Women In Wellness: Dawn Russell of 8Greens On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Keep it simple. Less is more. The wellness industry is so overly saturated at the moment, it is difficult for consumers to know what to do when. It is costly, time consuming and ever changing. Since I created a wellness brand long before it became this trend, major retailers have asked me for guidance on how to launch their wellness departments. I always say keep it simple and focus on efficacy, efficacy, efficacy.
As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dawn Russell.
Dawn Russell is a health leader, entrepreneur, mother, wife and cancer survivor. In 2015 she founded 8Greens after recovering from stage III cancer, having been the first patient at Memorial Sloan Kettering to forgo Chemo-Radiation and exclusively do integrative medicine. During her recovery Dawn learned the power of real greens, and was committed to making greens easy, tasty, and accessible for anyone, anywhere, any time. After five years and 264 prototypes to make the world’s first real greens effervescent tablet, Dawn brought the brand to market, which now also offers the world’s first greens gummies, world’s first real greens chewables, and world’s first real greens lollipops.
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?
At age 25, I was diagnosed with stage III cancer. During my fourth surgery, I got a bone infection that changed the course of my life. I could not do chemo or radiation, so after years of traveling the globe researching and trying complementary treatments, I returned to my apartment in New York City, and turned to the basics of nutrition. Through this process, I learned the power of greens first-hand. This was long before any wellness trend or kale fad. I survived and committed myself to creating a way for everyone to get their daily greens in a tasty, easy way. Five years and 264 prototypes later, unbeknownst to me, I had launched 8Greens.
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?
Trying to solve a problem rather than launch a business was my best naivety. My intention was solely focused on getting more greens into everyone. The CDC reports that 87% of Americans do not get the minimum amount of greens daily, which is approximately a cup. Lowering this statistic was my mission. Once 8Greens exploded into greater success than my wildest imagination, business had to prevail. I fight daily to lead with my mission, rather than with business.
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?
When I launched 8Greens, I had no idea I was starting a business. I was solely focused on the efficacy of the product. I would change nothing from when I was first starting. My lessons came later. I launched in all 119 Nordstrom stores with not a single merchandising unit or marketing asset. We sold out in 3 days. The product spoke for itself.
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?
We are the world’s first REAL GREENS effervescent tablets, gummies, chewables and lollipops. I worked tirelessly to create all of them. I am constantly reminding myself to keep focused on my mission, rather than copycats or the business at large. Customers are savvy, they know quality.
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.
- Drink 8Greens daily in the morning to start the day.
- Flaxseed sprinkled on any food gives instant mega nutritional value.
- Epsom salt baths are not only enjoyable but hugely beneficial for both detoxing internally and softening the skin externally.
- Try acupuncture. It is a life changer.
- Try putting 8Greens into any recipe that includes a liquid ingredient. Soups, cocktails, marinating fish, even birthday cakes or brownies. You and your family will be getting greens without even knowing it.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Keep it simple. Less is more. The wellness industry is so overly saturated at the moment, it is difficult for consumers to know what to do when. It is costly, time consuming and ever changing. Since I created a wellness brand long before it became this trend, major retailers have asked me for guidance on how to launch their wellness departments. I always say keep it simple and focus on efficacy, efficacy, efficacy.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
- It is a long marathon. Pace yourself.
- After your children, it will be your greatest contribution in life.
- It will be your work and EITHER motherhood or a social life. Obviously, I picked motherhood. But I do miss a social life at times.
- Keep your eye on your sandbox only. Do not give a second thought to copycats.
- Take care of yourself to endure the long marathon, and always stay you.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Sustainability is a responsibility we all share. 8Greens Gummies jars are made of postconsumer resin, and our Tablets tubes and Lollipop wrappers/sticks are recyclable. When launching a product, I start with the efficacy, which for us means that all of the real greens ingredients are from the farm into the product, and then I end with the sustainability of the packaging. Both the beginning and end of the process matter.
What is the best way our readers can follow you online?
Thank you for these fantastic insights!
Women In Wellness: Dawn Russell of 8Greens 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.