We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sondra Dubas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sondra, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
I had a hidden secret that I lived with for 17 years. I have an autoimmune condition called Alopecia which progressed over those years to the point of complete hair loss about 7 years ago. I was always very private and embarrassed about my condition and worked hard to conceal it underneath hair pieces, wigs, hats, and scarves. I had just come off of a downsizing in a corporate job in which only 2 people over 2 1/2 years knew about my hair loss. I found myself on a yoga retreat in Greece with 25 other women. My mother and daughter were there with me and we had an opportunity to spend a day on a yacht in the Aegean Sea. I was nervous about the idea of swimming or paddle boarding because I knew I would be faced with a decision to sit on the boat and play it safe or reveal my baldness and swim in the ocean with my daughter. When the time finally came, I was torn with the decision of what to do. I then began thinking about how I might never have this chance again and that I would regret not taking the risk. So, I tore off the scarf and hat and jumped in! It was cold and exhilarating. And ultimately it was the most liberating experience I had ever felt. It was a life changing moment of freedom. It inspired me to come home and launch full force into hosting monthly Self-Care Bootcamp events and weekend retreats for women. I began speaking on stages about my struggle with hair loss and taking my wig off. It was such a pivotal moment in my career, which is continuing to evolve and grow.
Sondra, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My journey, marked by personal challenges and professional triumphs, underscores the critical importance of self-care for women. Having navigated a demanding career in corporate America, juggling family responsibilities, and overcoming personal health obstacles, I embody the spirit of overcoming adversity through self-love and care.
My story is a testament to resilience, from facing a daughter’s severe health challenges to my own struggle with an autoimmune condition. Let my journey of rediscovering myself through yoga, nutrition, inner personal growth, and advocating for women’s health and well-being inspire and guide you in your self-care path.
I work with busy women who are exceptional at taking care of everyone in their lives and need support prioritizing their own wellbeing. I empower women to create joy, peace, and vibrancy in their lives by making themselves a priority, through my unique SELF FIRST methodology which guides women through the creation of their unique SELF-CARE COMPASS. So that you can adopt a practice of soul-nourishing, consistent self-care, without guilt.
These are the stories of the women I work with:
* Burning the candle at all ends.
* High performing, busy, on the hamster wheel of life.
* Taking care of family, work, clients and others ALL THE TIME.
* Stress levels are high.
* Nervous system is dysregulated.
* Starting to notice health issues or in a chronic health crisis.
* Realizing that SOMETHING HAS GOT TO CHANGE.
* Don’t know where to begin because you are so conditioned to put others first.
* Feel guilty doing something for yourself but there is a voice inside telling you it’s necessary!
* Bubble baths, pedicures, and shopping sprees aren’t bringing long-term joy.
* Everything looks good on the outside, but inside you’re secretly falling apart.
I encourage them to stop and ask themselves, “what is the cost?” We work together to define a unique Self-Care Compass that will be their guiding light to creating an aligned, harmonious way of being.
Ways to work with me:
* Self First Program – A 4-month Experience to create your SELF-CARE COMPASS
* Self-Care Bootcamp Retreats – Attend or book a retreat!
* Keynote Motivational Speaker – Book Me to Speak, share my story and INSPIRE!
* Book a 1:1 Discovery Call
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
I have hired other coaches and entrepreneurs to support me in areas that I have not had the skills or knowledge. This has enabled me to fast track the development of my programs beyond what I would have been able to do if I were trying to muddle through the information on my own. I’ve also found that putting myself in rooms with these entrepreneurs and learning from them has leveled up my vision and belief of what I see possible for myself.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I believe that the more authentic and vulnerable I have been in sharing my journey with others, the more that I have attracted my ideal clientele. Stepping into my story of autoimmunity and hair loss by sharing pictures or myself as a bald woman or taking my wig off during a speech was very challenging in the beginning. And then I realized that other women were inspired by my courage. Regardless of whether they had hair loss, they were able to relate to my story of being challenged with my identity and self-esteem. As I began hosting retreats and workshops, I learned to listen and provide space for other women to share their stories. I focus on paying special attention to details and making women feel valued, seen, and heard. The feedback and testimonials I’ve received from attendees of my events has been the evidence that has brought many other women to discover me and my work. I am attracting my ideal clientele through pure joy and authenticity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sondradubas.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sondradubas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sondradubasHealthyLifestyle/
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/sondradubas
- Other: https://linktr.ee/sondradubasMy published Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/7s4DKtY
Image Credits
Mitera Branding