Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sheela Ivlev, CEO of WellWrx Consulting, located in San Francisco, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
WellWrx Consulting brings mental health and anti-oppression education and resources to workplaces, universities, and healthcare facilities.
Tell us about yourself
Hi. I'm Sheela, a Bengali-American Occupational Therapist, Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, and founder of WellWrx Consulting. Mental health is taboo in my culture, and I'm working to make mental health care more accessible, appropriate, approachable, and culturally relevant to people that look like me. My family and community motivate me to show up every day to educate, advocate and fight for our well-being.
I've worked in corporate quality assurance and have been an occupational therapist for about 12 years. The years of working my way up in corporate jobs and the heartbreaking experiences in healthcare led me to help businesses prioritize the well-being of their employees through lasting, structural changes. Combining my corporate quality assurance experience with my mental health background, I formed WellWrx Consulting, focusing on improving worker health and well-being.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I have been building a global community and partnerships for the past few years, though mostly remote. I recently started working with an organization in Bangladesh, where my family is originally from. Through this work, I have been able to use my native language and will soon be going to my ancestral homeland regularly to improve the quality of care provided to children and their families in Bangladesh. Reconnecting with my roots while using my culture and experience as an occupational therapist and consultant is a personal and professional accomplishment that my family and I are proud of.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
There is always too much to do as a business owner; taking time away from work to do things I want and need to do is hard to prioritize. I work on that balance every day and build in time for breaks, working out, having fun, and stepping away from work and emails. Inevitably, I get caught up with work again and have to reset my priorities and schedule.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start your business before you think you are ready. You will always be tweaking and improving things, so go for it now rather than waiting until you feel the conditions are perfect.
- Invest in yourself, whether that is time, money, education, training, or support. You are worth the investment, and whatever you put in early on will pay off when it comes to running a successful business and prioritizing your well-being. This might look like asking for help or getting a business mentor.
- Value your time. Often entrepreneurs undervalue their time and effort. The "I can do it all" attitude often sets us back, and if we aren't used to putting a dollar amount on our time and contributions, we can get stuck doing busy work instead of the high-value services we should be focusing time and energy on. This might look like saying no to un/der paid work and outsourcing things someone else can do.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.wellwrxconsulting.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/otbayareasf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otbayarea/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/otbayarea
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheelaivlev/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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