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

Alright, Petra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

Resilience. My parents are two of the most resilient people I know. I have the utmost admiration for them and for teaching me how to cultivate resilience under the most uncomfortable circumstances so I could thrive as an adult, thank you. I draw strength from knowing that I’ll land on my feet just fine. That I’ll always figure out a way. For example, I’ve lost 6 jobs in my marketing career for various reasons, and each time, I’ve bounced back stronger. And I remind myself to trust the process, have faith in the universe and keep moving forward.

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 founded Red Pantz in the spirit of helping people live well and thrive sustainably. Red Pantz is an educational body-to-soul wellness destination site based on principles from ancient ayurvedic medicine, placed in the context of modern life.

The MY24/7 premium self-care collection for skin, body, mind supports wellbeing from the outside in as well as the inside out, all connected, with USDA certified organic (yes, even our skincare), natural and environmentally-conscious products.

There are two threads that have created the perfect storm for me to start Red Pantz and MY24/7™:
1. experiencing unusual symptoms earlier in my corporate career due to a job-related burnout, and
2. lifelong skin struggles from eczema, sensitivities and allergies to skin cancers (twice).
The former experience prompted me to get a master’s degree in ayurvedic medicine and become a board-certified practitioner.

And as I was learning more about ayurveda, I came to understand that my skin was a map of what was happening on the inside in my body, mind and spirit; and how my environment, lifestyle, stress and diet were affecting it. And I was allergic to most of the skincare products I was using at that time.

Three things that set me apart:

1. Been there, lived it.
Everything my company is about is deeply personal to me. I’ve experienced sustained levels of stress and burnout. I’ve struggled with my skin my entire life. And I’ve dedicated my life to learning better, healthier ways through formal education and continuous learning.

2. I look at wellness as a system.
Everything is connected so I look at things together as one thing influences another. Not just within the physical body. I call it connected wellness, which pays homage to the ayurvedic definition of health. Check out the blog here: https://redpantz.com/what-is-connected-wellness-and-why-should-you-care/.

3. Products for a better you, a better community, a better planet.
My skin care and teas are USDA certified organic (yes, skincare too) and made with premium ingredients. I use responsibly-sourced ingredients, and prioritize partners that use fair trade practices and are sustainability conscious. I don’t test the products on our furry friends, and always look for ways to use packaging that not only helps keep the integrity of what’s inside, but is also better for the planet. And I don’t use fillers in my products, which means that a little goes a long way.

The cool story about the MY24/7 self-care collection is that it started as a fundraiser. A few years ago, I posted a message on Facebook, asking friends and family if they would consider donating to the Paradise fire victims in exchange for one of my creations. The positive response put me on the path to create the MY24/7 brand a year later. And during the first year of Covid, Red Pantz donated our best-selling face, lip and body butters to firefighters, doctors and nurses to help care for their skin while they were caring for others.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The Celestine Prophecy. I read it decades ago and have reread it a few more times. This book started an avalanche of similar readings for me, each of which has had a profound impact on me as a being.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I already had a successful marketing life when I embarked on my ayurvedic medicine journey. I believe that I was guided in this direction and would do it again. Looking back, I had to go through all those experiences to get to where I am today. You know what they say…the universe will send you signs and if you don’t listen, well, the signs won’t be that subtle anymore.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://redpantz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redpantzcompany/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redpantzcompany/

Image Credits
Photos of me: Xiomara Bustamante Photos of 3 teas and a butter: James Dumlao