How To Trust Your Gut in Business and Health with Claire and Ellen Rudolph of WellTheory

Headshot size for WP (11)

Growing up, sisters Ellen and Claire, started a childcare summer camp for neighborhood children. Eventually, they decided to take what they learned from that experience, along with their work backgrounds, and combine it with the knowledge they had learned while waiting for a diagnosis for Ellen’s autoimmune disease and Claire’s mold exposure to create a place for others who are struggling to get quality help without the gaslighting. 

Today, we sit down with Ellen and Claire Rudolph, sisters and co-founders of WellTheory, a health and wellness membership that caters to people who have autoimmune disease. They share about their first business, how their wellness journeys led to starting WellTheory, how going viral has helped their marketing, and so much more.

“​​I have a really distinct memory of getting my lab results while I was on the subway––I was living in New York at the time––and just breaking down in tears, because I didn’t know what that meant for me and my future. And I vowed at that moment that once I got better, this was the area that I needed to dedicate my life to. And from there, I started to educate myself on what I was putting in and all my body started to embrace using food as medicine and really transformed my entire lifestyle.” – Ellen Rudolph

If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

  • Claire and Ellen talk about their childhood business (1:58)
  • Ellen and Claire share about their backgrounds (5:00)
  • Ellen gives us details about her health journey and how it caused her to start WellTheory (9:47)
  • Ellen discusses the differences between what WellTheory is now versus what she thought it would be in the beginning (21:01)
  • Claire shares what a member of WellTheory can expect in their membership (25:16)
  • Ellen talks about marketing and how sharing her story went viral (29:08)
  • Claire and Ellen share the learning lessons of starting a membership business model (32:48)
  • Ellen gives advice about fundraising (35:49)
  • Rapid fire questions (39:57)
  • Managing a public persona as a private person (44:11)
  • How Claire and Ellen balance their relationship as sisters and co-founders (46:22)
  • What being an Entreprenista means to Claire and Ellen (49:25)

Resources Mentioned:

Our Favorite Quotes:

  • “I went to doctor after doctor and got no answers. My symptoms were continually dismissed. And I was made to believe that it was all in my head. And I had many physicians that referred me out to therapists who could help me with my ‘psychological issues.’” – Ellen Rudolph
  • “I was lucky, you know, it only took me a year to a year and a half to get a diagnosis. For most folks, it takes four and a half years on average to get a diagnosis. And that’s just not okay. It’s a really long time to be living in uncertainty, and to just not be feeling like yourself.” – Claire Rudoplh
  • “One thing I remember watching Ellen in her health journey was she always had this intuition that I might have gotten 20 people to tell me that there’s nothing wrong, but I know that something’s wrong. And I think you need that same intuition and to listen to that, as an entrepreneur, when you’re building something.” – Claire Rudolph

Connect with Ellen and Claire Rudolph :

If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!

Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.

Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Become An Entreprenista!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast – the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.

Share it!

Posted in
Tags

Leave a Comment





How Janvi Shah is Shaping the Future of Inclusive Beauty Commerce through Technology

“Being an entrepreneur means owning your power as an entrepreneur. You don’t have to be ashamed, you don’t have to hold back.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Janvi Shah, the co-founder and CEO of Hue, an e-commerce technology company transforming the online beauty shopping experience. Hue has helped shoppers find the…

Ash Grewal on Her Community That Amplifies Women Changemakers

Hi, Ash! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Ash Grewal, a former tech executive turned founder. After scaling numerous startups in the retail tech scene and generating over $100M in revenue, I launched The OverachieveHers, a community dedicated to amplifying the voices, visibility, and influence of female changemakers. Our…

Cindy Shuster Provides Support to Parents Raising Children

Hi, Cindy! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Cindy. I provide private and group coaching to parents who are struggling in some aspect of raising their children. In addition, I speak to groups of parents and Parent ERGs in the corporate setting on a multitude of topics related to…

Ivonna Young Helps Apparel & Accessories Brands Reach Their Marketing Goals

Hi, Ivonna! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I’m Ivonna Young, Founder and Fractional CMO at The Lavender Agency. With over a decade of fashion marketing leadership, I maximize apparel brands’ sales with dynamic and strategic marketing. As a Fractional Chief Marketing Officer for apparel, accessories, and footwear brands, I craft…

Demystifying the Health Insurance Industry with Dr. Noor Ali

“Show up dressed as your next level self. So, whoever that ‘her’ is that you’re projecting—whether that’s five years or 10 years—show up as her. Embodying her, not just dressed as her… Proving to yourself like, ‘Hey, I just did it 10 years before I thought that I could do it.’” When Dr. Noor Ali…

How Junea Rocha took Brazi Bites from Shark Tank to Supermarket Success

“What we’re trying to do as entrepreneurs is move from that band of the starving entrepreneur that’s knocking on doors and stumbling, to be like, ‘I know my business, I’m gonna get shelf space, this is how I’m gonna drive, this is how I’m gonna compete, and let’s hold hands and grow.’” In this episode…

Emily Esposito Helps Couples Stay Confident on the Dancefloor

Hi, Emily! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Emily. I am the Owner of Anyone Can Dance. I’ve always wanted to be an actress and have been working professionally for 10 years, but the business is extremely inconsistent. I’ve always taught dance and theater when I wasn’t working in…

Quiana Evans Provides Coaching and Empowerment Services to Women Leaders

Hi, Quiana! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Quiana Evans is CEO & Founder of Infinite Life Group, LLC which embodies an Empowerment Group of Leaders who together are on a mission to inspire, equip, and empower ambitious women. Those who are striving but not thriving in life and are looking…

Victoria Gaston’s Doula Business Combines Traditional Techniques With Modern Approaches

Hi, Victoria! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Victoria. I am a 29-year-old NYC native, mama of five beautiful daughters, wife, and your BEST match postpartum doula. NewEra Doula was built on the belief that everyone deserves the best companion to help transition them into the fourth trimester. My…

How Lindsey Breitwieser Uses Strategic Marketing to Drive Revenue Growth for Startups

“We don’t have to do a million things, we just have to do the right things. We often feel like ‘I don’t have a big budget to spend on ads and that’s why I’m not successful.’ We’re chasing all of these different marketing tactics… In truth, we don’t actually need to be doing that much.”…

Mika Mooney Makes Legal Counsel Approachable and Accessible for Founders

Hi, Mika! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I’m Mika, a New York based business, trademark, and employment attorney and fellow entrepreneur. Mika Mooney Law was born out of a desire to support female founders in all things legal in a straight-forward, caring and sound way; all with a goal of…

How Marissa Shipman Built Resilient Beauty Businesses with theBalm and Pretty Smart

“I’m a glass half full kind of person. I really like to think of things like, “Okay, why did this happen?” And, you know, it’s like, if life gives you lemons, add vodka.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Marissa Shipman, the founder and CEO of theBalm Cosmetics and Pretty Smart Cosmetics.…

Sylvia “Ivy” Pacquing Blends Passion and Purpose With Her Soap and Candle Products

Hi, Ivy! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi! I’m Ivy, and along with my sister Vanessa, we founded Ives and Bees. We’re a small business dedicated to creating handmade products that are both sustainable and accessible. We started with handmade soaps and candles, and have since expanded our range to…

Caroline Crawford Supports Business Leaders With Marketing Expertise

Hi, Caroline! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Caroline. I’m a brand-driven growth marketing expert helping business leaders with aligning marketing initiatives effectively to achieve overarching business goals. I have a 13-year successful track record of blending the visionary with the integrator. After seeing first-hand how the marketing industry…

How Jackie Hutson Turned Postpartum Night Sweats into Piper & Mint’s Sleepwear Success

“I never once thought about these other markets because it wasn’t my experience yet. So you just never know where your business may lead you, even four months into it—it’s all from listening.” When Jackie Hutson gave birth to her son a little over a decade ago, she thought she had prepared for everything. However,…