#FollowTheWholeFoodHero

Meet Edel, a dynamic participant in SheGenerate 3.0, embodying empathy, discipline, and determination. As a nutrition and health coach, Edel's journey from teacher to well-being advocate is compelling. She not only empowers individuals but also offers workplace well-being solutions. Currently on AwakenHub’s Trade Mission in the USA Edel envisions a global future with a thriving corporate portfolio and her own well-being platform. Her non-negotiables include prioritising well-being and family. Edel's mantra, "Live in the moment," reflects her approach to life. #FollowTheWholeFoodHero for inspiration and insights into her global leadership aspirations in nutritional mindset over the next 5 years.

Thank you to our SheGenerate sponsors - Lead sponsor Taylor Wessing. Supporter Sponsors AIB, Ulster Bank, Catalyst and British Business Bank

To get us started - how would you describe yourself in 6 words or less?

Empathetic, fun-loving, disciplined, intuitive, determined

Describe your business and what prompted you to start it?

I am a nutrition and health coach specialising in nutritional-mindset. I used to live an unwholesome lifestyle that zapped my energy and vitality, but my wellbeing journey turned my life around and I now helps other people develop the superpowers to have an outstanding quality of life too.

I provide workplace wellbeing solutions to businesses and organisations, helping employees to understand the physical and emotional benefits of healthy eating, preparing tasty nutrient-filled food at home and omitting ultra-processed products from their diets. My work is underpinned by a powerful mindset framework enabling employees to shift their attitudes, habits and behaviours creating lasting wellbeing.

Tell us a little bit more about you?

Before I became invested in nutrition and wellbeing, I was a primary school teacher. Whilst I loved my job as a teacher, I was constantly sick. I couldn't understand why I was always succumbing to chest infection after chest infection, throat infections, colds and other nagging sicknesses. I didn't realise at the time that the immune system was taking the hit of a stressful job, a hectic study schedule, and a busy social life with very little balance or downtime between the two. When I began to reflect on year after year of persistent low level sickness, I realised this was not the path I wanted. I had to get myself healthy. I was tired of being tired, and I was done with taking sick days and paying endless doctors bills. I made it my mission to never have to take another antibiotic or run to the doctors clinic for anything I could cure myself.

I enrolled with the Irish Institute of Health & Nutrition in September 2018 to train to become a nutrition and health coach. This was an incredibly busy time with three children aged 4 and under (make that 4 now!) and a four hour round commute to get to college. But it was during this time that my true purpose came to light - to help people get healthy.

From that day to now, it has been my mission to help educate people on the power of eating a healthy, wholefood-based diet and adopting a positive mindset. Furthermore, I have not taken any pill or needed any medical prescription because I have not been sick. By eating the right foods, staying active, minding my mental health and managing into my own wellbeing needs, I have become the healthiest version of myself and it is now my life’s mission to help other people do the same. When I'm not working, you'll find me (still) working!! I adore reading the latest books and research on nutrition, health and mindset. I also love to keep fit and active and I'm presently training for a triathlon.

Fill us in on your female founder journey.

The Good

- having the support and confidence of my husband when I had to work on my imposter syndrome and self-belief

- forming solid networks for business and personal support on the tough days

- mastermind group for sounding ideas, maintaining motivation and blind spotting.

The Challenging

- cash flow - I would have put more money aside before starting the business if I had known what a money drain it would be

- getting clients and maintaining them

- clarity on who you are in your business, who you serve, how you can help them and what makes you stand out from the crowd.

How has being part of the AwakenHub community helped your business?

Yes. I have had very strategic business advice from the Team that has helped inform the direction of my business and make me value my business even more. This regards the offer of a partnership from a workplace wellbeing company who wanted me to join as their partner but meant a possible risk for me. Not having this advice may have cost my business in the long term. I have developed some good contacts from within the group. The opportunity to go on the US Trade Mission will also open up another new and diverse network and potentially bring other interesting opportunities.

Have you an ‘ask’ which we can share with fellow #Awakenhubbers?

Yes. I'd like introductions to large businesses and organisations to help their employees with their nutrition and wellbeing.

As a founder - what are your non-negotiables?

Non-negotiables

- prioritise my own wellbeing

- prioritise my family

Phrases I live by:

- if you can see it in your mind you can hold it in your hand (Bob Proctor)

- Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food (Hippocrates)

I am inspired by Thomas Edison Napoleon Hill Prof Tim Speckor Dr Hazel Wallace,The Food Medic, my children, my husband Ryan and so many more!..

Where do you see yourself in 12 months and 5 years time?

12 months - with a large portfolio of corporate clients - planning to start my own wellbeing platform/app - having started WholeFood Hero Events 5 years - being the leader in nutritional mindset globally - with a platform/app used by blue-chips and/or general public - international WFH events - retreats etc. - with an accredited nutritional/mindset program for schools - with wholefood hero cookery schools for children

What are your top three tips for other women founders?

Read The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy.

Listen to The Diary of a CEO - Stephen Bartlett.

Drink water first thing every morning.

Stay in your business lane.

Try to avoid comparing yourself to other people.

Work on your health alongside your business as without good health, you will not have a business.

To finish up with what are six words to live by?

Live in the moment.

#FollowTheWholeFoodHero

Twitter @EDELOWENS2

Instagram @thewholefoodhero