Product Marketing Manager: Michelle
1. First off, let’s start with who you are, what you do, and how people can connect with you?
Hello! I’m Michelle Choi. Professionally, I work as a Product Marketing Manager at Mindbody, a wellness industry leader in business management software. Personally, I constantly think about my purpose and hope to consciously evolve. I am a firm believer that people are more than a job title or what they do for a paycheck. You can email me at mcmiji@gmail.com if you’d like to connect.
2. You’re currently in the wellness space, what drove you into this area?
I hit a breaking point at one of my previous jobs. The hardship at work bled into my personal life. My unhappiness negatively impacted all aspects of my life. The saving grace was the small flicker of grit that was left, which helped me get out of my downward spiral. I knew that I had to work on myself, so I turned to health & fitness as the first step of my journey to heal. I took my passion to the next level by acquiring indoor cycling and yoga teacher certifications. I took a year off to fulfill my passion as a group fitness instructor at my local gym in Oakland, CA. While looking for my next step, I made a deliberate effort to pursue opportunities that married my passion for fitness with my marketing expertise, and Mindbody fit the bill. Luckily, they saw the same in me too!
3. You’ve worked in corporate and specifically in beauty prior, what was one thing that the beauty industry still lacking?
Representation. The beauty industry is still overwhelmingly white and continues to reinforce eurocentric beauty standards. We need representation that’s not in the form of tokenism or performative diversity (aka white-accepting forms of beauty), but representation that celebrates all identity markers, shapes, sizes, intersectionalities, while being boldly unapologetic.
4. What is one lesson you’ve learned from working in the corporate world?
Don’t climb the capitalistic structure at the expense of your personal values and self-worth.
5. Wellness is a huge focus for 2020, what are 3 tips you can give to someone who is seeking to find peace within themselves?
Journal daily. Don’t just reflect in your thoughts, but write them down. Start your day writing so you can be even more present during your reflection. Journal prompts can be anything from free form writing to affirmations and goal-setting. Ask yourself the critical questions so you can turn inward, practice self-study, and realign with what matters to you.
Practice yoga 3-5x a week. The yoga mat is my small sanctuary. Yoga comes with physical benefits, but yoga is so much more! My moving meditation helps me connect to my breath, slow things down, and strengthen my mind-body connection.
Read 1-2 books a month. I read to develop my critical thinking skills. Reading books can make you feel more human. Seeing new perspectives, learning new topics, and journeying through someone else’s story is so powerful to my growth.
6. What changes have you made recently to ensure that you prioritize your mental health?
Given the current climate, mental health has been top-of-mind. It’s been very challenging maintaining a positive mindset. Something I have implemented recently is to bring myself onto my yoga mat. After a rough day, I make sure to do a short 30-minute flow. Reconnecting with my breath has made a huge difference in stopping myself from spiraling into negativity.
7. As humans, we are always growing and learning but what have you or what are you working to UNlearn?
Your circumstances define your happiness. I know this is untrue, but this is something I struggle with all the time. I catch myself looking at external aspects to validate my happiness prior to looking inward. Happiness starts from within, not the other way around, and I have to constantly remind myself of this to develop more love for myself.
8. What’s the best advice you can give someone who has never done yoga?
Make yoga work for you. Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned yogi, your yoga practice is sacred and no one can dictate how you should feel, view, or practice yoga. The purpose of yoga is to connect with your mind through breath and movement. And if it’s not for you, that’s okay!
9. What is a misconception about the wellness industry that you’d like to set the record straight on?
Wellness welcomes everyone. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford wellness or even feel like they belong in spaces for wellness. The wellness industry overwhelmingly serves the privileged. Underserved communities have less access to wellness businesses, which are concentrated in affluent white neighborhoods. The wellness industry has a lot of work to do in terms of increasing BIPOC representation in businesses, staff, and access.
10. What is one thing you wish everyone did more of and why?
Think critically. The democratization of content is a blessing and a curse. We consume so much content on different platforms, but it can lead to information overload! Before you make an opinion, take a moment to put on your critical thinking hat and start asking some questions to yourself. What is this content trying to communicate? Who is this content for? How do I feel about this? Does this align with my values? Do I agree with what is being presented or said? Who is benefiting from this? Who may be harmed or offended by this? You have a mind and a voice, use them wisely.
