Daily Inspiration: Meet Arkesha Dunning

Today we’d like to introduce you to Arkesha Dunning.

Hi Arkesha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey has really been about bringing together two things I’ve always been passionate about: building brands and wellness.

Professionally, I built my career in product marketing, working with major tech companies and learning how to understand consumers, bring products to market, and create experiences that people genuinely connect with. At the same time, wellness and movement were becoming an increasingly important part of my own life.

That intersection ultimately inspired me to create Healthy Gal, a wellness brand built around the idea that taking care of yourself should feel fun, beautiful, and approachable—not overwhelming. I saw an opportunity to create products and experiences that fit naturally into women’s everyday routines while also building a community around movement, connection, and consistency.

I launched Healthy Gal in 2026 with our first electrolyte products, inspired by cocktail flavors like Watermelon Margarita and Lemon Drop Martini. Since then, the brand has grown beyond just products. We’ve participated in wellness and fitness events across the country, collaborated with studios and communities, launched our Healthy Gal Bestie ambassador program, and continued developing new products and flavors.

Along the way, I also became a certified Pilates instructor, which has given me another way to connect directly with the wellness community and has influenced how I think about the future of Healthy Gal.

I’m still very much in the building stage, and I think that’s what makes this chapter so exciting. I’m continuing my career in product marketing while growing Healthy Gal, expanding our community, developing new products, and learning what it takes to turn an idea I believed in into a brand with a much bigger vision.

Ultimately, I want Healthy Gal to become more than a product company. My goal is to build a modern wellness lifestyle brand and community that helps women make wellness a consistent, enjoyable part of their everyday lives.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s also been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.

One of my biggest challenges has been building Healthy Gal while maintaining a full-time career in product marketing and, more recently, teaching Pilates. I’ve had to learn how to balance being an employee, instructor, founder, marketer, salesperson, event coordinator, and everything else that comes with running an early-stage business.

There’s also the financial reality of building a consumer brand. Healthy Gal has been primarily self-funded, so I’ve had to be extremely intentional about where I invest, especially when it comes to inventory, manufacturing, packaging, events, and marketing. As a smaller brand, you’re constantly making decisions about what will actually move the business forward versus what simply looks exciting.

Manufacturing has probably been one of my biggest learning curves. Minimum order quantities can be challenging for an emerging brand, and developing new products requires much more than having a great idea. There’s formulation, sourcing, testing, packaging, compliance, timelines, and significant upfront investment. I’ve learned to ask more questions, negotiate, and find creative ways to grow without overextending the business.

I’ve also learned that entrepreneurship can be incredibly unpredictable. There are moments when you feel like everything is gaining momentum, followed by moments when things slow down and you start questioning your next move. I’m learning not to measure progress only by what’s visible on social media or by how quickly something happens.

Every challenge has made me a stronger founder. My background in product marketing has taught me to listen to the customer, test and learn, and continue iterating. I’m still figuring things out as I go, but I’ve become much more comfortable with the idea that building something meaningful takes time. For me, the goal isn’t to grow Healthy Gal as quickly as possible—it’s to build it thoughtfully and create something that can last.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work spans product marketing, technology, wellness, and entrepreneurship. I’ve built my career in product marketing at companies like Amazon and Meta, where I’ve had the opportunity to work on innovative consumer technology and help bring products and experiences to market. My background is really rooted in understanding the customer—what they need, how they think, and how to translate those insights into positioning, messaging, and go-to-market strategies that resonate.

Working at Amazon and Meta has shaped the way I approach business. I’ve learned how some of the world’s largest companies think about customers, innovation, product launches, and scale, and I’ve been able to take many of those lessons into my own entrepreneurial journey.

Outside of tech, I’m also a certified Pilates instructor. Pilates started as something I personally loved and eventually became another professional passion. Teaching has given me an entirely different perspective because I’m able to connect with people directly, understand their wellness goals, and create experiences that make movement feel welcoming and enjoyable.

I’m also the founder of Healthy Gal, where all of those worlds come together. I’m able to take my experience as a product marketer, my passion for wellness, and what I learn from being immersed in the fitness community and apply it to building a consumer wellness brand from the ground up.

What I’m most proud of is that I haven’t felt the need to choose just one path. I can be a product marketer, Pilates instructor, and entrepreneur, and each part of my career makes me stronger in the others. What sets me apart is that combination of corporate strategy, hands-on consumer experience, and founder mentality. Whether I’m launching a product in tech, teaching a Pilates class, or building Healthy Gal, the common thread is creating thoughtful experiences that genuinely connect with people.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest advice is to start before you feel completely ready. I think so many of us wait for the perfect plan, the perfect timing, more money, more experience, or more confidence—but a lot of clarity comes from actually doing the thing.

I also wish I understood earlier that your career doesn’t have to be linear. I’ve worked in product marketing at companies like Amazon and Meta, become a certified Pilates instructor, and built Healthy Gal at the same time. On paper, those may look like completely different paths, but each experience has made me better at the others. You don’t always have to choose one version of yourself.

For anyone starting a business, I would also say: protect your resources and learn the business side just as much as the creative side. It’s easy to get excited about branding, packaging, events, and everything people can see, but understanding your margins, manufacturing, operations, customer acquisition, and where your money is going is just as important.

Most importantly, don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Building a career or a business takes time. There will be seasons where you feel like you’re moving quickly and others where you’re questioning everything. Keep learning, stay close to the people you’re serving, and be willing to pivot.

I’m still learning myself, but one thing I know now is that you don’t need to have your entire life mapped out. You just need enough courage to take the next step and enough discipline to keep going.

Pricing:

• Healthy Gal Electrolyte 5-Pack — $9
• Healthy Gal Electrolyte Sampler — $16
• Healthy Gal Water Bottle — $32
• Healthy Gal Tote Bags — $38
• Healthy Gal Hats — starting at $28

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.healthygal.co
• Instagram: @healthygalco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Healthy-Gal-100084292806799/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/112716804/admin/dashboard/