make great leaders because of that, often creating businesses with a very positive work culture.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

It is going to be tough, and there will be hard days, there’s no getting around that. Some people think you start a company and everything’s then hunky-dory — that’s rarely true. There will be times when you’re desperate and your back is up against the wall because you haven’t got enough cashflow or something. But I think you have to turn every negative into a positive. Failure isn’t the opposite of success, it’s part of the learning process.

You don’t need to know the business inside out before you start. If you’re determined and resilient and open to learn, you don’t need to be an expert in the industry to succeed. In fact, sometimes it’s better not to be, as you can then come in and disrupt it, seeing things from a fresh angle. I wasn’t an expert in aviation catering but I came in with a slightly different perspective and made a success out of new products.

Is everyone cut out to be a founder? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful founder and what type of person should perhaps seek a “regular job” as an employee? Can you explain what you mean?

I don’t think everyone can be a successful founder. Some people have very good ideas but they’re then not able to monetise them. They may not know how to put a great team together, or to lead people and you need both of those to be successful. You have to be very determined, resilient, and to be able to work hard.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

  1. Top line is vanity, bottom line is sanity. You could be successful with your sales but if you’re not making any money there is no point being in business! You need to turn a profit and when you start in business it’s easy to get taken in with sales and ignore the bottom line. If someone made me aware of this in the earlier days, it would have been very beneficial to hear!
  2. Don’t think you can do everything yourself. You ideally need a management team of at least 2 right hands so you have people who you can delegate to. Choose someone to support you and someone to help in the decision making. Build a team around you who can support you and complement your skills. Don’t feel that you need to micromanage and make all the decisions yourself.
  3. Don’t underestimate the need to recruit the right people for the organisation to grow. On my journey, I found out by experience that if you have made an incorrect recruitment, it is better to keep the team happy and part company with that person rather than thinking that person is going to change to fit your company and the team around them.
  4. When you start out, if you need to use suppliers, it’s important to find a supplier who can build a powerful alliance with. You have to find a supplier who has similar company values to you. It’s easy to be consumed with just finding a supplier, but you should think about finding a supplier who has similar values to your business as they will support you when you’re scaling.
  5. If you’re looking for investment, don’t look for money, look for smart money. Smart money is looking for people who have specialist market knowledge about your industry already. They’re not just providing money; they provide knowledge that will help you on your scaling journey. In addition to this, always listen to your intuition when meeting investors. If you’re intuition says you’re not going to get along with your investor during the negotiation phase, listen to it and walk away from the deal. Don’t concentrate on the money, if they’re saying certain things that don’t identify with your values then you should make the decision to pull out. There’s no such thing as too much research when it comes to investment, don’t be afraid to ask other people who they’ve invested in and speak to the CEOs to see if the investment has gone according to plan.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

I’m part of the Women Supporting Women initiative run by The Prince’s Trust. It’s a fantastic charity, which helps young women in the UK by offering practical support to stabilise their lives, develop their self-esteem and gain skills for work. We recently hosted a Big Breakfast event to raise money for them, which was a great success and also a forum for female business leaders to discuss how to help other women. Also, a percentage of the profits for Alicia J Bold Rings goes to the charity.

I’m passionate about helping the next generation to come through. I’ve gained a lot of business knowledge and have a lot of ideas that can help others on their way.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

There are two things really. I’d definitely like some government legislation to help women found their own businesses. There could be a way of making sure the VCs and private equity give an equitable share to female-run companies. At the moment, as I said before, it’s only around 2% of investment that goes to women founders. Finding a way to increase that figure would help women feel like they were going to be taken seriously when they ask for finance.

I’d also love to be able to help achieve finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. Maybe there could be combination of helping women start-ups and research to combat this awful sad illness that affects so many people and families.

We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

Warren Buffett. I’ve always been fascinated by him, and would love to chat to him about how he has got to where he is, and how he decides on investments and business decisions.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.


Female Founders: Alison Cooper of Alicia J Diamonds On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Lia Bartha of B The Method on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support…

Women In Wellness: Lia Bartha of B The Method on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

I would say the biggest mistake I made and continue to make is the inability to delegate responsibility. As my business grows, it’s difficult to separate myself from B The Method and ask for help. Since the actual method is an evolution from my over 10 years of training and teaching plus so much of the growth of my business has come from my Instagram page, sometimes it’s tough to let go of control. Thankfully I have a partner who pushes me to think outside of myself.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lia Bartha, B The Method.

Lia is a beloved fitness personality who created B The Method, which is a mix of highly unique pilates-based, low-impact movements, with inspiration from dance and swimming, to strengthen, restore and protect the body.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I was born and raised in Oahu, Hawaii where I spent most of my childhood either at the beach or in a dance studio. My dreams of becoming a professional dancer were made even more difficult as my scoliosis and injuries worsened. So I took the natural next step and moved to California to study mathematical economics at Scripps college. After college, I got an office job at Lionsgate and then HBO where I was making solid money but just wasn’t happy. Also, the office chair, cubicle life was making my scoliosis unbearable. A friend recommended Pilates and my life was changed forever. I started taking extra long lunch breaks to get my Pilates certification and eventually quit my cushy office gig to teach full time. After meeting my husband and having my first child, we moved to New York City and I stopped working to be with my daughter. The problem is, if I’m not exercising, I’m not feeling great. With no room for a Pilates reformer in our East Village apartment, I grabbed my favorite prop: a small, partially deflated ball. And that’s when B The Method was truly born. Three years and thousands of hours later, I developed my method of specialized curated cues creating a flowing exercise connecting the entire body, while inducing a meditative state for the mind. My private clients loved it and encouraged me to create a class version, which I did, and the rest is B The History.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

I would say the most interesting story has to be launching B The Method online during covid. My husband and I had been developing the app months before the pandemic hit. In the early days of 2020, I was still teaching my group class in the city and at some point Justin turned to me and said, “It’s too dangerous to go to work. Time to stop.” I was resistant at first. This was in March, before the actual lockdown, and I had hundreds of clients who counted on me. So when the lockdown happened and that dark cloud rolled over the country, I knew I couldn’t just sit around in that darkness. We live in an area of Brooklyn which, at this point, had the highest death rate in the entire country. It was flat out terrifying. My clients would reach out and tell me how badly they needed to turn off the news, get moving again and how much they missed the community of the B The Method classes. So I went on Instagram and announced that I would go live and teach…every single day. What started as a way to connect with my clients and maintain some shred of sanity grew into a community of people connecting through my method of meditative movement. So, I would say the main lesson I learned was to really listen to what my community needs and trust that they will take care of you when the time is right. I taught for free almost every day for five months and on the day we finally launched the B The Method app, my community couldn’t wait to support me.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I would say the biggest mistake I made and continue to make is the inability to delegate responsibility. As my business grows, it’s difficult to separate myself from B The Method and ask for help. Since the actual method is an evolution from my over 10 years of training and teaching plus so much of the growth of my business has come from my Instagram page, sometimes it’s tough to let go of control. Thankfully I have a partner who pushes me to think outside of myself.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Well, “a big impact on the world” is a big claim but I will say that so much of the philosophy of the method comes out of what I see as negative trends within the health and wellness industry. After years of trying out the latest fads and machines and seeing those fads fade and those machines create more injuries, I created B The Method to protect and to last. When we look to distract ourselves while we exercise, we’re missing an opportunity to be aware of our own bodies. Now, I’m not saying I don’t love to listen to a great playlist or play a fun game while working out now and then, but the older I get, the less time I have to shut off the noise and screens and take stock with how I really feel, body and mind. Also, the number one complaint I hear from B The Method community members who have switched from other types of exercise is INJURIES. I truly believe that with exercise if you distract, you destruct. These injuries not only cause physical harm but also take a mental toll. That mental toll spreads to our families, our work and our communities. Make an impact on your own community, make an impact on the world.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Piggybacking on my last answer, I think being honest about what you’re willing to actually do for your own wellbeing is the first step. An example of this for me has to do with meditation. Years ago, I tried to incorporate mindful meditation into my daily wellness routine but at a certain point I had to be honest with myself that I just wasn’t going to sit down twice a day for 20 minutes. This honesty not only freed my mind of some bullshit idealized version of myself that wasn’t real but also inspired me to fold in the meditative aspect while developing B The Method. Now I feel the flow-state effects of meditation while doing something that I love. By accepting that a specific version of transcendental meditation wasn’t for me, I improved my life by pushing myself to find out what exactly was for me.

I would say one more example would be to not be too hard on yourself. There seems to be an orthodox trend in wellness where people are so strict on what they can and can’t eat. I would say, unless you have an actual medical allergy to a certain type of food, allow yourself to enjoy what you love. For example, I love dessert. I could eat dessert instead of an actual meal. Do I know that refined sugar is awful for me? Of course I do. Did I make a delicious batch of brownies this weekend with my kids and eat half the pan with my family as we played Jenga after dinner? Of course I did.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

It would be B The Method and that’s what I’m trying’ to do! Thankful that you are helping me spread the word. But, more specifically, I talk a lot about the pelvic floor and how it’s the secret to a more fulfilling sex life. I do a monthly newsletter and that was the focus recently and I can’t tell you how much positive feedback I’ve gotten from my community. So many fitness professionals talk about healthy food but so few talk about healthy sex. So much of my method is focused on strengthening the pelvic floor and I can tell you from experience, your orgasms will never be better.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

1. Believe in your vision. (If you have a vision, you are already ahead of the pack) 2. Take it slow (It takes time to build)

3. Don’t follow trends (Follow what’s missing. There’s always something missing.) 4. Get on Instagram (I’ve only been active for 2 years and it’s a great tool) 5. Be yourself, save yourself (Create boundaries within public spaces like IG)

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

By far, mental health. I’m not saying that the others aren’t important, especially the environment, but B The Method was created as a way to connect your body and mind through movement. Exercise and community are the only scientifically proven ways to improve one’s mental health and we have thousands of people showing up for each other week after week to move together. The feedback I get from every single one of our community members, including me, is consistent: I’ve never felt healthier…inside and out.

Thank you for these fantastic insights!


Women In Wellness: Lia Bartha of B The Method on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

James Stanley: 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Textures. and last but not least, selecting the right and balance of textures. Choose soft and comforting fabrics for your pillows, throws, cushions and upholstered furniture, but balance with few accent pieces that are bold and daring such as leather and suede. Don’t be afraid to include faux fur for the holidays because the softness of faux fur induces warmth and calmness.

As part of my series on the “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy”, I had the pleasure of interviewing James Stanley.

James Stanley is the Principal and Founder of James StanleyNY, a boutique Architectural Design firm in Tribeca, New York. James’s unique vision is backed by 12 years of hands-on experience. He has built his career and success around authentically being himself and meeting his clients where they are. James’ creativity and attention to detail can be seen at The Plaza, Tiffany & Co, and throughout residential homes in the Los Angeles, Miami and New York markets.

5 Things to Spark Joy FINAL VERSION.mp4

Thank you so much for joining us in this series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

A few things brought me to this career path, but mostly my Mother. Growing up with my Mom in SoCal, she owned a General / Engineering / Construction firm where she pushed me to watch and learn how to run the business and manage a team. As a result, I learned how to use my mind and hands to build just about anything. My Mother was also a major antique collector, so I honed my eye on that world as well. When I left SoCal for Miami Beach, I had the opportunity to design and remodel a few small boutique hotel lobbies in Miami Beach through my employment with a small design firm. I quickly became passionate about what I was doing and learned how to apply the skills I learned through my experience working with my Mother and her team.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?

One of the proudest moments of my career was working as lead designer at IM PEI’s Centurion and it happened by fate or as some may call luck. During my early career in NYC, one of my real estate acquaintances was designated to lead the Inhouse real-estate team for selling Condos at The Centurion. My contact reached out and asked if I was interested in possibly designing one of the model apartments. Naturally, I jumped on the opportunity. We met onsite and did a walk-through, and with no prior preparation, I came up with a design concept on the spot and presented the design real time. My design concept was well received and I was asked to illustrate the design in a Story Board. After spending few days working on the Story Board, we met at a restaurant, as I didn’t have an office in those days. After presenting to her my design proposal, she loved the concept but did not feel the presentation had the professional edge to compete with the other big design firms who are also being considered for this project, however, she said she will keep me in mind.

Few days went by and as my disappointment was beginning to fade, my phone rang, and to my surprise, it was my contact asking me to meet with the owners of the building immediately and pitch my design because the big firm they were considering were not ready to meet in person and present. I knew right there and then that this was my shot and I had to take it. With no presentation on hand or assistance, I headed to the IM PEIs Centurion, walked into the lobby and met the developer and Mr Trump. During the elevator ride, Mr Trump asked about my design background, etc., then proceeded to ask if I had a choice to design the best unit or the worst unit, which would I choose. I said the worst, as it would be the more challenging and fulfilling to work on. Mr Trump replied with a slight smile on his face“ Right Answer” … We walked off the elevator, and there I was, unprepared and standing in the middle of the worst unit that was different than the unit I previously drafted the design for, with eyes all on me in anticipation for my design pitch. After taking few minutes to get a feel of the space, the developer/owners asked what my thoughts where. I intuitively went into Designer mode and started proposing and recommending ideas and concepts that are best suited for the type of buyers/clientele that would live in the space. After about 10 minutes, both Developer and Trump said “ We heard enough”. After we parted ways, I received a call an hour later from my contact telling “ You blew them away” there only concern was “ Could we afford his Firm” …

Always believe in yourself and give 110%.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

On one of my first design projects, I was fortunate to have my client’s full trust to let my creativity run wild when designing and fabricating several of his furniture pieces. Unfortunately, the thrill of artistry and innovation ruled over practicality, and consequently, I didn’t take into consideration his above average height when making the Principal Suite bedframe footboard. The client was elated with the pictures of the completed bed. After the bed was delivered to the client few weeks later, I received a call on my cell very late in the evening from my client laughing stating that I forgot to incorporate his height into the dimensions of the bed and he had to sleep with his feet up on the footboard. I, on the other hand, was mortified, and disappointed that I Iet this important detail slip through. We remade the frame to accommodate my client’s height.

Lesson: The Devil is in the details. Triple check all details and then check again…

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

Brownstone on the UWS and a Duplex in trendy Brooklyn

  • The Brownstone is in CPW’s Historic Landmark District . Steps to New Yorks Central Park make’s for quintessential NYC living. We are gutting the entire home-building, interesting/exciting Architectural-Design features include a Full size elevator to the roof, Roof top garden-entertaining space-glass slide back door system in the Garden level to create indoor-outdoor living. A partial glass floor in the Principal suite letting additional natural light in while putting in Smart Tint at the push of a button for privacy when needed, not to mention a automated Principle Suite closet with Dry-Cleaning capability.
  • Brooklyn Duplex: Located in a very trendy part of BK, this newer construction home was initially purchased by my client as a two bedroom unit with a massive outdoor terrace that we completely redesigned to fit their specific needs and esthetic. Since then, the client purchased the mirrored unit above it, and we are in the process of combining the two units into one large Duplex.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life? “Look Within For True Happiness”

I’ve been blessed to have found the Buddhist Path. The teachings have transformed my life. Like most of us, I used to seek happiness by surrounding myself with materialistic things associated with Luxury. Alas, the pleasure was transitory and passed faster than the trend associated with its extravagance. My meditations allowed me to truly connect with my inner self, which connects me to True Happiness. Don’t miss understand, I still gravitate to Luxury and the Materialistic, I’ve built my Brand on it, But, The Quote-Mantra “Look Within For True Happiness” really helped me focus on what’s important in the big picture… Enjoy what life has to offer, every detail, But be aware these are fleeting moments, and the Happiness we all seek is Within…

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

First: My Mother. She instilled an extremely hard work ethic in me and an eye for details.

Second: My first Big client. He trusted me enough to let me explore creatively and pushed me to really think out of the box, which gave birth to a insanely creative project and paved the way to opening my design/construction firm…

Thank you for that. Here is the main question of our discussion. What are your “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

1.Paint- Painting the interior of your home the right color is one of the simplest elements about your home design decisions. Selecting a color pallet that best represents your personality will connect you emotionally with your home. Select colors that evoke calmness, contentment, gratitude and relaxation. Whether a single accent wall or an entire room, paint can create Joy…

2.Lighting — Lighting is the single most important design element that your home interior needs. The right lighting adds the element of intimacy, soft or striking, from just a table or floor lamp, to overhead fixtures and pinspots, lighting is key in sparking happiness.

3.Art- Art is particularly my personal favorite design element in a home. I know this may sound like a cliché, but beauty in Art is truly in the “eye of the beholder”. Chose art that speaks to you, that you can relate to, that you enjoy looking at and excited to share with your loved ones. Art comes in many forms and shapes, so don’t limit yourself to traditional paintings and prints, venture outside the box and go for vintage advertisement posters, blown-up back and white photograph that you personally took, framed old post cards from your favorite parts of the world, etc… Art should take you on an emotional experience and evoke pleasure.

4.Accessories- Accessories are the catalysts that tie your wall color, furniture and flooring all together. Pick pillows, area rugs, throws, coffee table books, small boxes, vases, candle holders, etc…that you absolutely love, have a personal meaning and complement your color theme. They are the icing on the cake and the bow on the gift. Accessories can unquestionably stimulate enjoyment in your home.

5.Textures. and last but not least, selecting the right and balance of textures. Choose soft and comforting fabrics for your pillows, throws, cushions and upholstered furniture, but balance with few accent pieces that are bold and daring such as leather and suede. Don’t be afraid to include faux fur for the holidays because the softness of faux fur induces warmth and calmness.

BONUS- Music. music is the ideal way of giving myself up to the warm and embrace of my home. Music sets the tone of the my mood and, depending on my intention, it can help me unplug and relax on the sofa with a glass of wine or help me cross the finish line with my never-ending home chores! In these troubled times, music playing in the background can be a solace and an easy way to turn the disappointments of the day to a Joyful consolation.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Creating-Tapping into our INNER Peace…You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? _He or she might see this, especially if we tag them 🙂

ELON MUSK- My hero and indirectly my mentor. I look up to him because of his ability to take something he has no background or education in and create brilliant innovative solutions that revolutionized the industry. He defied critics who believe it could not be done and proved them wrong by making the impossible possible. His brilliance and courage to bring his ideas to fruition inspires me beyond words.

I believe his motto says it all:

“ Do your 5 yr plan in 1 yr. Even if you don’t get it all done, you’ll be much further ahead”

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Instagram: @ jamesstanleyny

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational!


James Stanley: 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Ali Kay of INVEST YOUR BEST On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support…

Women In Wellness: Ali Kay of INVEST YOUR BEST On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Your thoughts shape your reality — — If you are constantly telling yourself you can’t, you don’t have time, or that you aren’t good enough then that’s the reality that you will create for yourself. I was so negative towards myself in the beginning as far as what I was telling myself and what I believed about myself. Once I chose to shift that mentality towards telling myself that I can do it, that I am worth it then my entire reality changed. Your thoughts and your beliefs about yourself are key in your journey towards wellbeing.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ali Kay.

As seen on The Doctors and Women’s Health, ALI KAY the fitness influencer and host of INVEST YOUR BEST has lost over 70lbs in a year and a half and says she has never felt better. Her transformation has gone viral on TikTok (@alexandrawille), earning her more than 388,000 followers.

The mom-of-two has become a TikTok star after detailing how she lost a whopping 70lbs and transformed her body after her second pregnancy. Bottom of FormThe mom was busy looking after her two sons — Lukas, seven, and Ford, two — and felt she had little to no time to prepare nutritious meals for herself.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

During my second pregnancy with my son, I indulged in living the pregnancy lifestyle and had an unhealthy pregnancy as I gained a lot of weight during it. After I gave birth, I found myself continuously gaining weight and feeling less and less like myself. I was around 70 lbs overweight (almost 200 lbs for my 5”1 body frame) and it was getting to the point where my maternity clothes, that once fit me during pregnancy, no longer fit me. I looked in the mirror and could barely recognize myself. I started feeling defeated, unhappy and as a mother to two boys, I started missing out on memories with my kids. I wouldn’t go certain places with my family or participate in certain things because I didn’t feel good or even have the desire to go because of how I was feeling overall. I was becoming complacent with my new lifestyle and becoming more and more unhappy and discouraged.

There was a day that I call my “ah ha” my moment where I took the first step towards change. It was like any other day, and I had declined my oldest son’s offer to go swimming with him at a pool. I felt overwhelmingly frustrated as I watched my husband walk out the door with my two boys as I stayed home. I think that was the first day I truly looked at myself in the mirror and gave myself grace. It was at that moment that I realized I needed to make an overall change that had to do more than weight loss and it started with my mindset. Up until that moment, my inner self-talk was extremely negative, and I was against myself. I chose to give myself some much-needed grace. From that day, I started making small steps towards change to become the best version of myself mentally and physically. I think shifting the mindset from seeing was more than a “weightloss journey,” was also key because I wanted to feel good, strong, and just overall healthy. That was the day that I chose to start prioritize my mental and physical health first before anyone or anything else.

The foundation of my 70 lb weightloss/wellness journey included: prioritizing moving my body 30 minutes for my mental and physical health. Some days that just included prioritizing the time to get it done by walking and pushing my son in the stroller or getting imperfect workouts done in my living room with my kids crawling on my back Next was focusing on slow and steady changes to what I was eating to build sustainability, accepting myself at every phase of the process and tuning into my inner self-talk to encourage myself, and gaining the accountability from social media by sharing and documenting my journey. It took over a year to lose the weight, as the progress was slow, but I’ve been able to sustain the weightloss by building those small habits by the small changes I made along the way.

After I had that turning point to just simply start, I also wanted to make it a point to openly share my entire journey & genuinely on Instagram and my IG stories. I shared raw progress photos, videos along the way, I talked openly about feeling discouraged, I shared my moments of celebration, and I relied on my Instagram community for accountability and support throughout my entire 70 lb weightloss journey which later turned into sharing on TikTok. I felt like sharing that this journey isn’t linear nor is it never over it would help or inspire at least one person to show that it is possible with the right mindset and the willingness to put in the work to build a sustainable lifestyle that doesn’t include body perfection, fad diets, extremes, or all or nothing thinking. October of 2020, I launched the “Invest Your Best with Ali Kay” podcast that casually explores what it takes to live your best life mentally, physically & spiritually by focusing on things you can control; your thinking and actions. Nothing is off the table as Ali discusses, shares personal experiences, as well as interviews guests that will give listeners insight in understanding what it takes to step into action in many different areas of their lives. My goal is to continue openly sharing my personal journey, post weightless, to show that the journey in being your best self is never over nor is it a perfect or linear one.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

I think the most interesting thing that has happened to me since I started to openly share my journey, even to this day, is the support and encouragement I have received from complete strangers on the internet. I think there are so many people who desire to change their lives and want to focus on their wellbeing but don’t really know where to start or what to do. I think just by me being vulnerable and putting myself out there even though sometimes it can be scary to do so, I have been able to find support and give support to others. Recently, I have been very open about how I finally made a leap to become alcohol free because I felt like alcohol was bringing me further away from my goals and not adding value to my life, and as I continue to share my daily updates on social media (I have made it over 100 days without alcohol) I have been getting so much feedback from people how they want to do this too, or have felt the same way etc. And that is something that continues to personally inspire me in my every day life. I have woman especially mothers who message me a lot telling me how they started their own personal journey towards well being or they finally started just moving their bodies little by little and have never felt better both mentally and physically. It continues to be the inspiration and accountability for me to stay on this journey towards wellbeing, as well as know that I am not alone in it.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The biggest mistake I made when I was first starting was my initial mindset. I didn’t have a lot of progress in the beginning because I was putting my happiness on hold and had extremely negative inner self-talk. It was always the mindset that was “when I looked a certain way, I’ll do this,” or “when I feel a certain way then it will be like…” and as a result I was putting my happiness on hold and missing out on life, especially with my kids. It wasn’t until I shifted my mindset to love and accept myself at every phase of the journey that my progress started to happen and my reality started to change.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

I think by sharing my personal journey openly and authentically which includes the ups and the downs, I have shown a realistic and relatable journey that people see and know that they can do it too. My 70 lb weightloss journey and the journey I continue to openly share on my social media platforms and podcast to promote health and wellness includes one that doesn’t involve perfection or a “perfect body,” overnight success, a diet fad or something extreme. It’s just sharing my journey towards being the best version of myself mentally and physically. My journey involves just starting by shifting that mentality to accept yourself and tell yourself you can do it then prioritizing your mental and physical health by moving your body, making those small and steady steps towards change to create a sustainable lifestyle that works for you and focusing on quality, nutrient dense foods that energized me rather than leaving me feel sluggish. My weightloss journey took a long time and in society, I think we are fixated on “quick fixes” and “instant gratification.” I am promoting health and wellness that promotes prioritizing your mental and physical health, as well as tuning in to your thinking & actions, which is the theme of my podcast “Invest Your Best”.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

1.Prioritize YOU- When I made the shift towards working on the relationship with myself, how I talked to myself, and prioritizing my mental and physical health, my life began to transform my wellbeing and the relationships I had with my kids, my husband, my business, responsibilities etc. Once I realized that I was a better person all around when I prioritized me, like getting my workouts in, taking time for self-care, I dropped the guilt that comes with putting “you” first especially as a mother. Investing in my mental and physical health has changed my life and when you make yourself a priority you drop the excuses because it’s a must for your wellbeing. It doesn’t matter how busy you are but when you prioritize and invest in your mental and physical health first, you are able to put your best self forward. It’s just like the metaphor when you are on a plane and the oxygen mask drops, you have to put it on yourself first in order to be able to help others put their masks on.

2.Start small! — It’s all about starting small to build long term habits and increase motivation. In the beginning, I could barely do a lot of physical activity so I would just simply walk 5 minutes a day. I slowly built upon those 5 minutes, as my small action started to drive more and more motivation, and then I was able to work my way up to doing 30 minutes workouts/moving. I also did not try to start eating 100% healthy foods, I slowly started incorporating whole and colorful foods to my diet. I slowly started to reduce processed and high sugar foods from what I was eating and focused on smaller portions. My changes were very small, and my overall progress took time, but those small changes made big changes as time went on as I built and felt motivated to keep taking actions towards building a solid foundation towards a sustainable lifestyle.

3. Drop the ALL or Nothing thinking & Set realistic goals — In the beginning, I was guilty of saying okay “tomorrow I am going to eat completely clean for 6 weeks and start working out for 30 minutes every day,” which was extremely different from my current lifestyle at the time. Then what would happen is that I would be good for like 2 days then I would eat a slice or pizza or brownie, miss my workout then completely give up. I think it’s important to understand that it doesn’t have to be perfect/all or nothing. When we think this way, we set ourselves up for failure. It’s about setting up for success and going back to that idea of starting small, making slow and steady changes to build a sustainable lifestyle that work for you. If you’ve never worked out before, set the small goal to move your body for just 5 minutes a day and build upon that. It’s important to understand small actions drive motivation to build that foundation towards wellbeing.

4. — Move your body for your mental and physical health and find a workout you actually enjoy — This is such a game changer. Right away, I became addicted to the feeling I got after a workout as I found I was energized, less moodier, happier, patient etc. I never once, to this day, have regretted a workout. When I first started moving my body, it was just walking and pushing my son in the stroller. But as time went on, I found myself looking forward to the time I made for myself to workout. I was open to trying different types of movement like cycling, boxing etc. and I am constantly switching it up because I like to find new things. Working out can be enjoyable, you just have to find something that you like. And Moving your body can come in so many different forms other the stereotypical “gym workout.” I also found that it doesn’t have to be “perfect” workouts. Many times, I will just get a 30 minute workout in my living room with my kids and there are many interruptions and stopping with the kids but I still finish and get it done because I know I feel better after the workout.

5.- What you tell yourself is what you believe — — When I felt discouraged in the beginning of my journey, I found that I was telling myself a lot of negative things like I can’t do it and I am not capable of losing the weight etc. Or being “healthy” is jus too hard and not for me. My mindset is and was everything and what you tell yourself is ultimately what you believe and shapes your reality. It’s great when you have someone else telling you that they do believe in you but it’s effective when it’s your own self saying that you can do it. Believe in yourself. I think that’s so powerful in achieving a journey towards wellbeing because if you are constantly telling yourself you can’t do this workout or you’ll never be able to eat healthier, then that’s going to be the reality you create for yourself. Once I shifted to the mentality that I can do this, then my initial progress began.

6. Measure your progress by a photos, how you feel, and your clothes…don’t fixate on the number on the scale — Every time I stepped on the scale, I would get off feeling discourage and defeated. The number on the scale was barely moving in the beginning of my journey and as a result, I wanted to give up so many times. I got to the point where I had to ditch the scale strictly for my mental health and measure my progress by photos, how I felt, and how my clothes were fitting. It’s amazing the changes you will see in the progress photos that you don’t get from a number on the scale. You can still be losing inches and gaining muscle without the scale moving and that was definitely the case throughout my entire journey even to this day my body has changed so much as I continue to build muscle that I can see from photos. I also noticed how I was started to smile in my monthly progress photos which showed that I was making even bigger progress in the way I was feeling overall.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

The movement for people to prioritize their mental health by consistently moving their bodies. Society understand and highlights the physical health benefits to working out but there is also a big association with working out in society that benefits only “looking a certain way” or highlighting that working out is only for “weightloss” or to achieve a certain “body type” etc. And I think as a result, a lot of people don’t enjoy working out, don’t see it as a mental health benefit or view it as “punishment” in some ways. Working out can be dreadful when you have this mentality towards it and I think majority of society have experienced it this way.

Very early on, as it is the foundation to my journey, I became addicted to the feeling I got mentally when I just went outside and walked for 30 minutes. I could barely do anything in the beginning because of the extra weight I had on my body so I just started with walking. I prioritized every day, going outside and walking for a few minutes with my son in the stroller. That walking gradually became jogging, cycling, weight lifting, boxing etc. And I got it in no matter what, even if it included kids and it wasn’t a “perfect” workout session because it made such a difference mentally. I continued to experience the mental benefits post workout which made it easier to prioritize the time for myself get “moving my body” in because it was for my mental health. Movement became my medicine, even to this day, as I am someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, I move my body for my mental health. I feel patient, motivated, energized, less moodier, and overall happier. Moving your body for your mental health is an evidence-based practice that studies have continued to find reduce the long-term effects of depression and is a mood enhancement as the brain releases endorphins and it increases serotonin. I think shedding light to prioritizing moving your body for your mental health (and movement can look so different for everyone) — whether it is running, weight lifting, walking or just dancing in your living it has mental health benefits that need to be discussed, highlighted, and exemplified as movement & working out is not just for physical health, weightloss or vanity reasons.

To this day, I prioritize moving my body for my mental health and it has completely transformed my life and the way I am resilient to life’s daily stressors. If you go to the doctor because you are stressed out etc, majority of the time, they won’t even discuss the impact moving your body can have on your mental health. I am fully invested in starting a movement for people to understand that it can positive impact both your mental and physical health, as well as it be something that can be enjoyable. I will continue to be a “move your body advocate” because it changed my life once I started prioritizing movement and the best thing is that it is free, accessible to any type of population, and it can be enjoyable; you just have to find the movement you enjoy.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

1.The journey towards wellbeing and working towards being the best version of yourself is NEVER over. — It’s not about reaching a number on the scale and crossing this imaginary finish line. Every day you have to put in the work and that’s why it’s so important to focus on building a sustainable lifestyle rather than a quick fix. I think once you understand that it’s a lifestyle and the journey is never open, then you understand the process more and allow yourself to be patient. It’s also never easy! And therefore I continue to share my personal journey post weightloss. Just because I accomplishing losing 70 lbs, doesn’t mean I am done, that it’s easy, that I don’t struggle or that I have it all figured out. I don’t. And that’s why the journey isn’t linear either. Every day I make the conscious decision to prioritize my wellbeing therefore the journey and putting in the work will always be continuous.

2.You will have bad days! — I think it’s important to know that you aren’t going to get your workouts in or you might have a day where you aren’t eating the best things for your body. But that’s okay. It’s about knowing that every day doesn’t have to be perfect and you can still keep pushing forward and put in the the effort.

3. Find Accountability friends and like-minded people — This was such a big reason why I shared and continue to share my journey on social media. I found complete strangers messaging me to encourage me, share their personal stories etc or tell me how I inspire them, which inspired me to keep going. Even if you aren’t big into social media, it’s so important to find friends or a community who have similar goals towards wellbeing. These are the people who will support, motivate, and uplift you especially during bad days. I host monthly fitness and alcohol free challenges with Way better for this very reason so that people can find a like-minded community who are invested in being the best versions of themselves.

4. You do have time!!…you just have to make it a priority. — I was guilty of excuses in the beginning as to why I don’t have time to take steps towards my wellbeing or get a workout in. I think we are all guilty of believing that we don’t have time and that’s what keeps us further and further away from our goals. Excuses are a result of poor planning and you do have time for things that you prioritize. That’s why making the conscious choice to make your wellbeing a priority will immediately give you the time. It just has to be a priority to make it happen.

5. Your thoughts shape your reality — — If you are constantly telling yourself you can’t, you don’t have time, or that you aren’t good enough then that’s the reality that you will create for yourself. I was so negative towards myself in the beginning as far as what I was telling myself and what I believed about myself. Once I chose to shift that mentality towards telling myself that I can do it, that I am worth it then my entire reality changed. Your thoughts and your beliefs about yourself are key in your journey towards wellbeing.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Mental Health! As someone who has dealt with mental health which led me to get my masters in mental health counseling & psychology, it is imperative that we break the stigma around mental health and normalize discussing mental health, as well as bringing to light the evidence-based practices that exist to support mental health in addition to pharmaceutical/prescription treatments. I also want to share the message that a mental health disorder does NOT define you. Diagnosis’ are meant to guide treatment and not define a person. We need to discuss more about how we can prioritize and be an advocate for our own mental health especially through focusing and prioritizing our own wellbeing (what we eat, moving our bodies etc.) I am so open about having discussions about my personal stories and struggles with mental health and the positive impact counseling has made on my life in order to normalize the stigma and hopefully share the message that you aren’t alone in your struggles and that there is hope. Moving my body every single day has been a form of medicine for my mental health and it has changed my life, which is why I am so passionate about sharing this message about moving your body for your mental health. My podcast “Invest Your Best” is an extension of this by sharing how we can take control over our thinking, actions, and lifestyle in order to invest in being the best versions of ourselves mentally and physically.

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawille/?hl=en

Tik Tok- https://www.tiktok.com/@alexandrawille?lang=en

Podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/invest-your-best-with-ali-kay/id1534620925

Youtube- https://youtube.com/channel/UCtslKw6blle_KfFkYjwiUzA

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!


Women In Wellness: Ali Kay of INVEST YOUR BEST On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Carolyn Wheeler of Vella Bioscience On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help…

Women In Wellness: Carolyn Wheeler of Vella Bioscience On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Don’t over-define your future. It’s great to have clear ambitions, but the more flexible you are, the more resilient you will be too. Despite always being ambitious, I was never able to clearly define my career goals. Now I realize that because I didn’t, I left more doors open, which led to me having more opportunities than I would have had otherwise.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Carolyn Wheeler, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Vella Bioscience, Inc.

Vella Bioscience, Inc. is a femtech company driven to put science in service of every woman’s sexual empowerment. At the company’s core, women come first. Founded by a team of medical researchers, scientists and industry experts, Vella Bioscience, Inc. leads the intersection of proprietary science and luxury beauty for sexual wellness.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the heart of the bible belt. My family was progressive, and I found a tight group of friends in high school who were too. Because the difference was so stark, finding your “group” was perhaps was easier here than in other places. My friendships as a teenager in Tulsa defined how I understand women’s sexual equality today — -our right to pleasure, to choice — -and my understanding of gender and sexuality as a fluid system.

I moved to the east coast for college. Out of college, I worked in book publishing in New York, then I went on to get a master’s degree from Harvard in landscape architecture — -a field that, when it’s at its best, promotes social change by elevating the experience of public life. But my husband and I wanted to start a family, and couldn’t afford to stay in Boston and do that, so we moved back to Tulsa, which is when I started to work remotely for a Boston-based cannabis technology company called Manna Molecular Science, co-founded by a friend of mine from college, Nial DeMena, and Dr. Michael Frid.

This was in 2017, when the widespread legalization of cannabis was still only imminent. The idea that a business was being daylit for the first time, and was getting to write the rules of its existence, was compelling to me. Plus I really liked working with this group of people.

Dr. Harin Padma-Nathan, who was the Key Principal Investigator for Viagra and Cialis and an expert on sexual medicine, soon joined the Manna team. We followed a similar trajectory for the development of Vella as he had for Viagra. And when the results from the studies came back, we knew we had something big on our hands that would require our full attention, and thus Vella Bioscience was born.

The mission of Vella Bioscience is to put science in service of every woman’s sexual empowerment. As such, Vella has allowed me to engage with big questions about equality and social impact.

I still live in Tulsa, which I’m proud to say is the unlikely official headquarters of Vella Bioscience, with my husband and our two young daughters.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

When we were first starting to pull together educational materials to explain how Vella works, we quickly realized, after speaking with many experts in the field, that there was no visual reference for female sexual arousal. Which is to say that there was nothing available to educate people, even medical students, on the physiological change that happens to the vagina upon arousal — -and there is a physiological change! Needless to say,we have plenty of material like this for men. But nothing existed for women.

So we went out and contracted a board certified medical illustrator from John Hopkins to draw, with our medical team’s instruction, an aroused vagina, which we are led to believe is the first depiction thoroughly grounded in science.

This was a great lesson in realizing that if something doesn’t exist, sometimes there’s a good reason for it, but sometimes there’s not — -and it’s worth asking that question and seeking an answer when faced with a hurdle.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Not delegating enough, because I was scared something might not get done. But it does.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Vella Women’s Pleasure Serum, which is a true scientific breakthrough allows cis-women and people with vulvas, to take power over their pleasure, by allowing for increased ease, frequency, and intensity of their orgasm. But besides the obviously wonderful benefit of easier and better orgasms, the bigger impact is that it leads to more equality in the proverbial bedroom. And I’m keen to think, this translates to outside of those walls as well.

By taking women’s sexual pleasure seriously — -by offering tools to increase it, which men have long had at their disposal — -let’s women have the opportunity to honor themselves more and to reach their full physical potential. As a mother of two girls, I’m very glad to be alive at this moment where we are witnessing these kinds of important milestones for women’s empowerment.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Respect the fact that your sexual wellness, whether with a partner or solo, is an important part of your overall health and wellbeing.

Track your body’s rhythms — -menstruation cycles, hormonal cycles, sexual activity. Knowledge is power.

Read. Read as much fiction as you read news. Understand the reality of other people’s lived experiences, but also keep your imagination alive about the possibilities of others.

Make your own personal mission statement for what you want your impact on the world to be. The scale of the impact you outline doesn’t matter. But commit to it and try as best you can to support it in everything you do.

At Vella we say, “women come first.” Which is as good of a lifestyle hack as any.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Free universal healthcare. Until we have that, it’s hard to imagine anything else that could or should be done that would increase the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

Don’t over-define your future. It’s great to have clear ambitions, but the more flexible you are, the more resilient you will be too. Despite always being ambitious, I was never able to clearly define my career goals. Now I realize that because I didn’t, I left more doors open, which led to me having more opportunities than I would have had otherwise.

There’s a lot of people who deeply care about women’s sexual health — -most are women, but there’s a ton of men too. I entered this thinking it would be a hard uphill climb. That’s been true to some extent, but there’s a good population of people who realize they don’t know enough about female sexual function and they truly want to learn.

In most cases, when people are explaining something finance or money related, they’ll explain it in a way that is much more complicated than it really is. A lot of times this means they actually don’t understand what they’re talking about either, so don’t be intimidated.

Always question what school is good for and what it’s not good for. Don’t trust that it is more important than real world experience. Because there’s teachers there too.

The best advice I’ve ever gotten, which I wish took more seriously from the start, was from my mom. In my early 20s, she said, “If you don’t do it, some other idiot will.” The longer I live, the more I learn the depths of that truth, for better or worse. I wish I had fully embraced this the day she said this. And that’s not saying I’m so great. I’m just another idiot. But if I don’t do it, just another idiot will — and they might be a bigger idiot than I am.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Climate change is a hard one to beat, but in terms of my day-to-day working life, mental health as a cause is the one I feel closest to in terms of being any kind of influence on. Sexual wellness is an important aspect of one’s overall wellbeing.

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

Follow @vellabioscience on instagram and facebook. I don’t have any public personal accounts. I am a pretty private (and boring) person, which, I like to think, means I can be bolder and wilder in my public ventures.

Thank you for these fantastic insights!


Women In Wellness: Carolyn Wheeler of Vella Bioscience On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.