Tania Boler Founder and CEO Elvie Interview
We know how daunting it can be to start a new business, especially if you’re disrupting an industry or creating an entirely new one. When there is no path to follow, the biggest question is, where do I start? There is so much to do, but before you get ahead of yourself, let’s start at the beginning. To kick-start the process, and ease some of those first-time founder nerves, we’re asking successful entrepreneurs to share their stories in our new series, From Scratch. But this isn’t your typical day in the life profile. We’re getting into the nitty-gritty details—from writing a business plan (or not) to sourcing manufacturers and how much they pay themselves—we’re not holding back.
Photo: Courtesy of Tania Boler
Tania Boler founder and CEO of Elvie
Can you tell us a bit about your background and what you were doing professionally before launching Elvie?
I’ve always been passionate about women’s health, and I studied the topic extensively during my time at Oxford and Stanford University earning a Ph.D. in sexual reproductive health. As a sexual health researcher, I spent most of my early professional life in roles that worked to provide women safe, quality care and access to health education.
While working for the U.N., I was stationed in Africa and launched the first-ever curriculum on sexual education. During this time, I began to recognize technology’s potential to disrupt the way we think about health—and even quicken the pace at which change can occur.
Before starting Elvie, I served as the global director of research and innovation at Marie Stopes International where I worked to improve sexual health among developing countries. Working directly with women across the world inspired me to advocate for women while understanding their unique health needs.
What was your “lightbulb moment” for Elvie? What inspired you to start your business and pursue this path?
Despite having extensive academic and professional experience in women’s health, when I was pregnant, I discovered that there was much I didn’t know about my body. It felt like the changes I was experiencing should have been something I knew would happen. This was particularly true about my pelvic floor health. In my studies, training, or personal life, no one described pelvic floor health’s importance.
At the time, I was spending lots of time in France with my husband’s family and learned that the women there were much more open to discussing their intimate health. In fact, pelvic floor exercise was part of their usual postnatal routine. After experiencing first-hand how pregnancy impacted this core muscle group, I was stunned that this cultural practice wasn’t more common in other countries. I began to do extensive research to understand better the intimate health challenges women face daily.
The “lightbulb moment” came from this exploratory phase. As I learned more about how women currently care for their pelvic floors, I began to think about how few products were available to promote women’s intimate health. This is especially true when you think about how many generations of iPhones have been developed in the past ten years. Astonishingly, there have been limited modern innovations to address women’s basic needs in the past few decades! I was determined to do something about this, starting by tackling pelvic floor health’s taboo status while creating a design that made caring for this muscle group easy, efficient, and fun. That’s where Elvie Trainer came in.
Since launching Elvie in 2013, you’ve raised over $50 million in funding from investors, garnering some of the biggest investments in femtech to date. What advice can you share for entrepreneurs on partnering with the right investors? What do investors need to bring to the table other than just money?
My best advice is to be your best advocate, never wavering from your mission or values. When I first started pitching Elvie Trainer to investors, most of whom were men and didn’t understand the need for the product, I would worry about making them feel uncomfortable when talking about the product’s purpose. After leading many meetings like this, where I put the investors first, I realized that I needed to prioritize Elvie. I didn’t want to work with the investors who just stared at the sample Elvie Trainers I’d leave out on the table, but those who’d immediately pick them up to better understand them. That’s why I’d recommend looking for investors who can not only offer capital but also provide partnership as your company grows. Suppose we at Elvie are going to realize our vision of revolutionizing women’s healthcare. In that case, we need investors who share our mission and values and will be open to putting more than just dollars behind it.
You’re not only the founder and CEO of a technology company that’s revolutionizing women’s health, but you’re also a mother. How has being a mom changed your priorities and your focus in terms of your career and business? Do you think motherhood has made you a better business person?
As many women know, being a mom completely changes everything. In the beginning, I struggled with how I would juggle my independent, career-driven life while caring for a baby. But after a while, balance comes—and at some point, you start to realize that hey, it’s okay to drop a few balls now and then.
Once I started Elvie, I did have the advantage of knowing the unique challenges that moms face. I’d say, get used to multitasking and improving how you prioritize aspects of your life. And definitely, get more efficient with your time!
Elvie’s mission is built around the need to support women, starting with moms. Unlike many other brands, we’ve created an internal culture that reflects these values. I enjoy being a champion for all the mothers and women who are a part of the team.
Did you write a business plan? If so, was it helpful? If not, what did you use to guide your business instead and why did you take this approach?
Writing a business plan was a crucial step for us to outline the opportunities in the category and ensure we stayed true to our promise to women to deliver the most innovative technology to improve their everyday health as we scaled the business. Once we designed the product and realized how many women we could help by bringing the device to market, we quickly launched it via an e-commerce site.
How did you come up with the name Elvie? What are some of the things you considered during the naming process?
Our name is the first definition of our brand. The word “Elvie” actually derives from the abbreviation for the levator muscles (“LVs”), the key muscle group on either side of the pelvis. We bandied some names around, but Elvie felt right. It simultaneously evokes strength and unabashed femininity. We also loved the name because it felt familiar yet unique.
What were the immediate things you had to take care of to set up the business?
My business partner, Alexander Asseily, recommended that the first step was to hire the best designers to bring our vision to life. From there, the business took off. What was once trying to convince naysayers that this tool wasn’t “too niche,” we were suddenly being endorsed by celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and even included in the swag bag for nominees at The Academy Awards.
For us, digital and social are essential channels. Both are a means of getting our brand to a wider audience and as a platform to start conversations around taboo topics and intimate issues. From a strategic standpoint, it was important for us to have a presence that women can connect with online from the word “go.”
What research did you do for the business beforehand? Why would you recommend it?
While I had a background in women’s health and had worked with women across the globe, I realized how much more I had to learn about women’s health when I became pregnant and experienced changes in my own body. I did extensive research to better understand women’s intimate health, the healthcare industry, and the technology already available to address these needs. To bring something to market that was truly innovative and could change women’s lives, I had to understand their health challenges and the products that failed them.
Research is a crucial step for any entrepreneur. However, it’s also important to recognize that you won’t have all of the answers you need before starting your business. The hard part is finding the confidence to take the leap and go from the research phase to market. If you feel strongly about your idea, commit yourself to it and sell your passion for it to your team, investors, and consumers. You’ll never know until you try.
Photo: Courtesy of Tania Boler
How did you find and identify the manufacturers that you work with? What was important to you during this process? Are there any mistakes you made and learned from along the way?
In the initial stages, we didn’t have any experience in manufacturing. Alex, my business partner, had plenty of advice, including adding a few names to the list of recommendations. But essentially, it’s all a case of setting out your manufacturing objectives; how many you need to make, the capabilities required to make it, and understanding your budget to get it done.
From there, it’s lots of heavy research to create a shortlist of companies you’d like to speak with, making approaches and discussing your goals while gauging if there are synergies between the two companies. It’s important not to underestimate the people side of things—they may be able to demonstrate capabilities, but you need to be sure that you can work together as a team. After all, you’ll be spending a lot of time working together to refine your design and troubleshooting manufacturing challenges. There will always be tough times, so you need to be able to detach from the work and have fun together.
Do you pay yourself, and if so, how did you know what to pay yourself?
Like many new entrepreneurs, I accepted that during the early days of Elvie, it wouldn’t be like a normal salary. That said, I recommend being as open and frank as possible with your investors, because it shouldn’t mean that you sacrifice essential things you need to pay for, like child care. It’s all about striking a balance between company needs and making sure you’re able to focus on building the business—not about whether you can pay your own bills! For me, I initially took 40% of my previous salary.
How big is your team now, and what has the hiring process been like?
Finding the right people to build our brilliant team has been vital to Elvie’s success and crucial from the beginning. This includes everyone from the talented engineers and designers who helped bring our ideas to life or the advisors who navigated the tech sector while Elvie was still a growing startup. Giving women leadership positions and hiring so many talented people with like-minded values has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.
In 2020, we had 114 new starters, which represents a +80.5% growth. When any company is scaling this rapidly, there’s a significant risk of the cultural DNA getting diluted or lost. With COVID and remote working, this is exacerbated even further. So as we (hopefully) emerge from the stresses of the pandemic, our big re-focus will be on people and culture in 2021. As soon as it’s feasible and safe, we’ll be investing in making up for lost time—encouraging quality collaboration between team members and socializing in real life!
Did you hire an accountant? Who helped you with the financial decisions and setup? Are there any tools or programs you recommend for bookkeeping?
Quite early on, we were set on hiring an accounting firm, specifically one which had a record of working with early-stage companies in London’s tech ecosystem. That being said, we also relied quite heavily on the readily available internal expertise, who helped with financial decision-making on several things, from the selection of banking partners to the management of company share schemes and the like. We also handled the bookkeeping internally and used Xero. It’s really great and user-friendly accounting software that is well-suited for early-stage businesses. It’s simple to set up and even simpler to use, which meant that we could maintain internal control of essential aspects of our day-to-day financial operations instead of outsourcing.
What has been the biggest learning curve during the process of establishing your business?
Elvie was born out of a passion for women’s health, and it was not very cut-and-dry to carve out space in a very male-dominated tech and investor community. It poses unique challenges to female entrepreneurs trying to design with women in mind. And as a non-tech founder, one of my biggest pieces of advice is to surround yourself with people who can capture that passion with innovative products that meet a need. I mean, when I first started, the term “femtech” didn’t even exist—so it was a great leap into the unknown. If you’re looking to launch something new, the startup ecosystem is vibrant and friendly, with plenty of experienced individuals who are willing to offer practical help and support. There are always lots of meet-ups which can help short-cut problems as you go along and learn from others who have done it before.
For Elvie Pump, our greatest challenge was building the technology that could solve the breastfeeding problems women had been enduring for far too long. We also knew that we would have to convince investors that it was time to create a better solution for women than what’s been available to them so far. We did this by hiring world-class female designers who understood women’s needs and created a beautiful product that then spoke for itself.
How did you promote your company? How did you get people to know who you are and create buzz?
Given the number of taboos surrounding women’s bodies and health, the Elvie team is driven by our overarching mission of changing perceptions while pioneering life-changing health solutions for women. Our work encourages us to engage in these discussions, shift people’s views, and educate both women and men on important—often intimate—topics. We see this as an excellent opportunity to drive real change in the culture at large while addressing the often-ignored needs of 50% of the population.
With that in mind, we’ve always known we would need to be disruptive to grab women’s attention on a global scale. These moments opened the door to more significant conversations and helped to begin eliminating taboos on the topic.
One of the larger stunts we created was our massive vaginal blimp at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to raise awareness on pelvic floor weakness and incontinence. Our campaign was actually banned by the local council, which highlighted how taboos around women’s health and anatomy still run deep in our society. But happily, this led to the viral #LetFannyFly movement on social media—and it was empowering to see so many women get on our side and almost become activists for Elvie.
A few other buzzworthy moments for us included our #FreeTheFeed campaign when we placed five giant inflatable breasts across London’s skyline. We aimed to fight the stigma around breastfeeding and pumping in public. We knew it would raise a few eyebrows – but in so doing, no one could overlook this taboo that’s been used to repress women for so long.
Our stunt at London Fashion Week was another disruptive event that made headlines. To amplify our Elvie Pump launch in 2018, we partnered with London-based designer Marta Jakubowski to feature a model (and new mother) wearing our breast pump on the catwalk during her show. If it was talked about at all, pumping was considered a grind, an unpleasant necessity, or a punch line. By crashing London Fashion Week, we wanted to prove that women who happen to be mothers are still women: they can still be fashionable, walk the catwalk, lead businesses, run the world… and ultimately, they shouldn’t feel restricted or held back by anything (including pumping!).
Do you have a business coach or mentor? How has this person helped you, and would you recommend one? What advice can you share on how do you get one?
I’ve been involved in women’s health for my entire career, and along the way, I’ve been introduced to so many individuals who’ve both inspired me and helped me find my way to creating Elvie.
Carving out space in a male-centric world is never easy, and it can be intimidating to jump into something when you haven’t seen many examples set by other female friends or leaders. However, there is a growing network of extraordinary, like-minded female entrepreneurs out there who are willing to support you and help you to make essential connections. For anyone looking for a mentor, start by evaluating who you admire in your own circle and ask them for advice and guidance.
For advice and information around startups, “The Lean Startup” and “The Hard Thing About Hard Things” were great resources for me. Phil Knight’s “Shoe Dog” was also incredibly inspiring at the early stages.
There are a wealth of exciting podcasts out there, some personal favorites of mine include; “The Future of Everything” from the Wall Street Journal, “Masters of Scale,” and the “WIRED UK Podcast” to keep me up to speed on all the latest trends and stories.
I am constantly impressed by people who are challenging the status quo and introducing new ways of doing things. Tortoise is doing this by encouraging readers to consume information more slowly and with more purpose.
What is one thing you didn’t do during the setup process that ended up being crucial to the business and would advise others to do asap?
I would advise others to never skirt around topics or words that you feel might make potential investors uncomfortable. Take Elvie Trainer as an example. It took me a few fundraising meetings to realize that I needed to be upfront about women's issues and not shy away from words like "vagina" or other intimate topics. But, how can we create and sell in products that make women’s lives easier if we aren’t open and honest? Now, when meeting with prospective investors, I like to see their reaction once I say the "V" word. I call this the "vagina test!” It's a fun and easy way to gauge whether we'll be a good fit for one another.
What is your number one piece of financial advice for any new business owner, and why?
Beyond attracting investors, our most significant obstacles at the start of our business came with building our technology. For example, designing one solution that could truly solve breastfeeding problems that women have been enduring for far too long! My business partner, Alexander, encouraged hiring top engineers from the word “go.” As you scale, this is extremely important. You need to surround yourself with people who believe in the mission as much as you do and are the best at doing the jobs you need. So, we set out to hire world-class designers who understood women's needs, placed them in the heart of the design process, and created beautiful products that offered women the best solution out there.
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How This CMO is Transforming the Cannabis Industry For Your Health
“We are building a leading modern wellness brand, not a cannabis brand.”
What happens when women and cannabis join forces? As it turns out, success. dosist, an award-winning California-based wellness brand, is proof. Their proprietary cannabis pen offers a safe, consistent dose of formulas created to promote sleep, pain relief, calmness, and more. We were thrilled to partner with the company, named Fast Company’s most innovative brand in 2018, to host a happy hour our Miami Vision Summit. Below, we chat with Anne-Marie Dacyshyn, chief marketing officer, about what women bring to the table in the wellness industry and how dosist is transforming healthcare...one dose at a time.
You joined Dosist in July. What appealed to you about the company, and what did you most look forward to?
What appealed to me about joining dosist were three key and powerful things: First, it offered me the chance to be part of a monumental global shift where this incredibly powerful and therapeutic natural resource is on a trajectory towards widely adopted legalization, which is huge from a wellness perspective. Next, I was inspired by dosist in particular in that it had already pioneered and innovated a game-changing proprietary dose control device and targeted formulations, all aimed at helping people naturally manage their health and happiness. And finally, the leadership team and brand culture led by CEO Gunner Winston was beyond inspiring, so when it all added up I knew this was a chance to make history in not only transforming the cannabis category, but also transforming how people think about healthcare, working with an incredible and talented team along the way.
Women hold more executive positions in the cannabis industry than the average U.S. business. Do you think women bring a unique perspective to the category, and how do you see female-led companies changing the future of cannabis?
To start, at dosist we are 100% focused on the wellness side of cannabis use, and in fact are building a leading modern wellness brand vs. a cannabis brand. And I believe it is that important distinction and focus on health and wellness that has attracted an influx of women into the space and into our brand in particular, as consumer history has shown us that women have often been the catalysts in helping shape and drive the new global “modern wellness” platform as they continue to seek out and demand natural alternatives to support their wellness routines. So, from there it is only logical that more women are stepping in and helping drive this initiative and conversation through key roles, to help accelerate the access to and development of more cannabis-based wellness products.
As for how this influx shapes businesses at dosist we believe the best products and brands come out of companies with a culture that fosters and promotes diversified thinking across the board. So for us that comes from building a diverse leadership team that is not just about gender diversity, but also diversity across backgrounds and experience, and it’s all of these factors that are paramount to achieving our goals.
“There is still so much misconception and stigma that exists around this amazing plant, so it is imperative for us to ensure we are always educating first and foremost about its potential as a powerful therapeutic tool.”
Dosist is run by a more diverse leadership team than the average brand. What advantages does this have, from both a marketing perspective and an internal one?
We’re certainly proud to have a female CMO, CFO and a diverse team. But we’ve never thought about it in terms of hiring quotas. At dosist we are committed to developing talent around three principles – inspiration, collaboration, and accountability. And, do you share our vision of transforming healthcare? It’s those shared values across the team, combined with our commitment to innovation in products, therapeutic formulations and consumer experiences that inspire and differentiate us in empowering consumers to naturally manage their health and happiness.
What differentiates dosist from other companies in the cannabis space?
To start, at dosist we are focused on an entirely different approach in that we are building a leading modern wellness brand which uses cannabis to provide relief from some of today’s most common ailments through science and innovation. Our products and formulas are engineered to take the guesswork out of cannabis treatment, and create consistent, safe and effective results for our consumers.
We achieve this through a few key things. The first is our proprietary and award-winning dose pen, that uses superior vaporization technology to activate the key cannabis compounds in our targeted formulas and delivers a precise 2.25 mg dose each and every time, notifying the consumer of a complete dose with a slight vibration. Dose control is imperative to effectively using cannabis as a therapeutic tool, and we are the leaders in this technology and initiative.
Next, we worked with leading cannabis scientists to engineer our six targeted formulas:
Bliss, Sleep, Calm, Relief, Arouse and Passion, to deliver optimal health benefits without the sometimes overwhelming effects of THC. From reducing pain and inflammation to getting a better night’s sleep our formulas are expertly engineered to elevate your health and happiness naturally.
And last, we are dedicated to being the leader in providing education and awareness for consumers about cannabis. There is still so much misconception and stigma that exists around this amazing plant, so it is imperative for us to ensure we are always educating first and foremost about its potential as a powerful therapeutic tool. We are committed to breaking through the pre-existing barrier of misconception and ultimately removing the stigma that still exists.
What about your job makes you feel most fulfilled?
In short, all of it. From the opportunity to be a part of something that is so impactful to so many people’s lives and the incredible stories we hear from our customers every day, to the amazing and talented group of people and partners that I get to work with (like partnering up with Create & Cultivate at Art Basel!), it’s an incredible journey we are on to help people discover cannabis and utilize it as a safe, therapeutic alternative medicine. So it’s all of that and more that keeps me fulfilled, inspired and grateful.
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Create & Cultivate 100: Health & Wellness: Remi Ishizuka
THE RAYY OF SUNSHINE.
THE RAYY OF SUNSHINE.
Catch her outside. (Seriously. Remi loves an outdoor workout.)
Fitness and health blogger Remi Ishizuka knows what it’s like to slave away at a day job while hustling to build your own empire.
As a 9-5 interior designer, Ishizuka became completely obsessed with taking the freelance plunge and creating content for her Instagram account @rryayme. And just like that she gave her two weeks notice—the rest is all sculpted ads and smoothies. “If you don’t build your own dream, someone else will hire you to help you build theirs,” advises the go-getting wellness guru.
From winter melon soup recipes to booty challenges, RRAYYME will whip your world into working(out) order.
Name: Remi Ishizuka
Instagram Handle: @rrayyme
You do more before 8am than anyone I know! Where do your drive and passion come from?
I get such a natural high working out first thing in the morning and love the pace that it sets for the rest of the day.
What kind of discipline has working out taught you?
It’s taught me that nothing comes easy but you can achieve anything you put your mind to. Consistency is key and it’s not a race. You can’t build anything (muscles or a business) if you aren’t consistently working hard at it day in and day out.
"You can’t build anything if you aren’t consistently working hard at it day in and day out."
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How did that discipline help you when launching your site?
I knew it was time to branch out and have my own site after building my Instagram for a year. I remember waking up at 4 am one morning with a huge urge to create and launch my site...and I’m so glad I did.
What kind of knowledge to do you hope to impart to your followers?
We all get caught up in our busy schedules and sometimes forget to take care of ourselves. My hope is that we all make time for self-care at least once during the day. Whether it’s scheduling a workout with a friend after work, or waking up 20 minutes early to make yourself a warm matcha latte to enjoy by the window, or taking a bath after a long day- all these little moments adds up and makes you feel good and we all deserve that!
What is your biggest pet peeve?
When someone talks while eating a banana. [ed note: LOL]
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
From the surface, creating content may come off easy but the reality is- there are always at least 100 bad photos, hours of brainstorming, planning and usually 5-6 different projects going on simultaneously. It’s a lot of fun but it’s definitely busy and hectic too.
Creating content may come off easy but the reality is- there are always at least 100 bad photos, hours of brainstorming, planning and usually 5-6 different projects going on simultaneously.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
When I receive an email from someone in the military that they’ve come to my blog and found inspiration for resetting, a DM from a girl telling me she sees a brighter future after recovering from an eating disorder. Nothing makes me feel more purposeful than hearing that someone found motivation through me or learned something useful and tried something new. It’s the best!
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I'd love to trade spots with Jack Morris of @doyoutravel and take photos of the world's most gorgeous places.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I was working my 9-5 at an interior design firm and ALL I could think about was creating content for @rrayyme. I knew I had reached a point where I had to follow my heart and make the jump in order to grow. I quit my stable full-time job shortly after the office cleaning lady asked me, “What are you waiting for, tell your boss you’re quitting next week, JUST DO IT!” ...and just like that I wrote my 2 weeks notice and went for it!
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
If you don’t build your own dream, someone else will hire you to help them build theirs.
"If you don’t build your own dream, someone else will hire you to help them build theirs."
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When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
I talk it out! I’m so lucky to have friends and family around me that I can trust to lean on and talk through bumps in the road. But at the end of the day, I just trust my gut, stay positive, and move forward.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
"Shake it Off" by Mariah Carey.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE WELLNESS LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Health & Wellness: Angela Davis
FULL OF SOUL.
FULL OF SOUL.
Angela Davis turns a 45-minute workout into a life-changing experience. She's friends with Oprah and is Beyoncé's chosen Soul Cycle instructor. As if that weren't enough she's also a five-time All-American Team USA track-and-field star.
All-in-all, Angela Davis is a badass source of inspiration to everyone she meets, and has built a career on the SoulCycle mentality of blending fitness with inspiration. She does it all and according to her Instagram bio: Mom, Wife, Motivational Coach, Fitness Evangelist, Speaker, Co-Founder.
More from Angela below.
Name: Angela Davis
Instagram Handle: @shapewithangela
What’s your definition of inspiration?
To inspire means to breathe life. So when you’re inspiring someone you’re literally breathing life into them. Into their hopes and dreams and reminding them of what is possible.
When a client of yours is having a tough time with a workout or a health obstacle how do you encourage them?
I always encourage every client to do their best, be their best, and hold themselves accountable. My mom once told me the definition of accountability is accounting to your own ability. And with that, your best is always good enough.
What advice do you have for women working towards cultivating the career of their dreams?
Well, if they’re already in the process of cultivating the career of their dreams, then they’ve already won. The privilege of living a purpose driven life and operating in your gifts and talents is the ultimate dream come true.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
People faking. Faking in a workout, faking in life, just being fake annoys me.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
A job is an exchange of time for money. Some people have jobs and it's not necessarily something they love to do or want to do. What I get to do is my life’s work, therefore it doesn’t feel like a job. I’m literally doing what I was created and designed to do and I’m having the time of my life!
I’m literally doing what I was created and designed to do and I’m having the time of my life!
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
On a daily basis, I get to co-labor with the One who created me. And inspire others to live the life that was intended for them.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I wouldn’t want to.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
When it became clear to me that people pleasing wasn’t a good look for me and that no matter what I did, I could never make everyone happy. So I decided to follow my heart at any cost and honor the whispers that were my intuitive guide.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
That “no” is a one-word answer. Don’t feel like you have to explain yourself to people. Your “no” is enough.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
I make one. A bump in the road doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Sometimes it just calls on you to push through a little bit harder.
"A bump in the road doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Sometimes it just calls on you to push through a little bit harder."
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What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
I don’t really know that I sing in the shower, but a go-to song for me when I’m feeling down is "No Weapon" by Fred Hammond.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE WELLNESS LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Health & Wellness: Massy Arias
THE MOST FIERCE.
THE MOST FIERCE.
There are body goals, and then there’s Massy Arias aka MankoFit.
With 2.4 million Instagram followers, the rockhard rockstar is setting the precedent for workout ethic with a holistic approach to body and mind wellbeing. What began as an effort to overcome depression soon became a life-saving lifestyle for the fitness fanatic, who says that failure is the ultimate opportunity for learning. As a certified personal trainer, Arias aspires to shape futures, not just as six packs.
Follow along for MankoFit’s thoughts on cheat days, motherhood, and more.
Name: Massy Arias
Instagram Handle: @massy.arias
When did your passion for fitness begin? Do you have any cheat days? If so, we can’t tell.
About 5 years ago when I went through a depression. Fitness was my outlet to beat it. I don’t believe in cheat days. I like food and I eat healthy. If I decide to have something that has less nutritional value and a bit more calories than usual per meal, I don’t consider it cheating. I am just eating what my body felt like eating.
What are the basics of a healthy morning routine for busy women?
Fitness and nutrition isn’t a size fits all approach in my book. When it comes to my habits in the morning, I’ve established a routine for myself. I prep the night before so it’s easy to make the things I love in the morning. Overnight oats, oatmeal pancake batter, and even overnight Greek yogurt are my top choices in the morning especially if I am super busy.
You were super honest about learning to accept your post-preg body. What have you learned about your body since having your daughter?
Since having my daughter I’ve learned I’m a superwoman. I did something amazing that took close to 10 months, it’s going to take time to feel like myself and look the same way I used to before her. I love my body even more because it was the body that helped me bring my daughter into the world.
"Since having my daughter I’ve learned I’m a superwoman."
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Are there parts of your life that have become more clear since her birth?
Every aspect of my life and even I have changed since giving birth to Indi. I have become a better trainer, daughter, and wife. I can relate to a whole new “hood” I’ve never been able to relate with; motherhood and parenthood.
What’s the legacy you want to leave on your community?
The day I die, I’d like people to remember me as someone who taught how to be fearless and how to create their own destiny. I would love my daughter to say I was her motivator and role model.
"I would love my daughter to say I was her motivator and role model."
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What advice do you have for women working towards cultivating the career of their dreams?
Have Integrity. Don’t give up on your big goal once things get tough because I didn’t. The tougher it got for me, the more I learned how to navigate the things that today are easy for me to accomplish. I have never lowered my standards and I haven’t lost integrity to get the things I’ve wanted in my career. Too many people fall short and lower their standards for the things they want at the moment not realizing they are compromising their goals. Look at the big picture and don’t settle for less.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
When my husband eats my food. Drives me insane especially when I ask beforehand if I should get extra of “that something” and he says, “no.” Then it’s gone and I want to scream.
Top 3 artists on your workout playlist?
Leikeli 47, Major Lazer, Kendrick Lamar. (Cardi B but until she makes more music, I’ll continue playing Bodak Yellow, lol).
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I handle all my social media, create my programs from top to bottom, and all the decisions I make for my supplement company are my own. From ingredients to new products. I don’t play around with neither my business or my fans. The reason I am here today is because of them and they deserve me staying genuine and telling them only the truth.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
I love what I do. I’ve been complete ever since I started helping people and doing fitness. I LOVE what I do. I think I’ve found my purpose and I hope my love for fitness and helping others shows even if those who show me support haven’t met me directly.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I’d trade jobs with Ayesha Curry. I happen to be really good in the kitchen and she seems to have so much love and passion for cooking that it looks so rewarding. You can tell she loves what she does.
"I’d trade jobs with Ayesha Curry."
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
At the point, I had a serious talk with my mother and I had anxiety about everything I was doing. She told me to read Ecclesiastes in the Bible and that was it. I never doubted myself. I’m very spiritual and that gave me so much confidence because of the man above always, ALWAYS, backs me up.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
The best advice I was given was by my mother. She’s always told me to be myself and not try to be what people expect me to be.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
I hit bumps every day. I don’t look at failure or anything for that matter as a negative. I’ve learned a lot more failing or through bumps in the road than I have when everything is going great. I learn from the situation and I find a solution. But I keep moving forward with applying what I’ve learned and hopefully not make that mistake again.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
"Stronger" by Tank.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
