We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stefania Tiveron. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stefania below.

Hi Stefania, thanks for joining us today. Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.

Absolutely. The most impactful leader in my life was my boss and mentor, although he’d never describe himself as a leader. He embodied all four elements of trust—competency, consistency, integrity, and compassion—not as a strategy but as a natural extension of who he was.

He consistently showed up for me and the team with kindness, support, and unwavering reliability. Whether we were navigating challenges or celebrating wins, we always knew he had our backs. He fostered a team dynamic that felt more like family, where everyone was stronger together.

What set him apart wasn’t just his ability to bring out the best in us—it was how he guided us to face our personal challenges head-on. For me, that meant working on my confidence. He never imposed solutions but instead created a safe space where I could grow, learn, and push myself in ways I hadn’t before.

His leadership wasn’t about authority; it was about connection. It taught me that the way we behave—how we show up, both individually and collectively—determines how much trust we inspire in those around us. That’s the kind of leader I aspire to be.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

How I Got Into This Industry

My journey into naturopathic medicine and health coaching was deeply personal. It started with my grandfather’s nine-month battle with lung cancer—a time filled with pain, loss, and a desire to make a difference. I wanted to help prevent the suffering my family endured.

A mentor once told me, “Pain is your path to purpose. If you can heal your own pain, you can make it a path to your purpose.” At the time, I didn’t fully understand this idea. But looking back, I see how the emotional weight of that experience led me here.

Emotions are powerful forces. They shape our beliefs, guide our decisions, and influence how we navigate the world. This realization is what drew me to naturopathic medicine—a philosophy that emphasizes prevention, proactive healthcare, and patient-centred care. It aligned perfectly with my desire to help others achieve better health.

This path hasn’t been without challenges. Early in my career, I questioned whether I was truly making a difference. I’ve learned, however, that purpose isn’t about perfection or ego-driven outcomes. It’s about showing up every day, helping others, and letting the work speak for itself. That mindset has allowed me to step into my role with courage and compassion.

What I Do and What Sets Me Apart

I am a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor in Ontario and a Certified Health Coach. My focus is weight loss and metabolic health. I used to worry that focusing on weight loss might seem “scammy,” but I’ve come to realize how essential this work is. My goal is simple: to help people live longer, healthier lives by addressing the root causes of chronic diseases and supporting sustainable health.

Metabolic health is at the core of my practice because it plays a vital role in preventing chronic illnesses like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and more. Focusing on body composition, reducing excess fat, and implementing sustainable lifestyle changes, can dramatically improve health outcomes. This isn’t about quick fixes or fad diets—it’s about creating lasting change through personalized and evidence-based interventions.

I’ve designed my practice to be as accessible as possible. My naturopathic services are completely virtual, allowing me to work with patients across Ontario. For those outside the province, I offer health coaching services.

What I’m Proud Of

One of the achievements I’m most proud of is my phenotype-based weight loss program, which I’ve developed with my good friend and colleague, Adrian Wellman. Grounded in the research, this approach recognizes that weight loss is not a one-size-fits-all journey. It identifies individual “weight loss phenotypes” based on hunger and fullness cues, emotional triggers and energy use, leading to highly personalized strategies.

The program begins with a quiz that we created to assess these phenotypes – your body’s unique weight loss fingerprint. It integrates my expertise as a naturopathic doctor and health coach, translating complex science into actionable insights. Personalized interventions have been shown to deliver better results, and this program embodies that philosophy.

I want my clients and followers to know that my work isn’t about chasing numbers on a scale—it’s about helping people uncover the root causes of their challenges and empowering them to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Whether through one-on-one coaching, virtual consultations, or my 12-week weight loss program, my goal is to meet people where they are and provide the tools they need to thrive.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Adaptability and a growth mindset are essential for success in this field. Health and medicine are constantly evolving, and what we know today may be challenged or expanded upon tomorrow. To truly help people, I need to stay curious and flexible, willing to adapt my approach as new research, insights, and techniques emerge.

Equally important is the ability to challenge my own assumptions. It’s natural to hold onto familiar ideas because they feel safe, but clinging too tightly to them can create blind spots. In my role, I can’t afford to overlook new perspectives that might benefit my patients. Staying open to different viewpoints and questioning my own biases ensures I continue to grow—not just as a practitioner, but as a person.

At its core, this work is about building trust and meeting people where they are. By remaining open and adaptable, I can create a space where patients feel seen, heard, and supported on their unique health journeys.

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

Absolutely—without a doubt, I’d choose this profession a million times over. There’s nothing more fulfilling than helping people take control of their health and witnessing the transformations that unfold when they step into their best selves.

If I could tweak anything, I might add a business course or two to my journey. Like many in healthcare, I entered this field with a passion for helping others, but I’ve since learned that running a practice also requires a strong foundation in business and marketing. While those skills have developed over time (and continue to develop), having them earlier would have been an incredible advantage.

That said, every challenge along the way has shaped who I am and deepened my commitment to this work. I truly wouldn’t change a thing about the path I’ve taken.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drstefania.com/
• Instagram: @dr.stefania
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stefaniativeronND
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefania-tiveron