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

Zena, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents didn’t just teach me about hard work—they lived it.
My mom was the definition of resourcefulness. While working part-time as a home carer, she juggled several different side hustles—ironing for neighbors, making custom curtains, flipping discounted branded goods online—all while keeping our home running. My dad, who never got a degree, worked his way up the corporate career ladder and always made sure there was money set aside for holidays and retirement. It showed me that that financial security also comes from discipline, not just income.

At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate their sacrifices. As a kid, you don’t realize what it takes to build a family life. But looking back – I see their work ethic, their resilience, and their commitment to creating something better. They always had a vision for something greater than what we had at the time.

At 12 years old, I was hand-drawing cartoons and selling them to other kids… at 13 years old, I was delivering newspapers… at 16, I started working retail.

I know now that to create a better life, multiple streams of income aren’t just a luxury—they’re a necessity. My parents instilled that belief in me long before I ever knew I’d be an entrepreneur. It taught me about resourcefulness and always looking ahead. That’s a lesson I carry with me every day.

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?

Hi, I’m Zena, originally from England. Over the past five years, I’ve called four cities home—London, San Francisco, Miami, and Tampa. My corporate career is in recruiting, and 2023 marked a significant shift for me when I made the leap into entrepreneurship, driven by my passion for health and wellness.

I’ve partnered with a Japanese medical technology company that’s been around for over 50 years—longer than Apple—and together, we’re making a real difference. Our flagship product is a medical-grade water device that gives people access to the cleanest, most antioxidant-rich water available. No more relying on bottled water, and no more compromising on quality.

But this isn’t just about a product. It’s about solving a problem that many people don’t even realize they have; the impact that poor water quality has on our health. From organ function to nutrient absorption, sports performance, recovery, and energy levels—the water we drink affects everything. I’ve seen first-hand how the quality of life in the USA differs from the UK, and it’s alarming how many people don’t prioritize health.
That’s why I’m so passionate about empowering others to make healthier choices.

Building this business has been challenging yet hugely rewarding. I’m so proud to lead a growing team of incredible individuals, all dedicated to helping others improve their health through our product.
In fact, our Japanese-made water ionizers are so popular that 20,000 units are sold globally each month—and the industry is only expected to keep growing, projected to double and reach $30 billion by 2034.
This isn’t just business—it’s about creating positive change with our clients, across our distribution team and for generations to come.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I first started my business, I was completely focused on “making sales”. I thought if I just showed people the benefits of the products, they would buy…. Simple, right?
Except—it wasn’t. It actually took me six months to make my first sale. That was eye-opening. I felt pressure to hit an income goal fast, and honestly – I started questioning whether I was even cut out for sales.

I had a ton of self-limiting beliefs: “I’m not a sales person.” “People don’t want to buy from me.” “Maybe I’m just not good at this.”

The turning point came when I started investing in my growth. I attended a Faith Over Fear business conference in Orlando, and met incredible entrepreneurs in LA, Vegas and Miami at trainings and masterminds.

I realized I was approaching business transactionally instead of transformationally. People can tell when you’re just trying to sell to them from a mile away. So, I stopped trying to “get” sales and started focusing on serving people deeply—financially, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually.
Here’s what changed:
– Instead of pitching, I started problem-solving—helping people uncover their own solutions.
– Instead of chasing money, I focused on impact. How could I truly help someone? How could I help better them financially, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually?
– Instead of fear around money, I embraced a new financial philosophy—the 10/10/80 rule with each of my pay checks:
10% is donated to a charity or my church (tithing)
10% is invested into my future (stocks, crypto)
80% is for living and enjoying life
And here’s the crazy part—as soon as I made this shift, I started earning my first passive income checks that same week. That’s when I realized: Money is energy. When you align your business and values with a purpose bigger than just making money, things flow differently.
If I could share one takeaway from this pivot, it’s this: Stop focusing on what you can GET, and start focusing on what you can GIVE. When you lead with impact, sales naturally follow.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

There were definitely moments when doubt crept in, like when it took half a year until my first sale was made…. Some people give up after a month or two. I’d ask myself – “Is this really going to work?” I knew that dwelling on fear wouldn’t get me anywhere. Instead, I focused on what I could control—which was my mindset, my habits, and my actions.
I’ve always been called a “high achiever” through school and my corporate career, so stepping into sales was super humbling because I assumed that working hard would bring quick results… it didn’t. I had to let go of my expectations of instant success and trust this process that I’d never been through before.

The pressure I felt wasn’t from others—it was internal. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do this. What kept me going while it took months to make my first sale was a mix of faith, personal development, and surrounding myself with the right people. I had mentors who believed in me while I kept failing forward, solid friends who encouraged me, and a community that reminded me of what was possible. Seeing others succeed showed me that success wasn’t about luck—it was about carrying on even though I felt defeated. Or I guess some would call it “grit”!

I had to create daily habits to stay mentally strong and resilient. My favourite is that I keep a gratitude journal every morning and night, where I write three things I’m grateful for—it keeps me grounded and reminds me how blessed I am.
I also follow Coach Michael Burt’s “prey drive activation” method, which means preparing myself in each of these areas; emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually before I start work. Even if it’s just a quick 10 minutes – this could look like listening to worship music (spiritual), reading my current book (mental), lifting weights (physical), and journaling (emotional); starting my day strong makes all the difference!
If you’re facing uncertainty, my advice is this: keep moving, even if it’s a small step. Don’t let fear hold you back. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, invest in your growth, and have faith that every challenge is shaping you for what’s next. Your breakthrough is closer than you think.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://zenagilbert.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenagilbert11/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551000847282
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zenagilbert/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zenamelissagilbert