Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Esther Andries of West Hollywood

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Esther Andries. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Esther, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
For me, the first 90 minutes of the day are sacred and unapologetically mine. I don’t take meetings, I don’t open my inbox, and I definitely don’t dive into work mode right away.

I’ve learned over time, especially after building three businesses and navigating some serious life pivots, that how I start my day sets the tone for everything else. I begin slowly and intentionally. I make my matcha, do my skincare, tidy the house, and head out for a long, grounding walk with my dog, Kobe. That mix of movement, nature, and stillness helps me get centered before I lead, create, or support anyone else.

This routine didn’t happen by accident. It’s something I had to protect and prioritize. After years of thinking productivity had to come first, I now see that giving myself space in the morning isn’t just self-care, it’s a strategy. It’s how I stay clear-headed and aligned, whether I’m consulting founders or guiding sessions or creating.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Esther Andries, a wellness entrepreneur, published author, and three-time business founder originally from Belgium and now based in Los Angeles. My work lives at the intersection of entrepreneurship, personal branding, and AI consulting. After building multiple ventures across Europe and the US — and navigating some major life pivots — I’ve learned to design businesses that are both strategic and deeply sustainable.

These days, I primarily consult founders in the wellness, luxury, and CPG space on how to integrate AI and automation into their business in a way that actually creates more freedom, not more stress. I also coach entrepreneurs on how to build brands that feel authentic, aligned, and built to last.

What makes my work different is that I blend real-life entrepreneurial experience with the belief that efficiency and well-being can — and should — coexist. My story is proof that reinvention is always possible, and I love helping others create businesses that support the life they actually want to live.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
Honestly, it’s not one person who taught me the most about work — it’s the work itself. I’ve worn many hats: I’ve run a brick-and-mortar restaurant, built an e-commerce supplement brand, and now lead an agency focused on consulting and strategy. Each chapter has taught me something new, but the biggest lesson across all of them is this: you have to love what you do.

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It will test you, stretch you, and sometimes knock the wind out of you. The only thing that keeps you moving through those moments is passion — not just for the business itself, but for the impact you want to make.

I’ve learned that being deeply invested in your mission, and genuinely enjoying the work you do, is non-negotiable. Without that, it’s just too easy to burn out or give up. But when you’re fueled by purpose and aligned with your path, even the hard days become part of something meaningful.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell her this: Don’t be so afraid to be seen. Don’t dim your light to make others comfortable. Speak up. Take up space. You are allowed to want more, to dream big, and to be proud of who you are becoming.

Growing up in Belgium, humility was second nature — which can be a beautiful trait, but also one that sometimes holds you back. I was shy, eager to please, and always putting others first. I didn’t realize that playing small doesn’t serve anyone, least of all yourself.

Moving to the US challenged that. I saw firsthand how powerful it can be to own your voice, to be bold, and to say, “Yes, I’m good at this.” That shift helped me grow not just as a woman, but as a business owner.

So to my younger self, I’d say: You have no idea yet how much you’re capable of. Don’t think so small. You’re meant to do big things — and it’s more than okay to let the world see that.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think my closest friends would say that what really matters to me is community. I deeply value the relationships in my life — friends who lift you up, family who checks in, and walk beside you through the highs and the hard seasons. I experienced that in a very real way during one of the toughest chapters of my life, and it reminded me how essential it is to nurture those bonds. Whether it’s chosen family or loved ones across the world, investing in meaningful connection is everything to me.

They’d probably also say I’m big on consistency and reliability. I’m a double Virgo — so yes, I live by my calendar. I love structure, I love a plan, and I believe being respectful of people’s time is a form of kindness.

At the end of the day, I think they’d say I care deeply about showing up for people, and doing it with both intention and heart.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply — and what I think a lot of people underestimate — is just how powerful your mindset is. I truly believe that you create the reality of your life through your thoughts, your energy, and the attitude you bring to challenges. You can choose to see setbacks as proof that you’re stuck, or you can choose to see them as turning points; moments to rise, to grow, and to rewrite your story.

People often assume I’ve been lucky or that things just worked out for me, but the people closest to me know the truth. They’ve seen the fight, the breakdowns, and the rebuilding. The version of my life you see now didn’t just happen by coincidence — it took everything in me to get here and a well thought out strategy.

And the reason I’m still standing, still building, still dreaming, is because I’ve trained my mindset like a muscle. For the past six years, I’ve made it a daily practice to choose perspective over panic, growth over victimhood. It’s not always easy, but it’s everything. Your mindset is either your greatest limitation or your greatest power — and you get to choose which one it becomes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aestetikagency.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esther.andries/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-andries-52568a85/

Image Credits
Tiffany Lee