Monthly Public Health Consultant Spotlight: Erica Glaze, MPH, MCHES, CCCE

Each month, I will introduce you to a public health consultant or entrepreneur and they will share their path to self-employment and outline key pieces of advice for aspiring business owners.

Today we welcome Erica Glaze from Phoenix, Arizona (USA)!

1. Please share your educational background and business title/name.

I am the Founder & Senior Health Educator for Live Wellthy, LLC.

Degrees and certifications: Master of Public Health (MPH), Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES), and CCCE (CAPPA Certified Childbirth Educator)

2. Tell us how you entered the field of public health and what your education and work experience was prior to consulting or starting your own business.

During my junior year of high school, I decided to pursue a career in health care. Initially I wanted to become a Physician Assistant. However, after shadowing a PA, I realized it was not the right fit for me. I chose to pursue nursing instead and to attend Northern Arizona University (NAU). I completed all the prerequisites, applied for the nursing program, and did not get accepted. I was devastated! When I met with my academic advisor, she let me know that I would need a higher grade in chemistry and biology to be a more competitive candidate. I was not interested in retaking classes, so I asked about other options. This is when I found out about community/public health and changed my major.

I did not know what to expect. I could barely explain what community health meant and did not know the type of job I would get after. But, I went for it and ended up loving the program. I graduated from NAU with a B.S. in Community Health in 2009. After graduating, I worked as a Domestic Violence Advocate, Nutrition Education Specialist with the WIC Program, and Child Nutrition Program Specialist for the USDA programs. I also went back to school in 2013 and earned a Master of Public Health as well as a certificate in Community Nutrition.

3. When did you start your business and what were your motivations for pursuing self-employment?

I established Live Wellthy, LLC in 2015 but did not start operating the business until January 2017. I waited for 2 years because I did not feel ready to launch. I wanted to gain more experience and be in a better place financially before leaving my full-time job.

During meetings and conferences, I would meet public health consultants and entrepreneurs who were doing amazing work. Through my encounters with them, I was able to see that self-employment was possible and sustainable. I also felt stifled in the positions I held. I did not feel I was making a difference in the community and saw self-employment as a way to have greater impact.

4. Who is your ideal client? What services do you offer?

Live Wellthy, LLC offers services in the following areas: content and resource development, training design and delivery, and health and childbirth education. I enjoy working with organizations that center people, equity, and justice in the work. This year, I added childbirth education services and look forward to working with expecting parents. I will hold space for all birthing people in my work.

5. Do you have a particular product or service that you’d like to highlight? Tell us all about it!

I am excited to offer childbirth education services to the public! This service is still in the development phase, but the plan is to officially launch in January 2021. Birth work was not on my radar at all. However, the mama bear in me was awakened after having my son.

Given my lived experience and the harm that has been done to birthing BIPOC, I know this service is necessary. My goal is not only to teach people about the birthing process, but to help them become a health advocate for themselves and their family.

6. How has your consulting business been impacted by COVID-19? What adjustments have you made in order to continue to be successful?

COVID-19 had a significant impact on my business. When the pandemic started, all the travel assignments I had scheduled were cancelled and local events were postponed. Towards the end of last year, I turned down a few opportunities because I was busy pursuing the childbirth educator credential. So I was a little nervous when things started to shut down. There was a part of me that wished I would have said yes to the opportunities I had declined. However, I decided to change my perspective, find the good, and make any adjustments that were necessary.

I am now grateful for the down time I experienced. Because of it, I have been more focused, determined, and creative. I have finished a certification program, started a new one, and have plans to launch a new service soon. I am no longer trying to find a work-life balance, especially now that I am home more with my 2-year-old son. I am learning to adapt and looking for the win in both. Each day I try to identify one thing I can do related to work and family that would make me feel like I have won the day.

7. Many of our readers are considering a career as a self-employed public health consultant or entrepreneur. What is your best piece of advice for those considering or just starting out?

You might feel tempted to say “yes” to every project but remember that you do not have to accept everything that comes your way. The work you do should align with your values and interest. If it does not align, you will end up exhausted, frustrated, and burned out. So, do not be afraid to say no.

8. How can readers connect with you? Please share links to relevant websites and social media accounts:

Readers can connect with me via my website, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.