Inspired by the energy of Africa, its people, and the opportunity to empower, Elisabeth Brandt is a strong advocate for holistic health – mental, physical, and spiritual– and how it links to a person’s overall health and beauty.
After conducting a comprehensive study both domestically and globally, Elisabeth discovered that nothing had changed in the past decade in terms of hospitality offers in her industry. Service providers were focusing on superficial offerings that did not accurately represent the professions, leisure, wellness, and health industries. She decided to delve deeper into the holistic health concept, and for the past 20 years she has been dedicated to Africa with her brand, Healing Earth, which embraces the continent’s rich resources through a sustainable approach and which focuses on education and training to ensure the best experience for clients who turn to Healing Earth to experience everything Africa has to offer.
Healing Earth is a worldwide health and lifestyle brand founded on holistic wellbeing and governed by ethics and principles. Elisabeth’s objective is to change how the industry is perceived, as this sector has a reputation for being shallow, focused solely on outer beauty.
Before becoming a Brand
Although Elisabeth’s heart is in Africa, her journey begins in Slovenia, where she was born. She earned a four-year Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree in Celje in 1975 and thereafter worked for several international firms. She was looking for a new challenge, so she returned to university to study law before working as a junior assistant in Ljubljana. However, she quickly returned to the hotel sector and, subsequently, after becoming a mother, chose to start a training school focusing on teaching hospitality employees basic German and guest relations.
Her family relocated to Frankfurt in 1985, where Elisabeth continued on this road and studied holistic medicine, yoga, and all concepts linked to overall well-being. Finally, her dream of owning her own health and well-being center became a reality after she relocated her family to South Africa. It’s here where first the Serenity Wellness Centre was born in 1993 and finally where the Healing Earth journey started.
Leading with Integrity
While Elisabeth is considered the company’s brainchild, she believes it is the team that makes it succeed. As a result, she leads the team with honesty and in a way that preserves the company’s core principles so that the team can continue to progress. This necessitates her stick to the brand, while also seeking new opportunities and ensuring that the team responds to shifting circumstances. She also takes her responsibility to give back and to teach what she has learned seriously, which then paves the way forward for the organization to thrive.
Elisabeth considers herself fortunate to have worked with partners and clients who share her company’s beliefs and vision. There is a lot of research and understanding that goes into the products, services, and new ideas, and this has ensured quality in what the brand delivers. She also places a very high value on her team and loves to invest in them. “One can’t act alone or work in isolation; you need a strong team to succeed. This can take time to build, but it needs to be at the center of your company. Here it is important to be honest and always have clear communication; otherwise, teamwork won’t work,” explains Elisabeth.
While leading the team, Elisabeth enjoys taking on challenges and occasionally taking risks in order to drive creativity. She searches for a deeper understanding rather than a simple streamlined business. She believes that the energy she invests personally in the business will permeate the business and be reflected in the goods and services.
Believe in Yourself
Elisabeth doesn’t believe that there are failures, only challenges. She adds that although it might not always be easy, one needs to look at these as stepping stones. She finds, “Every challenge can be used to start something new, so when faced with a challenge, you need to make sure that how you deal with it, worthwhile. It is therefore important not to give up, but to look for a way away. Show up for yourself – and those around you.”
Every success should be celebrated!
Wellness is Elisabeth’s passion, but she also finds it a challenging sector for a woman to be in, especially in crucial or top positions where there are typically only a few women in these roles. She feels that there is a significant opportunity for women in this business to add value through their unique perspectives, approaches, and understanding.
Her advice for emerging female leaders is to “Follow your truth, take big risks, but small steps, and always celebrate every success.” She also feels that it is critical to give back and to view obstacles as an opportunity rather than a setback.
Elisabeth is also a firm believer in the importance of setting a good example for people around you-and genuinely living it and showing it. She asserts, “Your values and integrity need to be in line with everything you do. I always say, discipline leads to habits, habits lead to consistency – and this leads to growth.“
Bringing transformation to Lives
Elisabeth envisions a stronger focus research and innovation, as well as organic models and trends that are more environmentally friendly and socially responsible. Her point of view is that it is critical to not constantly look at what others are doing, but to stay faithful to your own notion, which in the case of Healing Earth has earned a strong reputation and is in high demand. She believes that trends are shifting toward holistic health and natural approaches to beauty, with an emphasis on balance and stress relief. She says, “We recently started our Healing Earth & Ocean Retreats, which are curated by likeminded people in different locations with great energy, and they have gained much popularity.”
Looking to the future, Healing Earth is also considering more executive health retreats for companies that recognize the importance of the well-being of their staff and executives.
Website: www.healingearth.co.za
