Feautred Chik: Marissa Szabo

We are thrilled to introduce you to Marissa Szabo, Founder of Well & Simple! Well & Simple offers nutrition coaching services & providing employee wellness programming. Marissa also hosts the Strong & Simple Podcast.

Tell us a bit about your company! What do you do? What is your mission?
I am an anti-diet, size inclusive nutrition coach. What that essentially means is that I recognize how ineffective and harmful diets are and, instead of focusing on weight loss with my clients, I focus on transforming their relationship with food and building healthy habits. We don't do calorie counting or restriction. Instead, we focus on balance, meeting their needs, and doing so in practical, maintainable ways. My goal is for my clients to no longer feel like food is a source of stress and to have the ability to enjoy all foods without feeling guilt or shame. The other part of my business aside from nutrition coaching is providing employee wellness programming. My programs are built around the same nondiet approach and really focus on keeping things simple and practical so that participants can leave a session with 2-3 things they can start doing right away to improve their health. I provide workshops, webinars, food prep demos, and fitness classes.

How did you get started with your business? What made you decide to join this industry?
I got started in this business about 6 years ago when I realized that working in government was not the right career for me - it no longer resonated with me and I was extremely unhappy. Nutrition had been a big interest of mine since college and so I decided to take the thing I was interested in and make that my new career. I came to the anti-diet approach through my own experience with dieting and weight loss turning into disordered eating habits and unhealthy behaviors when I was in college. As I learned how common that experience was, I made it my mission to help others escape that spiral.

What does it mean to you to be a small business owner on the North Shore?
The network of small businesses on the North Shore is incredible. It is such a supportive community and I really don't think there's anything like it. I love the way so many of us come together to collaborate and support each other, even if it may seem like we're competitors. Being a small business owner on North Shore means that you have a whole community behind you that will cheer you on, be your sounding board, offer you advice, and stand with you.

---

What is your favorite part of being a business owner?
I don't know if I can choose a favorite! I definitely love the flexibility it brings, but the flip side to that is that I have a hard time shutting off and can end up with some long hours. I also love being able to take my business in whatever direction I want.

When you were growing up, what is your ultimate dream job? If it's this, how does it feel to have met your dream?! If it was something different, how did your dream change over time?
I was one of those kids who changed my mind about what I wanted to be on a monthly basis. Tooth fairy was even on the list at one point! So I didn't really have a dream job growing up. That being said, I had planned on becoming a lawyer and planned to take a couple years off to work between undergrad and law school...and I never went back! Turns out a career in law definitely wouldn't have been a good fit for me. So I kept working in government until I realized that wasn't a good fit either.

Every business owner faces challenges. How are you empowered to overcome yours?
I am very fortunate and grateful to have an amazing support system that believes in me even when I am having a hard time believing in myself. They encourage me to keep going and help me work through the hurdles.

Tell us (in one word) how you would describe your bosschik business!
Empowering

Anything else we should know about you, your business, or just a fun fact?!
​I forage for wild mushrooms!

Where you can find her:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

---