… That’s a very good question. You know, I think I wish someone had told me that I wouldn’t need to work quite as hard as I did. I really actually overworked. I didn’t take any days off. I was just working, working, working. So I think that I learned later on in life that overworking is not necessarily so good.
I think having more fun would’ve been another bit of advice, and learn from people and their experiences.
I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Susie Ellis at the 2021 Global Wellness Summit in Boston, Massachusetts.
Susie Ellis is chairman and CEO of the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), and heads up the organization’s annual Global Wellness Summit and Global Wellness Tourism Congress. She also spearheaded the GWI initiative, WellnessEvidence.com, the first online portal that provides easy access to the universe of medical evidence that exists for the most common wellness approaches.
Ellis is a member of the International Advisory Board of the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne; a member of the Spa Advisory Board for the University of California, Irvine, Spa and Hospitality Management Program; and on the Aspen Brain Forum Board of Advisors. She holds a MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and is the recipient of the prestigious International Spa Association’s 2012 Visionary Award.
Thank you so much for doing this interview. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Well, my parents were gymnasts and so I grew up in an athletic family. So when I went to college, I was looking at majoring in physical education, but there was also another path for recreation administration. This is a long time ago, but that’s where I ended up, being in a world where people being healthy was important. And then I had my first job after undergraduate at a fabulous health resort called The Golden Door, and that’s where my career launched.
What are your “3 things I wish someone told me when I first started my career” and why?
That’s a very good question. You know, I think I wish someone had told me that I wouldn’t need to work quite as hard as I did. I really actually overworked. I didn’t take any days off. I was just working, working, working. So I think that I learned later on in life that overworking is not necessarily so good.
I think having more fun would’ve been another bit of advice, and learn from people and their experiences.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?
Definitely it’s Deborah Szekely, she’s the founder of The Golden Door, which is the first spa job that I had. She’s still alive. She’s gonna be a hundred next year. She’s been my mentor.
Do you have a favorite book or quote that made a deep impact on your life? Can you share a story?
Well, I have to say that I’m Christian and so the Bible has been a spiritual guide for me. I believe a lot in the strength of biblical verse. So I think the quote “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”
I think that’s been really very comforting and helpful and has been very true. Even though I’ve had some lows in life and some disasters, but that has been true and it’s something I count on now at my age.
How has wellness played a big role in your life?
You know, I’ve learned over all the years — I’ve been in this for four decades — and learned so much from so many people about exercise, about nutrition, about mental wellness, about all these different aspects and so I’ve applied them and then when I go through something that’s challenging, it makes a big difference. I’m more resilient.
As you know, COVID-19 changed the world as we know it. Can you share some examples of how health and wellness companies will be adjusting?
Wellness has taken center stage. I share this model about healthcare and self-care that COVID has taught us. Healthcare workers and professionals are very important, but it’s not enough. There’s not enough of them and it’s expensive in a lot of cases. We have to take care of ourselves because the reality is that people who are not in such good shape suffered more with COVID. That got a lot of people’s attention. So now people are doing more for themselves.
In my work as a Board Certified Wellness Coach who caters to the cancer survivor community, I have found the theme of “second chances” to be a powerful motivator. What keeps your spirit still firing?
You know, I just feel that this has been a calling for me and so I just keep doing it and it’s been satisfying every step of the way.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I think we are now focusing on wellness for all, and we are focusing on diversity. I’ve been able to steer this ship for the last 15 years. I think just bringing wellness to a place of importance for a lot of people has helped.
This was very meaningful, Susie, thank you so much!