Missi Bantner

I attribute my success to being willing to trust myself and learning to develop a relationship with myself where I am trustworthy - to know when to take advice from others and when not to. I am informed constantly by the people outside of me, but not everything is a fit. Having the ability to discern what to take in and what to let go of, and being willing to make mistakes and learn, has been crucial. In my experience, tremendous growth comes through error. It really is about begin willing to embrace curiosity and lifelong learning. The people who have been most influential in my life are Martha Beck, whose book The 4-Day Win helped me pull myself out of bulimia when a clinical setting couldn't, my personal coach Deborah who helped me understand my mind and the parts of myself that were telling and keeping alive certain stories that kept me small and stuck, and Dr. Eric Cobb, the creator of Z-Health, who has been an unbelievably powerful mentor. Additionally, I am very trusting of my inner compass. One of the biggest pain points in my 20s was being a hypocrite, being a personal trainer giving people really good advice but then not taking it myself, so walking the talk is really important to me. I have healthy boundaries around sleep, nourishment, movement, and how I start the day. I find out first who I am and who I want to be mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually before pouring into someone else's life. Throughout the day, I listen to the little signals that my nervous system is giving me, and whether it's a 30 second break or a 20-minute break to close my eyes, do some vision drills, stretch my spine, go for a walk, or call a friend, that's how I restore myself - by being a living example of what I'm hoping other people will be able to do for themselves.

The most influential guidance I have received came from Martha Beck's book The 4-Day Win, along with the support of my personal coach Deborah and my neuro coach Dr. Eric Cobb. Martha Beck's work helped me pull myself out of bulimia when a clinical setting couldn't - the clinical setting actually made me feel trapped and "bad". It kept me disconnected in it's logical approach. My coach Deborah really helped me understand my mind, my stories and the parts of myself that were keeping stuck in an internal battle. She gave me another layer of understanding around the power of curiosity, gratitude, and compassion. Dr. Eric Cobb has been an unbelievably powerful mentor - he's intelligent, funny, and thoughtful, and he's committed to accuracy as he teaches the power of the brain and body in practically applied ways. Over time, I've pulled pieces from these coaches, and many authors, throughout the years. The core lesson for me has been about being willing to trust myself and develop a relationship with myself where I am trustworthy. You have to trust yourself to know when to take advice from others and when to discard advice. Having the ability to discern what to take in and what to let go of, and being willing to make mistakes and learn, has been a valuable lesson.

I would encourage young women entering my industry to stay curious and open-minded, while not being afraid to question what they learn and sit with uncertainty, as it often leads to deeper understanding and great innovation. I believe there is no substitute for experience, so I would advise seeking out a wide range of opportunities, starting within your comfort zone and gradually pushing beyond it as confidence builds. Just as importantly, I would focus on self-discovery—taking the time to understand who you are and who you want to become, allowing yourself to grow and change over time, and embracing mistakes as valuable opportunities for learning and personal growth.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is helping people move beyond quick fixes and toward sustainable, whole-person approaches to health and wellness, while also navigating the reality that women in this industry often balance caregiving responsibilities, business demands, and their own well-being. At the same time, there are significant opportunities as awareness continues to grow around mental health, stress management, nutrition, and mind-body wellness, creating space for more integrative and preventive approaches to care. I believe women are uniquely positioned to lead this shift by bringing together science, compassion, and holistic understanding, and I remain passionate about empowering others to create lasting change through the connection between the brain, body, and beliefs.

Walking the talk is really important to me. One of the biggest pain points in my 20s was being a hypocrite - being a personal trainer giving people really good advice but then not taking it myself. So now, I have integrity around how I care for myself. All of the insights, tools, and practices I teach to clients are the very ones I do for myself on a daily basis. I choose to be a living example of what I'm hoping other people will be able to do for themselves. Growth and learning are the bedrock of what motivates me. Community is super important. We are meant to be with one another so we can co-create, we can laugh, we can cry, and we can help each other be a better version of ourselves, if that's how we choose to show up. I trust my inner compass, and I do the work to stay in tune with it, especially when big life changes happen.