We recently connected with Dr. Nadia Schulkind, DACM, L.Ac and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Dr. Nadia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?
If there’s one thing my career path has taught me, it’s that no job is too small to teach you something important and that every skill you collect along the way becomes part of the foundation for your success.
I got my first “job” at just 11 years old at the Ocean Beach Surf and Skate Shop, where I taught Ocean Experience surf camp. I was leading kids, most of them older than me, in learning how to surf and respect the ocean. I wasn’t even old enough to be paid yet, so my earnings came in the form of shop credit… which happily fed my surfing obsession.
From there, I jumped into pet sitting, food catering, babysitting, and then the restaurant industry as a waitress and bartender. Later, I taught surfing all over the world, including helping run a women’s surf retreat in Nicaragua, where I was more than just a guide. I became a mentor and a sounding board for women working through real-life challenges between surf sessions.
In Australia, I worked as a maid, bartender, construction worker, and even a personal chef. I’ve been a property manager, a project manager remodeling an entire property without formal schooling, and when I lived in Hawaii I even started my own jewelry company. I’ve been commissioned for artworks, represented an up & coming medicinal mushroom company, organized large wellness retreats in San Diego, modeled for many years, and had a handful of sponsorships in Hawaii representing surf brands.
While I was in undergrad, I was a substitute teacher’s aid for kids with special needs. I was able to do this job because of the experience I’ve obtained having a brother with Down syndrome who’s taught me so much! After earning my bachelor’s degree in communication and public relations, I returned to the surf industry in a PR role to learn the ins and outs of brand building, marketing, and client relations.
One of my biggest leadership challenges came from the world of Burning Man. I decided I wanted to create the tallest bar on the playa, and I made it happen: a three-story-tall Tiki bar. I was in charge of organizing and managing massive teams! A 200-person bar and build crew all working toward a shared vision in one of the most challenging environments on earth. It was a crash course in large-scale project management, leadership under pressure, and keeping morale high while juggling logistics, creativity, and safety.
Every one of these experiences, from scrubbing toilets to hosting retreats, from managing a construction project to modeling for surf brands, has been a training ground for entrepreneurship. I learned how to work hard, adapt quickly, manage people, communicate effectively, and approach challenges with creativity.
Today, I bring all of that into my work as the proud owner of Solare Acupuncture clinic in San Diego, where I create a safe, present, and deeply healing space for my patients, and Botanica by Solare, my line of small-batch herbal tinctures rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Whether I’m formulating a product, connecting with patients, or running the behind-the-scenes operations, I pull from the same determination, resourcefulness, and people skills I began cultivating at 11 years old.
Because at the end of the day, success isn’t built from one perfect job, it’s built from showing up fully in every job, learning all you can, and carrying those lessons forward into the work you love.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Dr. Nadia Schulkind, a licensed acupuncturist, Doctor of Chinese Medicine, and lifelong adventurer. I own Solare Acupuncture, my San Diego-based healing clinic, and Botanica by Solare, my line of small-batch Chinese herbal tinctures. My work is rooted in the belief that true healing blends the wisdom of ancient medicine with a deep, personal connection to each individual’s story.
My path here has been anything but linear. I’ve had a lifetime of eclectic jobs, from teaching surfing around the world, to managing large-scale creative builds at Burning Man, to working in the surf industry in PR, to getting my hands dirty in construction and property management. All of these experiences taught me how to lead, problem-solve, and adapt which are qualities I now bring into every patient session and every formula I create.
At Solare Acupuncture, I provide a safe, present, and highly personalized experience. Every treatment is tailored in real time. I don’t leave patients lying alone with needles. Instead, I stay with them, using acupuncture, fire cupping, red light therapy, and herbal medicine to address everything from chronic pain to emotional well-being. Patients often tell me they’ve never felt so seen, heard, and cared for in a healthcare setting.
Botanica by Solare was born out of my desire to make the healing power of Chinese medicine more accessible. My tinctures are 100% herbs with no fillers and are crafted to address modern health needs like stress, sleep, immunity, and emotional balance. They’re designed for both practitioners to prescribe with confidence and for individuals to use daily as part of a natural wellness routine.
What sets me apart is my commitment to blending high-level clinical expertise with genuine human connection. I know healing doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it happens when people feel safe, understood, and supported. Whether I’m working with a patient in my clinic or creating a formula for my tincture line, I’m always thinking about how to empower people to live with more balance, vitality, and joy.
I’m most proud of building businesses that are both heart-led and results-driven. I’ve created spaces both physical and through products where people feel cared for, educated, and inspired to take ownership of their health. At the core of my work is the belief that your body wants to heal, and with the right tools and support, it absolutely can.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
The lesson? People-pleasing will kill your business faster than a bad business plan.
When I first opened my clinic, I wanted to help everyone. My heart was in the right place and I believed if someone needed care, I should find a way to make it work for them. That meant saying “yes” to discounts, special deals, and “just this once” freebies. I thought I was being generous and building goodwill. In reality, I was setting myself up for burnout.
Here’s what I learned the hard way: if you start your business by constantly discounting your value, you teach people to expect it. Before long, I was overbooked, underpaid, and drained – not exactly the energy you want your practitioner bringing into a treatment room.
Strong boundaries aren’t about being cold or unkind, they’re about protecting your ability to show up fully. My pricing reflects not just the materials and time involved, but the years of training, the depth of presence I bring, and the commitment to giving each patient my absolute best. When I’m being compensated fairly, I can pour my energy, skill, and focus into the work without resentment or depletion.
That doesn’t mean I don’t care about accessibility. I believe healthcare should be approachable, and I structure my services in ways that make sense for a range of people. But I also know my worth, and I don’t apologize for it because when I honor my boundaries, I deliver my best work.
The unlearning was this: generosity doesn’t mean giving away your work for free. True generosity is showing up at 100% for every person you serve and you can only do that when you value yourself as much as you value your clients.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Consistency. Being an acupuncturist and a business owner isn’t just something I do, it’s a way of living. Every single day, I have to embody the life I want to help others create. That means staying regulated, grounded, and clear not just for myself, but for every person who walks into my clinic. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you can’t expect long-term success without showing up for it consistently.
But beyond the day-to-day discipline, what’s made the biggest difference in my success is learning to leave my ego at the door. It’s not about how much I know, it’s about how well I listen.
Each patient’s body is a story waiting to be heard, and if you’re too caught up in your own assumptions or protocols, you’ll miss the quiet cues that tell you what they actually need. You have to know when to push and when to hold back. You don’t aggressively needle someone in the middle of a panic disorder. You don’t overload a severely Qi-deficient body with intense stimulation. You don’t send someone home with a 10-step lifestyle overhaul when they’re already struggling to get out of bed.
Healing isn’t a performance, it’s a partnership. My job is to meet people where they are, give them just enough of a shift to feel empowered, and then build from there. Small, manageable wins add up to lasting transformation.
Success in this field isn’t just about being clinically skilled. It’s about being attuned, intentional, and committed both in how you treat your patients and how you show up in your own life.
Contact Info:
- Website: Solareacupuncture.com & Botanicabysolare.com
- Instagram: @Botanicabysolare & @ Solareacupuncture
Image Credits
Ellie Burgueno Photography
Amir Photography