After more than a decade working in the nutrition space, Emma Wylie knows there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to wellbeing. With a career that spans nutrition manager at My Food Bag and work for a FemTech start up, Emma has now stepped into a new phase of her career with the launch of her own holistic consulting service: Elo Wellbeing. Through Elo, Emma has built a space around meeting women where they are, offering evidence-based support with warmth, empathy and zero judgment. Here, she shares what inspired Elo’s creation, the wellness myth she’s ready to retire, and why “healthy” is anything but black and white.
In conversation with Emma Wylie.
Let’s get up to speed. Tell us a bit about you and your career to date:
Having spent 6 years in the food industry as the sole nutritionist and later nutrition manager at the meal kit delivery company My Food Bag, I then switched lanes into an area I was passionate about which was female hormonal health. Prior to launching my own female health clinic and consultancy, I worked as the Senior Nutritionist for a FemTech start up company and clinic focusing on how we could deliver accessible health and nutrition support to women struggling with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
What inspired you to launch Elo Wellbeing?
Elo Wellbeing was founded out of a want to meet any women at any life stage or health condition and provide her with a warm, compassionate space to raise her wants or concerns, and to be met with sound, evidence-based advice to empower her through her next health journey. I knew I had my own ethos as a practitioner, and I wanted Elo to be a representation of this and a place to seek support.
What’s a common misconception people have about wellness or nutrition that you wish you could reframe?
That more is more is more. I think there is a tendency to feel the need to do everything perfectly or what’s the point? It’s that ‘all or nothing’ mentality that trips people up,but if we just focus on consistency, on progress rather than perfection, then the benefits amass along the way. 80/20 is a concept I talk with my clients about a lot. 80% of the time we make the smart changes, but 20% of the time we let life be lived. That is exactly the formula to see sustainable change whilst maintaining flexibility and consistency.
How has your understanding of “healthy” changed over the years?
Hugely! As a fresh graduate my definition of healthy was very black and white, but my years of experience in the industry, and working with people of all life stages, health concerns, and backgrounds has structured my definition of healthy to be far more coloured and textured. What is healthy for one person won’t be the same as for another, and it’s being able to be confident and give sound advice for the person you’re working with. .
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Have strong opinions, loosely held. In health science we need to be able to read the literature and scientific research and form opinions on how to best care for the patient. However, science is forever evolving and we need to be able to adapt as new evidence comes to light. I think this has been paramount to keeping an open mind and a patient centred care approach in my clinic.
How would you describe your personal style, and what influences it the most?
Something between bohemian (a la Chemena’s Chloe) and classic ‘90s minimalism. I have always been fascinated by fashion, and it’s probably no coincidence that all of my friends work in fashion, whether that’s running their own incredible brands and businesses, or work for big fashion houses abroad. For this reason my friends have a huge influence on my style, so Harris Tapper and Rebe make up a large chunk of my wardrobe.
How do you define success – not just in business, but in life?
In business, impact. Financial success doesn’t drive what I do, my currency is seeing a marked impact on the quality of life of my patient improving through changes we’ve made together. If I can help support a woman struggling through perimenopausal symptoms, or guide a woman trying to conceive naturally through her pre and postnatal journey, or a young woman struggling with angry hormonal acne and a heavy, painful cycle, then I see the impact on their life as success. Outside of business, joy. Success in life is finding joy in the small moments, in everyday life.
Who or what inspires you creatively?
My community of friends who also run small businesses are huge inspiration for me. I think seeing is believing, and seeing peers who are creating magic in their businesses, with their content, designs and campaigns is such inspiration to challenge me to seek and action more of my own creative concepts.
I do find Elo to be such a creative vessel, whether it is for recipe content, or otherwise. I’ve been so lucky to work with my dear friend and photographer Holly Burgess to bring the vision of Elo to life through an incredible photo campaign, and excitingly we are in the planning phase of our next.
Quick-fire questions
The next item on my wardrobe wishlist is… A House of Manus scarf, handmade in Barcelona with repurposed antique curtains – I adore everything about these.
The book currently on my bedside table is…this is exposing but something fantasy to escape into, currently I’m finishing the Throne of Glass series.
My favourite place to dine… Alma in Britomart.
My next holiday destination…that’s in the calendar is Queenstown, that’s in my dreams – Sifnos in Greece, I cannot wait to get back there.
My guilty pleasure TV show or movie is…Grey’s Anatomy
My ultimate day off looks like…It’s sunny, it’s still. I start the day with movement – pilates, yoga or a walk – then straight to the beach or out on the boat with an incredible picnic and friends or family to share this magical day with.
The song I currently have on repeat is… Surround Me by Léon.
Three beauty products I can’t live without…Sans Ceuticals Activator 7 Oil, Davroe Ends Repair Treatment and Aleph The One Reset and Restore Moisture Cream.
