We recently connected with Kelly LeVeque and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
My career journey has been a wild ride, built on a foundation of embracing my passions. Each “yes” to an exciting opportunity has propelled me forward, leading to unexpected leaps in reach, success, and recognition. I’ve come to realize that growth isn’t a smooth line – it’s a series of plateaus punctuated by exhilarating jumps. But through it all, the key has been saying “yes” to myself, pushing past discomfort, and dedicating myself to serving and uplifting the community around me.
Like some accents that demand attention, a few pivotal “yesses” stand out in my journey. The first big “yes” was to myself, investing in a nutrition degree. Then came a less obvious “yes” – trading a corporate day for an influencer launch party (unpaid!). That’s where I met Jessica Alba’s makeup artist, who became a client and introduced me to Jessica herself. Another “yes” came when I bombarded agents with my book idea, and a single “yes” sent me booking a flight to New York City. Finally, I took a risk that redefined “investment.” Instead of a house, I used a credit line to buy 5,000 units of my own grass-fed beef protein powder. Over time, my comfort with risk has grown, but the core message remains: say yes! It’s the bold “yesses” that truly propel us forward.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a certified functional nutritionist, wellness expert, and bestselling author based in Southern California, where I reside with my husband and three young boys. Prior to establishing Be Well By Kelly, my professional journey led me through the medical realm, serving Fortune 500 companies such as J&J. Transitioning into personalized medicine, I specialized in offering tumor gene mapping and molecular subtyping to oncologists. Despite my passion for helping others, my commitment to a career in cancer care persisted until 2015 when I took the leap to focus on my business full-time.
Since 2012, I have been dedicated to empowering individuals to enhance their well-being. This dedication culminated in launching my first Body Love Book in 2017, followed by Body Love Everyday in 2019. Over the years, I’ve expanded my offerings to include four video courses to educate my community on the transformative power of the Fab Four approach. Central to my philosophy is the renowned Fab Four Smoothie formula, a staple in my own health journey for a decade. Inspired by its impact, I’ve introduced a line of protein powders derived from grass-fed beef and plant-based sources, avoiding chemical extraction methods. These protein powders feature three organic ingredients and no natural or artificial flavors, providing a delicious and nutritious option for the whole family. Through my books, the Fab Four Fundamentals course, and the Be Well by Kelly podcast, I strive to equip my community, clients, friends, and family with the knowledge, tools, and motivation needed to catalyze positive changes across all facets of their lives. My role as a holistic nutritionist has proven to be the most fulfilling chapter of my career, as I continue to witness the transformative impact of holistic wellness practices.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
Other than being a mom, this is definitely my dream job! I’ve been drawn to health and nutrition since health class in high school. My career today is one I could only dream up as a kid and I wouldn’t change it for the world. It has taken a lot to get where I am today and it didn’t happen overnight, but every challenge, struggle or set back has been worth it knowing that I am helping people lead a healthier lifestyle. Empowering others to prioritize their health brings a deep sense of fulfillment. Witnessing people build confidence as they nourish their bodies with good food and discover how to manage their blood sugar levels is truly rewarding. It’s a beautiful transformation, not just physical but a newfound self-assurance that ripples through all aspects of life.
I had an unwavering need for this product. My sisters needed it, my friends, my fellow moms and dads – we needed a minimalistic, high quality protein for our whole family. I needed my Fab Four Smoothies to have a clean protein powder, and I needed radical transparency. When you are filling a need and when your product or service isn’t about coming up with an idea to make money but instead creating a movement your community feels that. When what you produce is what YOU need, you don’t need to sell a thing. No matter what your offering, service or product, when it is true to YOU there is no scarcity, no competition, there is no such thing as too saturated. You bet on yourself! Go be a health coach, a writer, a farmer, a trainer, a dietitian, an author, a leader, a change maker, go launch your product, go bet on yourself. There is room for all of us. And if you have the calling in your heart, don’t wait. Your passion cannot be put out when you look in.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Transitioning from the medical field and deciding to start my own practice was one of the biggest pivots in my career. It is always scary to make that leap. I didn’t have the savings or financial ability to do that at the time, and I was so used to having a great paying, big corporate career. So when I got started with my own practice, I would see clients on my lunch break. I would scrub in for surgeries for breast cancer and be in the OR from 6 AM to 11 AM. Then I would see a couple of oncologists to review their cases after their lunch break at 2 PM, and I would have this short break between 11 and 2 to see clients. It became something where I was like, ‘If I actually just did this, I would have to have enough clients to support my rent and figure out health insurance. I can make this a reality.’ September 2015, it felt like I had enough momentum that I was no longer scared to fully commit. So then I quit my job, and I’m now an hourly employee! Most entrepreneurs who own a house have 5 streams of income, and they’re not hourly or the only income in their family. So I had to figure out how to have multiple streams of income while being hourly. That’s when I decided I needed my own product line, which eventually became a reality in 2020.
Recently I have had to pivot in my career to focus on expanding my product line. As a self-funded, small business, I found myself being pulled in so many directions. On top of being a mom to three young boys, I’ve had to adjust my time, energy, and attention in order to show up as my best self for my family, friends, and community. I had to let go of the reins, free up time to focus on my family, and spend time filling up my cup while also bringing my community the most high-quality products and services that I can. It has taken me years to hold my boundaries. I used to worry about getting it in and sometimes I still do, and I’ll want to schedule meetings at 7:30 in the morning just to squeeze it into my schedule. I’ll over schedule myself back to back with no breaks and that’s not healthy. It’s not a race, it’s a marathon. The hour you take for yourself in the morning to be with your family, to be active to journal, to get yourself a coffee, get to your emails, your clients, your meetings they’ll all be there when it’s over every single day until you retire. Practice showing up for yourself. I am 10 times better for everyone in my life including myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bewellbykelly.com/
- Instagram: @bewellbykelly
- Facebook: Be Well by Kelly
- Twitter: @bewellbykelly
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPjFtjo841kVXoG9m-ONMxw