Women-Led Wellness: 10 Founders Building the Future of Holistic Health
The global wellness industry is undergoing a radical transformation - and women entrepreneurs are leading the charge. These visionary founders aren't just creating products; they're building movements that redefine how we approach health, beauty, and self-care. From plant-based nutrition to hormonal health, these women are proving that wellness should be inclusive, science-backed, and sustainable. Here are 10 female founders who are shaping the future of holistic health.
1. Ella Mills - Deliciously Ella (Plant-Based Nutrition)
Ella Mills launched Deliciously Ella in 2012 as a food blog while battling Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, a chronic illness that left her bedridden for months. What began as a personal recipe journal has grown into a £50 million wellness empire encompassing 10 cookbooks (selling over 1 million copies worldwide), a meal planning app with 500,000+ users, and three London delis. The brand's success lies in making plant-based eating accessible and delicious - her almond butter brownies went viral for proving healthy desserts could satisfy cravings. In 2023, Deliciously Ella partnered with UK supermarket chain Waitrose to launch a ready meal line that sold out within 48 hours, demonstrating mainstream demand for her approach to "wellness without deprivation."
Related: The Visionaries Behind the World’s Fastest-Growing Wellness Brands
2. Katrina Kibben - Three Ears Media (Inclusive Workplace Wellness)
Former HR executive Katrina Kibben founded Three Ears Media in 2018 to tackle what she calls "the mental health crisis hiding in job descriptions." Her company analyzes language patterns in hiring materials that unconsciously exclude neurodiverse candidates and people with mental health conditions. Working with Fortune 500 clients like Microsoft and Unilever, Three Ears has redesigned over 15,000 job postings, resulting in 30-45% more diverse applicant pools. Kibben's 2023 book "Hire Without Bias" became a Wall Street Journal bestseller, cementing her reputation as the leader in equitable hiring practices. The company now offers AI-powered tools that scan for exclusionary language in real-time, used by over 2,000 companies worldwide.
Related: Katrina “Kat” Kibben’s Three Ears Media: Listening as a Recruitment Superpower
Katrina kibben
3. Tiila Abbitt - Āether Beauty (Sustainable Cosmetics)
As Sephora's former Director of Sustainability and Innovation, Tiila Abbitt saw firsthand how the beauty industry greenwashed products. In 2018, she launched Āether Beauty, the first zero-waste makeup line carried by Sephora. Her radical approach includes eyeshadow palettes with compostable packaging made from mushroom mycelium and refillable lipsticks with biodegradable casings. The brand achieved profitability within 18 months and caught the attention of LVMH, who invested $5 million in 2022. Āether's Crystal Grid Highlighters became cult favorites, selling out 11 times in their first year. Abbitt's uncompromising standards forced major retailers to revise their sustainability requirements - Sephora now mandates recyclable packaging for all new brands.
Tiila Abbitt
4. Dr. Roshini Raj - TULA Skincare (Microbiome Beauty)
Gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj merged her medical expertise with beauty when she founded TULA Skincare in 2014. The brand pioneered probiotic-infused skincare based on research showing gut-skin connections. TULA's cult-favorite 24-7 Moisture Cream contains clinical-grade probiotics that reduce inflammation by 47% according to independent studies. After appearing on QVC in 2018, the brand sold $1.3 million worth of product in a single day. Procter & Gamble took notice, acquiring TULA in 2022 for an undisclosed sum (industry estimates suggest $200-300 million). The brand now generates over $100 million annually and has expanded into supplements with its Skin Food Probiotic line.
5. Latham Thomas - Mama Glow (Holistic Maternal Care)
Celebrity doula Latham Thomas founded Mama Glow in 2011 to address racial disparities in maternal health. Her evidence-based programs combine prenatal yoga, nutrition coaching, and birth education, serving over 25,000 families to date. The company's hospital partnership program has trained 300+ OB-GYNs in trauma-informed care, reducing C-section rates by 22% at participating hospitals. Mama Glow's $1,200 "Goddess Birth" preparation course maintains a 98% satisfaction rate, attracting clients like Serena Williams. In 2023, Thomas launched the Mama Glow Foundation, which provides free doula services to low-income mothers, funded by 10% of all company profits.
6. Whitney Tingle & Danielle DuBoise - Sakara Life (Functional Nutrition)
Best friends Whitney Tingle and Danielle DuBoise started Sakara Life in 2012 with $30,000 and a mission to make "food as medicine" delicious. Their organic, plant-rich meal delivery service now serves 15,000 meals weekly across the U.S., with clients including Gwyneth Paltrow and Hailey Bieber. The company's proprietary Nutrition Bars (packed with adaptogens and algae) generated $5 million in sales their first year. Sakara's 2021 Series B raised $15 million at a $200 million valuation. Their "Detox Kit" - a 3-day cleanse program - consistently sells out within hours of restocking, demonstrating loyal demand for their science-backed approach (all meals are designed by in-house RDs and PhD nutritionists).
7. Dr. Jolene Brighten - Hormone & Post-Birth Control Care
Board-certified endocrinologist Dr. Jolene Brighten launched her supplement line and digital programs in 2017 to address gaps in women's hormonal healthcare. Her "Post-Birth Control Syndrome" protocol helps women recover from synthetic hormone damage, with clinical studies showing 89% of participants regain regular cycles within 3 months. The brand's bestselling Balance Supplement (containing DIM and Vitex) sells 50,000 bottles monthly. Brighten's 2023 "Hormone Reset" online course attracted 120,000 enrollees in its first month, generating $4.2 million. Her Instagram (@drjolenebrighten) reaches 1.3 million followers with daily science-backed content debunking hormonal health myths.
Dr. Jolene Brighten
8. Naomi Watts - Stripes (Menopause Innovation)
Academy Award-nominated actress Naomi Watts launched Stripes in 2022 after experiencing frustration with the lack of menopause solutions. The brand's hero product - a $98 "Golden Boost" serum with bakuchiol and CBD - sold out its 10,000-unit first run in 72 hours. Stripes distinguishes itself through clinically validated formulas; their Hot Flash Cool Mist (developed with MIT researchers) reduces symptom frequency by 58% in trials. The company also operates a private community platform with 75,000 members where women share unfiltered menopause experiences. Watts recently partnered with CVS to bring menopause education to 8,000 retail locations, helping normalize conversations around this life stage.
9. Emily Fletcher - Ziva Meditation (Mindfulness for Performance)
Former Broadway performer Emily Fletcher created Ziva Meditation in 2011 after meditation cured her chronic insomnia and anxiety. Her 15-minute "mind training" technique blends mindfulness, meditation, and manifestation, taught to 30,000+ students including Fortune 500 CEOs and Olympic athletes. The ZivaOnline platform grew 300% during COVID-19, with corporate clients like Google and Salesforce licensing the program for employees. Fletcher's 2017 book "Stress Less, Accomplish More" became a Wall Street Journal bestseller. The company now offers a $1,500 certification program training meditation teachers, with graduates in 43 countries.
10. Trinity Mouzon Wofford - Golde (Superfood Simplicity)
At just 23 years old, Trinity Mouzon Wofford co-founded Golde in 2017 to make superfoods approachable. The brand's $28 Turmeric Latte Blend sparked the golden milk trend, selling 1 million units by 2020. Golde maintains radical transparency - each product contains just 3-5 whole food ingredients, a stark contrast to competitors' proprietary blends. The company achieved profitability in year two and caught the attention of Target, which now carries Golde nationwide. Wofford recently expanded into skincare with a mushroom-based face mask that sold 50,000 units in its first 3 months. With 350,000 Instagram followers, Golde proves that Gen Z wants wellness that's both effective and Instagrammable.
Trinity Mouzon Wofford
Related: The Visionaries Behind the World’s Fastest-Growing Wellness Brands
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