Harvard Insights: Expert Strategies with Jessica Lackey

In this episode of the Health Coach Academy Podcast, Omar Cumberbatch welcomes Emma Murphy, CEO of Eating Freely, to discuss the power of niching down and becoming a specialist in the health and wellness industry. Emma shares her journey from building a private psychotherapy practice focused on disordered eating to launching a globally recognized training program for health coaches and nutritionists. Learn why niching is crucial for attracting ideal clients, how to differentiate yourself in a saturated market, and the importance of addressing emotional eating and binge eating. Emma also delves into practical strategies for incorporating therapy-informed tools into health coaching, building strong local networks, and using lived experiences to connect with clients on a deeper level. Discover how Emma navigated challenges, including pivoting her business during the pandemic, and hear her inspiring vision for empowering practitioners worldwide. If you're looking to elevate your health coaching practice and make a meaningful impact, this episode is packed with actionable insights and expert advice. Connect with Emma Murphy and learn more about Eating Freely at eatingfreely.com.

Having a strong money mindset is crucial for any entrepreneur aiming to build a thriving business. It’s not just about crunching numbers—it’s about developing the confidence to take control of your finances, align them with your goals, and create a sustainable path to growth. Without the right mindset, money can feel overwhelming or elusive, but with the right approach, it becomes a powerful tool for building your dream business and life. In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative world of money mindset with Lauren Schoenfeld, founder of Active Core Consulting. Lauren is a powerhouse in the health and wellness industry, providing entrepreneurs with fractional CFO services, bookkeeping expertise, and operational coaching to put their profit first and scale their dream businesses. A self-proclaimed numbers nerd and former athlete, Lauren brings a wealth of experience from her corporate tenure at PricewaterhouseCoopers, WeWork, and Equinox Fitness Clubs, where she spearheaded major growth initiatives and launched iconic ventures like Equinox Hotels and SoulCycle On-Demand. Lauren shares her journey from the corporate grind, which led to burnout and a chronic illness, to building her thriving business while prioritizing health and balance. Together, we explore how shifting your mindset about money can empower you to confidently take control of your finances, create a strategic profit-focused plan, and eliminate the hustle culture that traps so many entrepreneurs. Packed with actionable insights, Lauren delivers a must-listen for anyone looking to transform their relationship with money, develop financial confidence, and build a sustainable, thriving business without sacrificing their well-being.

Great copy is the key to a thriving business.  If you can understand the nuances of your industry, you become a master of the language, the vibe, and the challenges of your audience.  This understanding creates the connection that enables you to speak to prospective clients at a much more meaningful level that leads to better offers and more sales. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of copywriting with expert Linda Melone, uncovering the secrets behind writing words that truly captivate and convert. Linda, specializes in creating impactful, revenue-generating copy for the health, wellness, and fitness industries. She leverages her unique blend of skills as a former personal trainer and award-winning magazine writer into copy that converts. She shares her insights on how effective copy can shape brand identities, connect with audiences on a deeper level, and ultimately drive action. We discuss everything from understanding your target audience to crafting headlines that grab attention and writing copy that sells without feeling “salesy.” Whether you're a business owner, health coach, or aspiring writer, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you elevate your messaging and make a memorable impact with your words. Tune in and discover how to transform your ideas into compelling, conversion-focused copy that resonates with your audience and helps your business thrive.  

One of the most powerful strategies for building a successful business is often the most overlooked: niching down. As the market becomes more saturated, it’s not enough to be a generalist—you need to specialize and serve a specific audience to truly stand out. We explore why narrowing your focus allows you to connect more authentically with clients, offer more tailored solutions, and establish yourself as the go-to expert in your niche. Whether you're a health coach or an entrepreneur in any field, discovering your niche is key to attracting the right clients and scaling your business. To share this powerful insight, we invited Jenn Malecha to the show.  Jenn is the Wholistic Health Boss and is an expert in helping health and wellness professionals create successful, sustainable businesses. With years of experience as a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, Business Mentor, and Health Coach, Jenn has mastered the art of niching down to grow her brand and empower others to do the same. Through her unique approach, she helps health coaches identify their ideal clients, refine their messaging, and build profitable businesses that align with their passions and strengths. Tune in to learn from Jenn’s journey and get actionable tips on how you can find your niche and thrive.

One of the common themes I've learned over the years and after over 200 episodes is that business is business.  The same principles apply for most businesses starting out and the keys to success are basically the same.  So when I had a chance to interview Michael Silva, I jumped on the opportunity.   Michael is a business coach who is trying to save the physical therapy profession.  During this episode, it became quite clear that health coaches and physical therapists are industries that have many common struggles.  As both occupations have similar missions as wellness practitioners, they also share business struggles from building client relationships to managing pricing and business growth. Michael joins the show to share his passion of helping physical therapists build the practice of their dreams. He empowers private practice owners to create fulfilling and profitable businesses by niching down, targeting their ideal market, and delivering exceptional experiences.  Michael also shares how his journey began as a sports medicine physical therapist and quickly becoming disillusioned with the traditional healthcare model. The turning point came when he decided to start his own practice, driven by the support of his wife and the desire to create a more meaningful career.  This decision led to great success and fulfillment, inspiring him to help others do the same. Through his journey, Michael developed the 5 O's Method, a unique approach to helping physical therapists build successful private practices. Now, Michael is on a mission to transform the profession, one private practice at a time.  

When we hear about successful businesses, we often hear stories about the strategies that got these businesses to where they are. Whether that was a brilliant marketing campaign, or a unique branding idea. But we often don't get a glimpse of the mindset shift required to make radical changes in ourselves, especially when we are coming from traditional 9 to 5 jobs or corporate settings. In this episode, we dive deep into the mindset transformations essential for unlocking your entrepreneurial potential. We explore how shifting your identity from a traditional employee to a proactive entrepreneur is key to business success. You'll learn how to reframe limiting beliefs, embrace new habits, and adopt the mindset of a leader. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, this episode will guide you through the psychological and emotional shifts required to become the CEO of your own life and business. To share how to shift, we invited Rashi Nayar to the show. Rashi is a business coach and IIN alum who helps driven coaches scale to 7 figures through done for you marketing and content creation organically.

Podcast guesting is a powerful strategic tool for personal branding and business growth. By appearing on other people's podcasts, you can easily expand your audience, establish authority in your niche, and build meaningful connections. Podcast guesting also allows you to leverage these appearances to amplify your message, enhance credibility, and ultimately drive more opportunities to your business.  In this episode, we invited Sam Brake Guia to the show to discuss his experience in the podcast guesting world.  Sam is the Co-Founder of PodWritten, a podcast guest booking service who aims to helping health and wellness professionals get booked on podcasts.  He is also the host of the hit podcast Mics to Millions.  

The number one complaint health coaches have when starting out in their practice revolves around client acquisition.  How do we get consistent clients, especially when we are brand new to the game?  How do we get clients when we aren't established and we might be on a tight budget as well?  This dilemna is the main reason why health coaches never get their businesses off the ground and end up putting their certifications in the attic. In this episode, we invited Michael Krug back to the show to share his brilliant strategy on getting consistent clients.  Mike leverages Facebook groups to demonstrate his expertise and ends up getting paying customers readily willing to jump on his offers.  Listen in as Mike gives a step by step approach on this art and how this cost effective approach has been the backbone of his business.

Imagine the power of having insider corporate financial strategies for your health coaching business?  How much of a powerful infusion that would be!  In this episode, Danielle Hendon shares insights on applying these strategies to small and medium-sized businesses. She discusses practical tips for budgeting, cash flow management, and strategic planning, helping entrepreneurs optimize their finances, make informed decisions, and drive sustainable growth.  Danielle Hendon is the founder and owner of 4 Corners CFO, a firm offering financial advisory services to small business owners on a scale that fits their company and budget. Coupling her decade of experience in corporate finance and accounting with her passion for people, Danielle brings the benefit of “big business” financial analysis to entrepreneurs. Now, instead of helping corporations increase share price, Danielle gets to help business owners increase their personal livelihoods so they can leave a legacy and lasting impact on their community.

There's a lot that can be learned when you are working at Fortune 500 companies that can be transferable to a small business.  These valuable insights help you mold your vision at a significantly broader scale and allow you to put into practice the successful strategies that these large companies routinely employ. In this episode, Jennifer Lackey shares her expertise in helping businesses achieve sustainable growth and scalability. Drawing from her experiences at McKinsey and Company and Nike, as well as her education from Harvard Business School, Jennifer discusses key strategies for building strong foundations for long-term success.