Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lauren Baptiste, founder of Acheloa Wellness, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm Lauren Baptiste, Founder of Acheloa Wellness. My firm helps high-achieving women break through the effects of stress so that they can thrive personally and professionally.

Since 2018, I've been radically shifting contemporary work culture toward prioritizing emotional, physical, and mental health. An executive wellness coach, international speaker, and corporate well-being consultant, I am tackling the pervasive issue of burnout by guiding today's workforce toward embracing wellness practices at home and in the office.

After working 11+ years at a Big Four accounting firm and personally experiencing burnout first-hand, I launched Acheloa Wellness. With a mission of empowering professionals to break through the detrimental effects of stress, I bring my experience as a practitioner of Ayurveda, hormonal health, and other healing modalities alongside her knowledge of corporate culture, transforming burnout to balance, joy, and high-performing productivity.

Lauren offers personal coaching, professional keynotes, training, and workplace consulting for a wide range of clients, including financial and professional services organizations. Recent clients include IBM, TD Securities, EY, NFL, Warner Music, Estee Lauder, Standard Chartered Bank, and the United Nations. I've been published in many established outlets, such as Forbes, Thrive Global, Medium, and Authority Magazine.

Tell us about yourself

After years of working in Corporate, I ended up in a hospital from burnout. When I first entered the job market, my mantra was, "climb the corporate ladder at all costs." For me personally, that meant dropping exercise, healthy eating, and significantly reducing how often I got to hang out with friends and family.

On a work trip to Minneapolis, my team and I took a dinner break in the hotel bar in the midst of completing a high-stress project. As I ate, I noticed irritation on my body in the form of hives on my neck and chest. The red blotches started spreading all over my body as I felt a tightness in my throat. My team and I assumed I was experiencing some kind of allergic reaction despite not having any food allergies. Alarmed, I told them I needed to go to the hospital, to which my manager replied, "Bring your laptop."

At the hospital, the nurses and doctors initially thought I had a food allergy as well. They gave me a hospital-grade Benadryl, and after a few hours, my hives cleared. I was released around 2 am. To ensure that my team was aware of how late I was at the hospital, I sent an email on the ride home so that they could reasonably assume I did not finish any work on the project.

The next day, albeit sympathetic, they asked, "how much progress did I make on work last night?" My body exploded into hives immediately... so I ran back to the hospital. What was going on? Why is this happening to me? A new doctor walked in and asked me about my stress levels at work, and at that moment, whether I knew it or not, my business began. Back at the office, I started to realize that I wasn't the only one struggling. I noticed colleagues with depression, early-onset diabetes, infertility, and more. I realized while the manifestations of stress were showing up; differently, we're all dealing with the same pervasive issue.

From that moment, I started sharing tips and tricks of what I learned with my colleagues. I started speaking at small organizations/events. My business grew quickly from there, and in 2018, I decided to make it official. By focusing on what I truly loved--helping people break through the effects of stress--the lives of my clients transform. And so did mine. :)

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My accomplishments are what my clients have achieved. In my years of coaching, I've been able to help clients successfully:

  • Transition out of their job, ask for a big raise/promotion
  • Start a business
  • Save their marriage
  • Lose 50+ lbs
  • Save over $80,000
  • Regain their health
  • Find sustainable joy

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

I wouldn't say it's the hardest thing, but definitely a challenge to balance growth and my well-being. Since wellness is part of my ethos, it's critical that I sustainably grow my business without burning myself out too. It's been a fun challenge to take part in, to say the least!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Don't wait for a perfect time to start. It'll never come.
  2. Small steps forward add up. One step at a time.
  3. Don't forego your well-being to start a business. If you lose your health
    you'll lose everything.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Other helpful article you can leverage if you want to know more about my story.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.acheloawellness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenbaptiste1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acheloawellness/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-baptiste/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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