Introduction
I met Colleen Wachob (co-Founder and co-CEO of preeminent wellness brand mindbodygreen) at an intimate dinner for wellness founders in South Beach hosted by a mutual friend. At the time, I was dealing with major impostor syndrome and found it somewhat intimidating to be included among such an illustrious cadre of leaders.
Colleen, however, was exceedingly warm and friendly. She even went so far as to provide her recommendation for a Pilates instructor after I told the group that I created Pilates content. Both fresh from a move down from NYC, we compared the virtues of our new neighborhoods (Coconut Grove and Brickell, respectively) and swapped notes on our favorite Miami restaurants. Later, I attended an event co-hosted by mindbodygreen and Nativa Spa at the Sacred Space. I got to speak with her a bit after the event and learn about her background . . . and chat more about restaurants, of course.
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I admire Colleen for many reasons —which I don’t want to spoil before we get into the interview—but perhaps most of all for her impassioned approach to cultivating community. I’m so grateful that she has shared some of her incredible wisdom with us here.
I also invite you to shop mindbodygreen to try their amazing supplement offerings (which perform incredibly well, my nails are stronger than ever). Use code Azeezah15 for 15% off.
The Interview
1. Hi Colleen! Thank you so much for your time. Would you mind sharing a bit about where you’re from and where you live now?
A: I grew up in Southern California near the beach. I lived in Brooklyn for 13 years before moving to Coconut Grove, Miami in June 2022.
2. Mindbodygreen was founded as a website back in 2009. Can you speak a little bit about what it’s been like to continue to grow the company since that time, especially as technological innovations have required businesses to maintain a presence on more and more platforms?
A: Digital has changed so much over the past 15 years. We have had to constantly adapt and evolve our strategies. I have learned we need to hold ourselves to really high standards of prioritization. We have to understand which platforms make the most sense for us to invest in based on our community because we can’t spread ourselves too thin.
3. You’re co-Founder and co-CEO of mindbodygreen alongside your husband, Jason Wachob. Creating and nurturing a healthy and supportive partnership is a wonderful accomplishment in and of itself, but running a successful company together really takes it to the next level. Can you give your 3 top tips for maintaining a healthy relationship with a significant other?
- Schedule time to check-in—for us, that means checking-in on things outside of work and children.
- Stay curious about life and keep learning and growing.
- Remember to schedule in the fun stuff, too.
People are going on more walks, spending time outside, being in nature at the beach. I’ve found that people naturally gravitate towards a healthier lifestyle, even if they don’t self-identify as being ‘into wellness.’”
—Colleen Wachob on the wellness culture in Miami
4. You’re a parent of two girls at a time when social media is shaping young people’s self perception quite heavily. When I was growing up in the 2000s, my friends and I dabbled in a lot of fad diets and unhealthy habits to achieve the beauty standards of the time. Do you think that the work you’re doing is helping to get more positive, health-centered information out there to combat some of the noise?
A: Growing up today with social media is truly life-altering. While the generation that grew up in the 2010’s was unaware of the impact of social media and mental health, we can no longer ignore its impact. I hope that mindbodygreen can help everyone build a happier life, whatever that means for the individual. An 11-year, NIH-funded study led by Rober Butler, MD showed people that had clear goals and purpose lived longer and had a better quality of life compared to those that didn’t. I hope we can help our community connect to what truly helps them live a long and fulfilling life.
5. Has moving to Miami from NYC changed your perspective on wellness? If so, how?
A: I find the Miami wellness culture very refreshing. The New York wellness scene was very tied to the fashion and beauty world, which has its pros and cons. For me, it was a bit too fancy and could be superficial at times. I love how in Miami, wellness is incorporated into your everyday life. People are going on more walks, spending time outside, being in nature at the beach. I’ve found that people naturally gravitate towards a healthier lifestyle, even if they don’t self-identify as being “into wellness.”
6. I’ve had the good fortune of sampling a few items from the amazing mindbodygreen product line. They work very well, the ingredient lists have incredible integrity, and they taste great, to boot. Can you tell us a bit of the process behind creating each supplement, from ideation to formulation to release?
A: Both my husband (mindbodygreen co-CEO and Founder Jason) and I have seen the transformative power of supplements in our own lives. We really wanted to create products that were best for you—not better for you. We have a lot of data of what our community of (mostly) women is interested in and use the information to inform product development. We have a rather large in-house scientific affairs team (PhD and R.D.s) that work to identify the best ingredients based on research, and we aim to provide education to help people on their journey. Supplements are one part of any routine, which goes hand in hand with lifestyle changes. For instance, we have a great whey protein supplement, which has a lot of benefits, especially for women looking to build lean muscle, but it needs to be combined with resistance training if you truly want to build lean muscle.
7. You graduated with degrees in International Relations and Spanish from Stanford University, one of the top research universities in the world. Even though you didn’t study a science-related discipline, do you think that being in that environment contributed to the scientific rigor we see from mindbodygreen?
A: Our community has always gravitated towards experts with a lot of credentials, which I truly appreciate! The level of scientific rigor has increased over our journey and it’s an important part of our brand. While the rigor is important, I want people to tap into their own intuition. We are all unique. I encourage people to be the CEO of their own health and well-being.
8. Your book, The Joy of Well-Being, is part of an amazing upswell I’ve noticed in the wellness world, one that focuses on emotional wellness. How do you think that those in the wellness industry can adapt to serve their audiences and clients better in this regard?
A: As a mother to two girls, one of my greatest motivations is giving their generation the tools to live a longer, happier, more fulfilling life. And it’s truly needed. A 2022 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that 40% of high school students reported debilitating sadness and 57% of female students experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness. At mindbodygreen, we have always believed in the interconnectedness of mental and physical well-being, which is why mindbodygreen is one word and not three.
We are all unique. I encourage people to be the CEO of their own health and well-being.”
—Colleen Wachob on a “bespoke” approach to wellness
9. Having had the pleasure of connecting with you after moving to Miami, I’ve noticed that you’re really amazing at cultivating community. This is an underrated skill, especially among a lot of younger folks and doubly so in the wake of the Pandemic. What’s your best advice regarding cultivating a supportive community?
A: It’s definitely something that I am being intentional about, so thank you. The lack of connection in our society is a health crisis. 1 in 7 men don’t have a single friend. 1 in 10 women don’t have a single friend. 24% of young adults under the age of 30 suffer from high levels of daily loneliness. In terms of practical tips, I recommend spending the time to find the value alignment through shared interest. Be intentional about cultivating IRL time and bringing people together. This will likely mean bringing you outside your comfort zone.
10. What are some of your favorite wellness (or otherwise!) spots in Miami?
A: The beach is by far my most sacred escape in Miami. I also love the restaurant Los Felix. We are friends with the owners and they choose only the best ingredients. The best guacamole and totopos. YUM!
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