CEO Lahana Vigilano Shares her Insights as a Mamaprenista Launching Nuvitru Wellness
October 19, 2022
Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:
I am Lahana - the founder and CEO of Nuvitru Wellness. I'm a board-certified clinical nutritionist with a team of dietitians helping women in power overcome hormonal imbalances and digestive issues that are holding them back from performing their best in their work. I am passionate about helping women in power because I know what it takes to run a business and to do it the best, we have to feel our best. We've been in business since 2015, and we have helped thousands of women overcome little symptoms like bloating and stubborn weight loss to big diagnoses. The power of food as medicine is incredible! I'm a mama of two and a wife outside of work. I'm also in my doctorate degree in clinical nutrition (#bucketlist). I love strength training, cooking, reading romance novels, + catching up on my favorite Netflix show. I'm an introvert after working all week!
What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?
I love being surrounded by women entrepreneurs because it's entrepreneurship can be lonely and it's a rollercoaster ride. Nothing feels better than doing it with like-minded women! :)
What made you take the leap to start your own business?
I'm naturally a leader and have always wanted to do things on my own account. I have such a vision + mission to leave an impact on helping women in power really feel their best!
What was your background prior to starting your own business?
I was in school for pre-med and switched to nutrition once I saw the food as medicine impact! I started my business relatively young, so I only had experience in working in grocery stores and restaurants.
Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
It actually never crossed my mind, but as I got older and became a mom, entrepreneurship was definitely the way I wanted to go!
Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out, and did it go as planned?
We were doing a lot of social media marketing, community involvement, print ads marketing, networking, etc. Some things didn't go as planned, but for the most part, the collaborative effort of all the things did move our business forward!
What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way and what did you learn from it?
My biggest challenge has been mentally + learning that even though this journey is a rollercoaster, I don't have to go up + down with it. Developing a mindset that is unwavering is as key as having faith throughout it all!
What is the accomplishment you are the proudest of to date?
It's a tie between hitting 6 figures and getting my Master's degree in Human Nutrition + Functional Medicine.
Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?
YES! Creating a schedule and sticking to it, involving the family in business affairs so we can do it together, and scheduling in that life/family events like I would any other meeting!
What's a piece of advice you can share that you wish you'd known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?
Expect a rollercoaster of emotions - wins, failures, and everything in between. On your hardest day, just know that the best day is right around the corner!
What have you achieved recently that you'd like to celebrate with our community?
Opening our first location in Houston outside of our headquarters here in Austin, TX!
What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?
More locations throughout the U.S.