We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shanna Bynes Bradford LME, MA, CR, MUA a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Shanna , appreciate you joining us today. What’s one of the most important lessons you learned in school?
As a graduate and ambassador for the esteemed American College of Healthcare Sciences, one of the most valuable lessons I learned was how to balance a demanding work schedule, business responsibilities, and full-time academic commitments within an intense and rigorous curriculum. The coursework required consistent engagement with professors and classmates through the virtual Canvas platform, along with weekly coursework and daily assignments.
When I reflect on my journey, I am still amazed at how focused and organized I remained throughout the program. I stayed on track, maintained top grades in my classes, and never made excuses. I did not miss lectures, assignments, or course examinations. Every professor brought exceptional expertise to their subject areas—whether teaching body anatomy, physiology, or plant biology—and provided the highest level of knowledge, guidance, and understanding of the material.
Interestingly, I almost chose a different path. Initially, I considered enrolling in a short certification program offered through a well-known doctor that could have been completed in only a few months. However, after conducting thorough research on American College of Healthcare Sciences and attending a Student Meet & Greet in Miami, Florida, I had the opportunity to meet the school’s founder, Dorene Petersen.
Dorene Petersen is an internationally recognized pioneer in aromatherapy and holistic herbalism, a visionary educator, author, and global leader in integrative health education. Her decades-long career has helped shape professional standards, accreditation, and academic excellence in natural healthcare worldwide. I also met Tracey Abell, the President of the college, who is an incredible mentor and support system for students, as well as Kate Holbrook, one of the strongest advocates for health and wellness in the field.
Kate, we love you and are sending you prayers each and every day.
That moment confirmed that American College of Healthcare Sciences was the right school for me. What stood out most was the institution’s commitment to its students and the way the college supports learners in achieving both academic excellence and professional success.
The distance learning program offers everything a student needs to succeed. I never felt disconnected from the learning experience. I was able to communicate with my counselors and professors by email whenever necessary, which made the online environment feel supportive and engaging. In many ways, it felt as though I were attending classes directly on the beautiful campus in Portland, Oregon.
I am grateful that I took the time to research my options rather than rushing into another program. Choosing American College of Healthcare Sciences allowed me to continue my studies in Clinical Aromatherapy, essential oils, and the full scope of their active compounds and constituents, including their effects on the brain and overall well-being of the body.
This experience has been a major milestone in my life and a learning journey that I will never forget.
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.
About Shanna Bynes Bradford and Grow Out Oils Clinical Aromatherapy
My name is Shanna Bynes Bradford, and I am the CEO, Aromatherapy Chemist Formulator, and Clinical Researcher for Grow Out Oils Clinical Aromatherapy Product Company. I am also a Licensed Medical Esthetician (LME), Aesthetic Professional Makeup Artist (MUA), and hold academic credentials in clinical aromatherapy and natural product research. My work focuses on the science of essential oils, botanical compounds, and their therapeutic impact on the body, brain, and overall well-being.
My journey into this field began with a passion for understanding how natural plant compounds interact with the human body. Over time, that passion evolved into a commitment to studying the chemistry of essential oils, their active constituents, and the ways in which they can support skin barrier health, scalp care, and overall wellness. I pursued formal education through the highly respected American College of Healthcare Sciences, where I studied clinical aromatherapy, botanical medicine foundations, and the chemistry of plant-based therapeutic compounds and their impact on the entire body systems.
What sets my work apart is the combination of clinical research, formulation science, and hands-on industry experience. At Grow Out Oils Clinical Aromatherapy Product Company, I develop specialized clinical botanical formulations that are grounded in scientific understanding of essential oil chemistry, active constituents, and their potential therapeutic properties. My focus is not simply on creating products, but on developing targeted botanical solutions designed to support skin barrier health, scalp health, and skin integrity, and overall wellness through carefully balanced aroma therapeutic formulations.
Our work centers around the development of high-quality clinical essential oil blends and botanical formulations designed to support individuals experiencing concerns such as impacted skin barrier health, scalp imbalance, skin stress, and overall hair and skin wellness. Each formulation is carefully designed using research-driven ingredient selection, ensuring that every essential oil and botanical component is chosen based on its known properties and compatibility within a formulation.
In addition to product development, research and education are central to my work. I am deeply involved in exploring the chemical composition of essential oils and how these compounds interact with the body. My research interests include plant chemistry, bioactive compounds, and the broader relationship between botanical therapeutics and human health. This research-driven approach allows me to create clinical formulations that are both innovative and rooted in scientific understanding.
One of the things I am most proud of is building a brand that combines clinical aromatherapy, scientific research, and natural wellness into a single platform. Through Grow Out Oils Clinical Aromatherapy Product Company, I aim to educate licensed skincare professionals/physicians about the power of plant-based compounds while also providing carefully formulated clinical products designed to support healthy hair, skin, and overall well-being and provide pre/post care treatment for patients and clients.
Another aspect that makes our brand unique is our commitment to transparency, education, and formulation integrity. Many patients and consumers today are interested in natural wellness products but often lack access to reliable information about how essential oils and botanical compounds actually work. My goal is to bridge that gap by combining research, formulation expertise, and education so that people can make informed decisions about the products they use.
Ultimately, my mission is to help licensed professionals better understand the relationship between botanical science and holistic wellness, while creating clinical formulations that support healthy, balanced lifestyles. I want clients, readers, and followers to know that everything I create is rooted in careful study, research, and a genuine passion for helping people improve their overall well-being through natural plant science.
Through my work with Grow Out Oils Clinical Aromatherapy Product Company, I hope to continue advancing the conversation around clinical aromatherapy, essential oil chemistry, and botanical wellness while inspiring others to explore the powerful connection between nature, science, and health.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn over the course of my career was the tendency to try to fix everyone’s problems or feel responsible for helping others navigate their professional journeys. Earlier in my career, I often found myself trying to guide people by showing them how corporate business structures operate and by sharing strategies that had helped me succeed in highly competitive industries.
However, over time I realized that no matter how much guidance or support you offer, each individual ultimately has to walk their own path. Growth, experience, and understanding come from navigating challenges firsthand. It is not anyone else’s responsibility to design a roadmap that guarantees another person’s success. Every entrepreneur, innovator, and educator must develop their own process, and that process will naturally look different for each person.
I believe it is valuable to share insight and offer suggestions based on experience, but true learning happens when individuals take ownership of their own journey. This realization became clearer to me after spending more than 27 years working within the clinical aesthetics industry and the global retail beauty sector.
Today, when I meet people in business or in professional spaces, I approach those interactions with a different mindset. I am more observant, more reflective, and more aware that each person is navigating their own stage of growth and development. Rather than trying to solve problems for others, I focus on sharing knowledge when it is helpful and allowing people the space to discover their own direction.
That shift in perspective has been one of the most valuable lessons of my career.
How’d you meet your business partner?
Meeting my business partner Art Brad was one of those pivotal moments that significantly influenced the trajectory of our company. From the beginning, it was clear that he brought an extraordinary level of expertise and strategic insight to the table.
For more than 30 years, he has worked behind the scenes in the global telecommunications sector, helping drive multi-million-dollar opportunities for major corporations. His strength lies not only in high-level corporate sales but also in the strategic infrastructure that supports sustainable business growth—sales funnel development, client alignment strategies, and complex contract negotiations. He has an exceptional ability to analyze business opportunities, structure scalable sales processes, and guide organizations toward measurable growth.
What has always impressed me most is his ability to build and lead high-performing sales ecosystems. I have personally watched him design effective sales funnels, mentor and train business partners, and close deals that consistently exceed even the most ambitious sales targets. His approach is both analytical and disciplined, which allows him to identify the right opportunities while maintaining a clear focus on long-term business value.
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned from him is the importance of thoroughly vetting every potential client and partnership opportunity. He strongly believes that successful business relationships begin with alignment—ensuring that a client’s goals, expectations, and operational approach truly fit within the company’s mission and process. When that alignment exists, the collaboration becomes far more productive and sustainable for everyone involved.
His strategic mindset and deep experience in corporate sales have been instrumental in shaping how we approach partnerships, negotiations, and long-term growth within our organization. Having someone with that level of discipline, insight, and experience guiding the business development side of our company has been incredibly valuable.
Simply put, he is a driving force behind our organization’s strategic direction and a true architect of high-level corporate sales strategy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.growoutoils.com
- Instagram: @growoutoils
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Grow-Out-Oils-100053281068840/
- Linkedin: https://share.google/cugqV1K9C52MMCuaQ
Image Credits
U & I Entertainment Group
American College of Healthcare Sciences Team