Her Story
About Roni
Roni is the Founder of Navelle Health and a retired, seasoned mental health professional with over 20 years of extensive experience in clinical and counseling psychology. Her work has centered on supporting individuals through life’s most complex emotional and mental health transitions, helping them better understand themselves and move forward with clarity and confidence.
She began her journey with aspirations of becoming a neurosurgeon, driven by a deep curiosity about the brain and human behavior. That passion ultimately led her to psychology, where she built a career across a wide range of clinical and wellness settings, supporting both children and adults. She later expanded her work into national health and wellness coaching and earned additional certifications, including specialized training in perinatal behavioral health.
Roni’s personal experience navigating perimenopause became a turning point. After being dismissed and even laughed at by a provider, she began asking deeper questions. What she uncovered was not just a gap in care, but a gap in research, where Black and Brown women were often underrepresented or excluded entirely.
At the same time, through her podcast Navigating Life After 40, she began hearing a consistent pattern. Many of the women sharing similar experiences of dismissal, confusion, and lack of support were women who looked just like her.
What started as personal frustration turned into purpose.
She launched the podcast to create space for honest conversations, education, and shared experiences. That work evolved into Navelle Health, a virtual care platform designed to transform how women experience perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.
Navelle Health is focused on closing the gap in care by providing accessible, culturally responsive support through education, advocacy tools, and personalized guidance. With plans to expand into integrated care services, the platform is built to ensure women are no longer dismissed, particularly women of color and those in underrepresented communities, but instead heard, supported, and given the quality care they deserve.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Roni
01What do you attribute your success to?
First and foremost, I attribute my success to God. My faith has grounded me, especially in moments where things felt uncertain or bigger than me.
I also attribute it to having the courage to step out and solve a problem that I know deeply and personally. I’ve always been someone who enjoys helping people and finding solutions, but becoming a founder has required me to stretch in ways that are very new and unfamiliar. As someone who leans more introverted, putting myself out there and building something from the ground up has been a challenge. There have been moments where I’ve asked myself, why am I doing this? But I didn’t stop, and I don’t want to stop.
A big part of my success has also been the community and support around me. One person who has been especially instrumental in my journey is my friend Rhonda. She stepped in as an advisory board member and has been a consistent source of support, offering her expertise and showing up in moments where I needed it most. Having that kind of support has made a meaningful difference.
What continues to motivate me is the impact. The conversations I’ve had with women who feel seen, who are excited about what we’re building, and who want to be part of this journey remind me that this work is bigger than me.
I also believe success is about balance. I’m intentional about taking care of myself, whether that’s working out, getting fresh air, or doing things that bring me joy. I’ve been challenging myself to try new things, like starting golf lessons, and making sure it’s not all work and no play. For me, success isn’t just about what I build, but how I live while building it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to take action, even when you don’t feel ready.
So much of growth happens in the process, not before it. I’ve learned that you don’t need to have everything figured out to start, you just need to be willing to move forward and adjust along the way.
That mindset has been especially important for me as a founder, where so much of the journey is new and constantly evolving.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say, especially if you’re building something, listen to the people you’re building it for. It’s easy to center your own experience, especially when you’ve been personally impacted by the problem you’re trying to solve. But it’s important to take a step back, connect with other people, and really understand their needs.
Their experiences may be similar to yours, but they will also bring different perspectives, and if you’re listening, they’ll tell you exactly what they want.
I would also say to advocate for the change you’re trying to make, especially if it involves women or underrepresented communities. While there’s been more awareness in some areas such as women's health, there is still a lot of work to be done. There are still gaps in care, research, and support, and people need to know that there are those who are truly committed to creating change.
Stay connected, stay intentional, and remain deeply in tune with the people you’re building for.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in this field right now is funding, especially for solutions focused on women’s health and underrepresented communities. While awareness is growing, there’s still a significant gap in where resources are being invested and who is receiving that support.
At the same time, that challenge presents a major opportunity.
There’s increasing attention on women’s health, particularly in areas like perimenopause and menopause, and more women are speaking up about their experiences. This creates space for innovation, but it also calls for more intentional investment in solutions that are actually designed for the women most impacted.
For me, the opportunity is in building something that not only addresses the need, but also demonstrates the value and impact in a way that drives more equitable funding and long-term change.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are faith, integrity, impact, and balance.
My faith is my foundation. It guides how I show up, how I make decisions, and how I navigate both challenges and opportunities.
Integrity is also very important to me. I believe in being honest, doing what I say I’m going to do, and showing up in a way that aligns with who I am, both personally and professionally.
Impact is at the core of my work. I want the things I build and the work I do to genuinely help people and create meaningful change, not just surface-level solutions.
And lastly, balance. I’ve learned that success isn’t just about what you accomplish, but how you take care of yourself along the way. Making time for my well-being, joy, and personal growth is just as important as the work itself.
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