We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Velan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

MV: Absolutely! I’ve taken my fair share of risks. From moving to London to pursuing an MBA, and transiting from one startup to another due to misalignment with the company culture. However, founding Wondersource was undoubtedly the boldest risk I’ve taken.

Launching Wondersource was prompted by my personal battle with insomnia and the glaring need for change in healthcare as countless people struggle with mental health and chronic illness. My experience with conventional medicine set me on a journey with functional medicine and through a personalised protocol and a holistic approach to my health, I experienced the transformative power of proactive self-care. This is what led me to create a company that empowers individuals to take control of their well-being.

Today’s world is rife with toxins and constant stressors, but putting the onus on us as individuals to take proactive steps toward self-care can feel like a burden, yet once I was able to do it, my life changed dramatically. This is why I created Wondersource. By partnering with companies, as people spend over ⅓ of their life at work, we are able to empower people with the knowledge and tools they need to not only take control of their well-being, but to become better and more successful at their jobs.

Wondersource was a bold risk from inception, as it defied the status quo by offering a holistic approach to the workplace. In a landscape where most companies neglect to prioritize employee well-being in a real way, Wondersource focused on building a foundation to support holistic health. By addressing areas such as gut health, sleep, diet, self-compassion, stress, leadership development, and communication, Wondersource offers comprehensive support. Companies that took a risk on Wondersource have reaped significant rewards as employee retention rates have soared, while sick leave has dramatically declined, demonstrating the invaluable impact of prioritzing holistic well-being in the workplace.

Michelle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

MV: I’m Michelle, originally from Montreal, Canada, with Czechoslovakian roots, now living in London. The majority of my career has revolved around early-stage startups, fueling my passion for business. I studied business and leadership at MIT, Harvard, and the London School of Economics, laying the foundation for my role as the founder and CEO of Wondersource.

Wondersource was born out of a personal journey through burnout, stemming from overwhelming workplace stress and having no tools to manage it in a meaningful way. Recognizing a widespread struggle among employees, I saw a dire need for tools to effectively manage stress and enable focus, confidence, effective communication, better sleep, and more joy.

Wondersource emerged as a beacon of support as a mental fitness, holistic health care and professional development company. We offer comprehensive programming through group coaching, 1:1 support, workshops and a variety of other formats to empower people to thrive and realise their full potential.

Beyond my professional endeavours, I find joy in skiing, travelling, continuous learning and spending time with my loved ones.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Growing your clientele begins with getting really clear on your mission, purpose, and the profound impact you will create in your ideal clients’ lives. Once you understand who your ideal client is, you need to be able to articulate the transformative benefits they’ll experience because of your work.

As an entrepreneur it’s crucial to confront and overcome any limiting beliefs that stand in the way of success and instead work to create an abundant mindset. Achieving an unwavering confidence may take time, but nurturing a strong sense of purpose and belief in your abilities and what you’re offering is essential.

One thing I’ve learned is that things are constantly changing, so you have to embrace a flexible and adaptive approach—experimenting is key. Currently, I’m placing significant emphasis on leveraging platforms like LinkedIn, recognizing its potential to connect with and attract new clients. Spending time learning and innovating on this platform has allowed me to approach new business with confidence and effectiveness.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

As a founder, resilience is a part of my daily journey. There are numerous stories that I could share, but one in particular stands out. The pivot of Wondersource from a business to consumer marketplace to focusing on serving companies and their employees. The initial B2C platform didn’t yield the traction I had hoped for, prompting a strategic shift toward addressing the holistic needs of companies. Recognizing the inherent link between optimal performance and holistic well-being, we repositioned our offerings to support employees in managing stress and achieving peak performance because you can’t have one without the other.

While pivoting presented its challenges, it also paved the way for success. Despite encountering obstacles along the way, we remain steadfast in our commitment to help build companies that address the pressing needs of the modern workforce, by also bringing holistic health into the workplace. We’ve seen the value of our services manifest in the companies we work with from fast growth startups to financial institutions. Employees have gone from very stressed out to a place where they feel their mental health is now supported. Across the board 80% of the people that go through Wondersource’s programs say their job satisfaction has increased. This has been a huge win not only for us, but for our clients and their employees. While I know there will continue to be challenges and calls for resilience, I am resolute in my belief that Wondersource is truly creating an impact and helping to transform organisations and the workplace.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @michyvelan
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellevelan/
• Other: [email protected]