Name: Alisa Vitti
Age: 35
Job Title and Description: Founder of FLOLiving.com, a virtual health center that supports women’s hormonal and reproductive health.
College/Major: John Hopkins University/ Biology
Website: floliving.com
Twitter Handle: @floliving
What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Alisa Vitti: As the CEO of FLO Living, I’m the face of my company and the leader of my team. Every day brings something new — there is really no such thing as a typical day!
I recently published a book with HarperCollins called WomanCode: Perfect Your Cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Drive, and Become a Power Source. I’ve just wrapped up my U.S. book tour, where I spoke to hundreds of women in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas. Next, I’m off to London!
In the past few months, I’ve been blessed with a wide variety of media opportunities: I was on the Dr. Oz Show for a groundbreaking segment on period health, am in talks with a leading television network about having my own show and I’m being quoted in publications such as Shape and Redbook.
Aside from media and publicity, I spend a lot of time with my team—developing the company strategy, deciding what projects to pursue and meeting with my investors.
What is the best part of your job?
AL: I love speaking to women. Whether it’s lecturing or spending time with clients, I’m passionate about helping women understand their hormones [so they can] take care of their bodies. Hormones affect everything – your period, your fertility, your sex drive, your mood, your sleep, your appearance (weight, skin, hair) and so much more!
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
AL: My early jobs included a marketing role at a tech start-up and a fundraising position at a nonprofit.
I got these jobs by being confident, clear and collaborative during interviews. Study and develop the skill of negotiating—it will serve you well with everything in business, beyond getting hired.
What were some challenges you faced while trying to promote your alternative medical practice and how did you overcome them?
AL: When I started my company 10 years ago, the traditional medical community was less open to hormonal and holistic health. Today, however, we’re receiving a steady stream of referrals from leading medical doctors and IVF centers. Women all over the country are also beginning to understand that mainstream medicine is not enough. Drugs and surgery are not the only options to treat hormonal symptoms. They can actually take control of their health by using food as medicine to heal their bodies, which is what we teach at FLOLiving.com.
What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?
AL: When it comes to running a business, everything takes so much longer than you anticipate. It’s like running a constant marathon, and there is no such thing as overnight success. To be successful, you need to be a little bit stubborn, persistent and focused on the long-term return on investment.
Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
AL: There are so many! I’ve found that you can learn something from every person, so never underestimate the power of relationships.
Two people who have had a particularly profound impact on me are Dr. Christiane Northrup and Shazi Visram. Dr. Northrup is a pioneer in the field of women’s holistic health. She encouraged me to birth my book and share my message with the world. Shazi, the CEO of Happy Baby, encouraged me to expand my company and do my first round of investor fundraising, which has been a game changer in my business.
What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?
AL: I have two mantras I work by:
The first is “leaders make their decisions quickly and change their minds slowly.” In business, it’s so important to make decisions, commit to them and take action!
The second is “progress over perfection.” Don’t be a victim of procrastination and perfectionism!
What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
AL: A mistake I’ve made is thinking that I have do things alone. When the right decision was not clear, I struggled to figure it out all by myself. What I’ve learned is that having the right support structure in place is critical to running a successful business. Today, I have a great team and trusted advisors who I can turn to for help.
Have you had a particular moment when you realized that you officially “made it”? If so, please tell us!
AL: There is no single moment. I’m constantly learning and growing as I take my business to each new level of success.
I’ve been running my business for so long, and what nourishes me is regularly acknowledging the small milestones I’ve made each quarter. Some of my proudest moments have been getting a book deal and attracting great investors to my team.
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?
AL: Virgos! Joking aside, I love people who are detail-oriented, organized and complement my 10,000 foot perspective and visionary leadership style.
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
AL: Spend time developing your knowledge base and skill set. There is a lot of noise in the health and wellness industry. What people are looking for is deep wisdom and support.
I’ve been doing this work for over a decade and just came out with my first book. Things take time. In the words of my ex-boyfriend, it will take 10 years before anyone will really starts to notice you. So focus on deepening your expertise and adding as much value as you can in people’s lives.
For women interested in the mobile healthcare or tech space, I encourage them to work at those types of companies, where they can develop the knowledge and skill set they’ll need. Also spend time networking. Connect with tech people, meet with investors and always be open to learning as much as you can from others!