Elizabeth Robbins

I attribute my success to discipline and hard work, but also to developing and maintaining good relationships with people. I think collaboration is really important, and being interested in serving others - especially with health coaching, being able to provide help and support. I also believe in having a willingness to exchange ideas and a willingness to listen, not just speak. I think people don't listen enough, and you can learn as much from listening as you can from communicating your ideas. That balance of speaking and listening, combined with discipline and strong relationships, has been key to whatever success I've achieved.

The best career advice I have ever received is, “Your health is your foundation—without it, nothing else works.” I truly embody this belief, having experienced firsthand the consequences of chronic stress and nutritional imbalance. There was a time when I prioritized responsibilities and performance over my own well-being, and it ultimately affected both my health and my professional effectiveness.

Rebuilding my health required intention, discipline, and a shift in perspective. I learned that sustainable success is not built on burnout, but on balance. Prioritizing proper nutrition, managing stress, and creating space for recovery strengthened not only my physical health but also my clarity, resilience, and leadership capacity.

That lesson continues to guide how I approach my career and my life. I understand now that taking care of myself is not a luxury—it is a responsibility. When my foundation is strong, I am better equipped to serve others, make sound decisions, and lead with energy and purpose.

If I were speaking to young women entering this industry, I would say that health coaching is an exciting and rapidly growing field with tremendous potential. Physicians are becoming increasingly aware of the value health coaches bring to patient care. I truly believe we are moving toward a model where health coaches are integrated into healthcare teams, working directly within medical practices. Over time, I expect insurance coverage to expand as well, making these services even more accessible and mainstream.

What makes this profession so impactful is the complementary role it plays in healthcare. Doctors can focus on diagnosis and clinical decision-making, while health coaches work one-on-one with patients to support the practical implementation of recommended changes. Whether it is following a treatment plan, improving lifestyle habits, or making holistic adjustments to enhance overall well-being, health coaches help bridge the gap between medical advice and real-life action. That collaborative approach creates meaningful, lasting results for patients.

I also believe young women are especially well-positioned to thrive in this field. Qualities such as strong listening skills, empathy, and compassion are deeply valued in health coaching. These strengths foster trust, connection, and accountability, all of which are essential to helping clients succeed. For those who feel called to make a difference in people’s lives in a hands-on and supportive way, I see tremendous opportunity both now and in the years ahead.

The biggest challenge I see is getting people to invest in themselves. I think a lot of people - and I honestly experienced this too - think 'I feel like this now, but I'll get better' or 'this is just age, and I should just learn to expect a lesser quality of life or not feeling good.' But investing in yourself is worth it, and there are things that can help people. People need to learn that small changes in habits can have a huge impact - you don't have to make big changes immediately. Small incremental change can be super impactful. As for opportunities, they're endless. Being able to really help people and improve people's well-being will not only improve each individual person, but I think it will improve relationships, productivity, and culture. It has enormous potential to change how people feel towards themselves and one another, because if you feel better and good within yourself and about yourself, you're going to be able to have better relationships and more patience.

The values most important to me are open, honest communication and collaboration. I also really value humility - people leaving their egos at the door. I think it's important to be willing to exchange ideas and to listen, not just speak. In my health coaching work specifically, I value being able to serve others and provide help directly to people, which is something that's really important to me and something I'm passionate about. I believe that if you don't have your health, you don't have much, because you can't really live to the best of your ability. That's why I find this work so inspiring and important.