We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Meredith DeSantos a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Meredith, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The real story behind my mission? It’s about redefining success—and completely rewriting what we’ve been told “hard work” should look like.

Growing up, I was trained to chase gold stars. External validation was the currency—and I was rich in it. Straight A’s, top of my class, Dean’s List, high honors from one of the best communications schools in the country. I was the good girl who did everything “right.” But once I got into the real world, especially the entertainment industry, I realized none of it mattered. The rules changed—and success became about how much you could tolerate, how fast you could hustle, and how well you could pretend it wasn’t breaking you.

My years were spent in rooms built on fear-based tactics, where nervous systems were fried and leadership was chaotic. I saw it, I lived it, and I chased it. The title. The designer clothes. The trips around the world at film markets and productions. I was a top executive at an indie film company before the age of 27, and still believed I was replaceable. That belief ran so deep in my bones that I was literally emailing my boss mid-labor—IV in my arm, infection setting in, contractions rolling—and still worried about losing my seat at the table.

And that moment hit me: that seat was never designed with me in mind.

I saw how deeply that same pressure was impacting the A-list writers I worked with—how imposter syndrome was eating them alive—and how creatives were unraveling during the strike. My husband had lost his job and I knew that I needed to make a change–fast. I looked around and saw brilliant, creatives with million-dollar ideas, stuck in the same cycle of burnout, perfectionism, and proving.
That was my pivot point.

I already had certifications in NLP and Human Design. I’d been quietly studying strategy and psychology for years. So I decided to build something better—something that actually worked with my energy. To build a holistic business strategy around clearing limiting beliefs and launching companies/brands at the same time. I took a chance on myself. And failure wasn’t even on the table.

Within three months, I was profitable. And more importantly? So were my clients.

My mission now is to help high-achieving business owners and creatives unlearn the lie that they have to sacrifice themselves to succeed (aka removing outdated systems and aligning with their energy). I blend Human Design (your energetic blueprint), neuroscience, and business strategy to help them create aligned, sustainable growth—not the kind that burns you out, but the kind that brings you home to yourself.

Because when we stop performing for someone else’s version of success—and start building from alignment—we don’t just grow businesses. We reclaim our power.

And that doesn’t feel “hard” but fulfilling.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I spent nearly two decades in entertainment, tech, and wellness—leading development strategies, running global projects, and launching indie films. On paper, I had the dream career: I was a top exec by 27, traveling the world, dressing in designer clothes, surrounded by A-list creatives, traveling the world. But behind the scenes? I was burning out hard. The industry was powered by fear, urgency, and never-enoughness—and I bought into it.

As I said, I believed if I slowed down, I’d be replaced. I believed I had to prove my worth by working until 3am during the week… leading to the moment of me emailing my boss during labor like I was solving cancer. I wasn’t present in my own life. That was my wake-up call.

I realized: this system wasn’t built for people like me to win without losing themselves in the process.
So I walked away and built something better.

I took everything I knew from my corporate experience and layered in my certifications in Human Design, NLP, and trauma-informed strategy. Now, I run a business that supports others in doing what I had to figure out the hard way: how to succeed without selling yourself in the process.

Through my signature 1:1 experience (The Alignment Code), my DFY social media strategy (Content by Design), and digital tools that blend neuroscience with spiritual strategy (aka “Woogic”), I help clients:
Create aligned offers and brands that actually feel like them

– Rewire burnout patterns and perfectionism at the subconscious level
– Build content and visibility strategies rooted in their energy
– Launch without chaos, burnout, or overthinking
– Make money and impact in a way that feels fulfilling—not forced

What sets me apart is the way I bridge deep energetic alignment with real, strategic results. I’m not just giving you journal prompts and good vibes—I’m giving you structure, clarity, and momentum that’s customized to your energy blueprint. I believe your business should feel like a homecoming, not a performance.

What I’m most proud of (aside from my son and husband)? The fact that my clients are walking proof that when you stop trying to fit into someone else’s system, you build your own. I’ve helped first-time founders launch and get paid within weeks, and supported seasoned entrepreneurs in scaling sustainably after years of burnout.

If you’re craving success that feels like you—and you’re done with fear-based tactics that leave you depleted—I’m your girl. This isn’t about hustling harder. It’s about getting strategic, aligned, and grounded in your power. Because you don’t have to choose between impact and ease. You need a new blueprint. Your blueprint.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building my audience on social media didn’t start with some viral moment. It started with me getting honest about what I stood for, how I wanted to show up, and what I was done tolerating from the online space.

At first, I tried to follow all the bro marketing advice—posting three times a day, using “power/SEO words,” and pretending I had it all figured out. And spoiler: it felt awful. I was burning out trying to be “consistent,” but I wasn’t being coherent. I wasn’t creating from me—I was creating from fear. Fear of not being seen, of getting it wrong, of being too much or not enough. And it showed.

And here’s the truth no one talks about: virality doesn’t mean you’re converting. I’ve seen people rack up views and still not book a single client. Engagement is nice, but alignment is what drives sales. And that starts with building trust—not just reach.

What changed? I started aligning my content to my energetic blueprint and focusing on real value—not just educational tips, but truth-telling, pattern-breaking insights, and storytelling that built trust.

I stopped trying to create like everyone else and started creating like me. That’s when things started to click.

I showed up in a way that matched my energy. That meant less “pushing out” and more magnetic visibility—value-packed content, invitations that felt natural, and a strategy that flowed. And within weeks, aligned clients started saying, “I don’t know what it is, but your content just lands.”

That experience birthed Content by Design—my done-for-you social media offer for entrepreneurs who are tired of burning out just trying to stay relevant. We combine Human Design, energetic strategy, and social media expertise. I’m partnered with powerhouse social media manager Mary Simmons, who has built social teams and strategy for major companies—and together, we help clients stop guessing and start posting with purpose.

Here’s my advice if you’re just starting out:
– Clarity beats quantity. You don’t need to post five times a day. You need a clear message and aligned positioning.
– Your energy is the algorithm. If your content feels forced, your audience will feel it. When it’s coming from alignment, it resonates.
– Stop trying to be the expert in a crowded room. Be the voice your dream clients recognize. That starts with knowing your Design and showing up in your natural flow.
– Don’t chase trends—own your tone. The people who stick around long-term? They’re not following you for hooks. They’re following you for truth. Be yourself. Perfectionism doesn’t convert. Being real does.

If you want to grow an audience that actually converts—and do it in a way that feels sustainable—start with who you are, not what the algorithm wants. Because when your strategy honors your energy and is community-based first (not vanity with likes and views), visibility becomes inevitable.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

One of my favorite marketing stories didn’t start with a “hell yes”—it started with data that was saying no.

I was sitting at my desk, coffee in hand, looking at the numbers for The Alignment Code waitlist. And it wasn’t looking good. The list was shorter than I wanted. The leads weren’t warm. And every metric told me I should downshift my expectations. Play it safe. “Maybe you’ll fill one or two spots,” the logical voice in my head whispered.

But here’s what I’ve learned: data is only part of the story. The numbers sometimes lie.

I knew what this offer could do. I had clients who’d shifted their entire business model inside it. I had evidence. I had embodiment. And more than that? I had momentum. The energy behind this offer was different—it was clean, powerful, magnetic. So I made the decision to launch as if every single person I wanted to work with was already watching.

No fancy funnel. No pushy tactics. Just me, fully aligned, showing up and speaking directly to the woman I created this for.
I went live on Instagram even when only three people were watching (I sold a spot during that Live). I revisited my messaging and got laser-specific—speaking to the woman in a career pivot who knew she was built for more, but felt stuck trying to figure out how. I dug into past email data and noticed where the open rates and CTRs spiked—what language was landing, what subject lines pulled people in—and used that to refine my delivery. It wasn’t about doing more. It was about doing it with intention.

And you know what happened? I oversold it.

Not only did I fill all five spots—I had to open more. And the women who joined weren’t just “leads,” they were exact-match, soul-aligned clients. Some had been quietly circling for months. Others told me, “I don’t even know why, but I couldn’t stop thinking about this.” And what really blew me away? Many of them didn’t stop with The Alignment Code. They went deeper—adding on things like Content by Design because the clarity they felt in the sales process translated into full-body trust. The offer landed not because I forced it, but because I stood in the truth of it—and they felt that.

That experience proved what I teach every day:
You don’t need a massive audience or perfect metrics to sell out. You need clarity, coherence, and conviction.

Your energy is your strategy. Your nervous system is the foundation. When you market from alignment—not anxiety—you become undeniable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://meredithdesantos.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredithdesantos

Image Credits

Mary Simmons and Heather LeRoy