Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Pellizzon.
Michelle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve had a weird life. I was on track to be a professional ballet dancer when I was diagnosed with epilepsy at 17. I went to so many different specialists and neurologists, but no one could tell me exactly what was wrong with me—just that I’d need to be on an anticonvulsant medication for the rest of my life … and I’d have to deal with the side effects of that medication.
Because of my diagnosis, my life path changed a little. Instead of trying to become a professional dancer right out of high school, I ended up going to New York University to study dance and photography. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. While at NYU, I was exposed to different forms of meditation, and I found that the more I regularly meditated the more my epilepsy symptoms and seizures decreased. I started learning about alternative forms of healing through food, plants, movement, and energy work. Eventually, I found I could help manage my symptoms through these sorts of ‘esoteric’ and holistic modalities. I knew that even though these treatments worked for me they probably seemed pretty to the average person, so my practices were always something I kept under the radar.
After working and dancing professionally in NYC for 8 years (and going back to school to become a certified holistic nutritionist), I moved to LA and started working in the tech startup industry.
I noticed that there wasn’t a lot of female leadership in tech—and the women who were leading companies didn’t really resonate with me on a personal level. I wondered if it was possible to be a female leader who was also intuitive, empathetic, conscious, and driven. During my four years in the tech world, I didn’t meet any women who were leading companies in that way … but I knew that type of leader had to exist out there. I just had to find her.
I started interviewing women from all walks of life—tech founders, entrepreneurs, freelancers, writers, PR mavens, healthy living experts, artists, bankers—and lo and behold, found the leaders I’d been searching for. I noticed that the women who seemed to be the best leaders always had some sort of spiritual practice that kept them grounded and helped them develop a holistic worldview.
These women were interested in talking about spirituality in a really grounded, realistic way. They wanted to explore the intersection of holistic, healthy living; mystic ‘woo’ stuff; and entrepreneurship … all in one conversation.
So, oh holisticism was born as a weekly newsletter that went to a curated group of women who wanted to connect over these ideas, and more.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
So far, it’s been a whirlwind! When I launched holisticism in June of 2017, we had 111 women on the email list. I honestly thought that we’d maybe get to 150 subscribers … eventually.
But through word of mouth—women nominate their friends to join the group, and we just launched an application on our site for those who find us organically to join—we’ve grown to over 1,500 women in cities across the world!
The biggest struggle is that I still have a full-time job as a writer and editor, and politicism is a one-woman show. But honestly, it has been a total dream to see this community come to life. I wouldn’t trade the late nights and explosive email inbox for anything.
Please tell us about oh holisticism .
oh holisticism is a community for women to explore the intersection between holistic living, mystic ‘woo woo’ stuff, and entrepreneurship. It’s for women who read their horoscopes, but also pour over The Economist.
We send out a weekly newsletter for our readers and have events every month for our community to connect with each other and learn from experts. Most importantly, we create space for like-minded women to meet and support each other.
I truly believe that we are creating a new paradigm of what it means to be a female leader. It’s become clear that no one is going to come and save us—no one will teach us how to step into this role. So, we have to kind of just muddle through and figure it out ourselves … and that’s empowering. I believe in us.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Honestly, nothing! I’m just along for the ride, and I learn invaluable lessons every day as the oh holisticism community grows. I am so grateful for the amazing women who have come our way.
Contact Info:
- Website: ohholisticism.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @holisticism
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
