Community Highlights: Meet Jackie VanSloten of Femra, marketing strategy and health coaching

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie VanSloten.

Hi Jackie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always been fascinated by psychology and the human capacity for change. I am endlessly curious, drawn to growth, perspective, and the question of what makes people thrive. Ironically, I was not an athlete growing up. I was the kid who begged her mom to write notes to get out of running the mile in gym class. But when my dad began facing health issues, I decided to train for a 5K with him. That small goal lit something in me, and each year the goal grew: a 10K, a half marathon, a marathon, and eventually an ultramarathon.

When I moved west, first to Portland and later to Los Angeles, my love for movement evolved into a love for the outdoors. I started climbing, surfing, skiing, and running trails around the world, from the rim-to-rim of the Grand Canyon to the summits of the Tetons and volcanoes in Chile. Those experiences shaped not just my body but my mindset, reinforcing resilience, curiosity, and the ability to push past perceived limits.

At the same time, I was living two parallel lives: one as a high-performing marketing professional at major companies such as Starcom, Wieden + Kennedy, and Amazon, and another as an athlete chasing freedom and health. Eventually, the imbalance caught up with me. I experienced a major health crisis that forced me to re-evaluate everything.

I spent months learning, navigating specialists, lab tests, and the healthcare system, and discovered how little support and research exists for women’s health. It changed me. I realized I wanted to use my skills and curiosity to make a difference, not just in business but in people’s lives. That is what led me to launch both Femra Consulting, a strategy firm that specializes in health and wellness brands, and my health coaching practice, focused on helping women reconnect with their bodies and potential.

In many ways, my two worlds finally came together: personal growth and business growth, two sides of the same coin.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As a kid, I was small, sickly, and incredibly picky. I lived on chocolate and mac and cheese. I lacked confidence and did not see myself as athletic. Later, in high school, the soccer program I was part of was discovered to have serious misconduct among coaches. I did not recognize it at the time, but it left a deep mark on my confidence and relationship with sport.

More recently, my biggest challenge came during a health crisis on an extended restrictive meditation retreat. It was both physical and existential, the kind of experience that dismantles everything you thought you knew about your body, career, and identity. I spent months meeting with everyone from hematologists and endocrinologists to acupuncturists and therapists, trying to understand what had gone wrong.

That period forced me to confront how far I had drifted from my own values. It also pushed me toward alignment, to live and work in a way that actually supports health instead of undermining it. That is what inspired my entrepreneurial path. It has not been smooth, but it has been transformative. I now help others bridge that same gap between ambition and wellbeing, between striving and thriving.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Fermra Consulting & Health Coaching?
I’ve spent the past 15 years in marketing, leading strategy and media initiatives across top global companies including Starcom, Carat, Mindshare, Wieden+Kennedy, and Amazon. During that time, I’ve had the privilege of partnering with world-class brands such as P&G, Kimberly-Clark, Microsoft, and Meta. My background spans strategy, communications planning, and marketing solutions for major brands, but over time my focus has evolved to include thought leadership and helping small businesses grow with purpose.

Through my consultancy Femra, I specialize in growth strategy for start-ups, small businesses, women’s health, wellness, and performance brands. I help founders and marketing teams clarify their positioning, connect with audiences, and build sustainable marketing systems that drive both awareness and long-term growth. My work blends data-driven strategy with empathy and authenticity, aligning business impact with purpose.

In addition to consulting, I work as a Health Coach, supporting women in improving their health and quality of life through sustainable, personalized changes. I partner with individuals managing chronic disease or ongoing health issues, as well as those looking to feel more energized and balanced. Together, we focus on the daily habits that create lasting health, from setting boundaries and managing stress to committing to movement and rebuilding self-trust. My approach draws on functional health principles and emphasizes hormone balance, sleep, nutrition, and emotional wellbeing.

I also share resources through my social media, email newsletter, and content platforms, offering evidence-based health information, inspiration, and healthy recipes that I have personally tested. My goal is to make health approachable and empowering, something people can integrate into real life rather than view as an all-or-nothing pursuit.

Outside of my professional work, I am an athlete at heart. I began as a runner and triathlete in Chicago before moving west and discovering outdoor sports like climbing, surfing, and skiing. These pursuits have taken me around the world and shaped how I view performance, resilience, and mindset. That passion led to writing for Climbing Magazine and collaborating with thought leaders exploring the intersection of mental strength and wellbeing.

What began when I gave up fast food after reading Fast Food Nation in high school has grown into a lifelong commitment to understanding and advocating for better research, access, and support in women’s health. My work now bridges two worlds, marketing and health, both grounded in helping people and organizations perform, grow, and thrive.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is growth, both for people and for businesses. That is what motivates me every day.

Whether I am helping a client clarify their strategy, supporting a woman navigating a health challenge, or pushing myself on a climb, I am driven by the process of learning, evolving, and creating something stronger than what existed before.

I am especially passionate about being a resource for women. There are still major gaps in the medical system when it comes to women’s health and optimal living, and I believe real change starts with better education, collaboration, and empowerment. Growth is not just about success, it is about helping people feel capable, confident, and connected in their own lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://femraconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachjackiev/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaclyn-vansloten-3a83b52b/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@coachjackiev

Image Credits
Neil Fernandez