I used to believe that the reward for hard work was more work.

For nearly a decade, I poured everything I had into building my career. I climbed the corporate ladder one rung at a time—driven, disciplined, and grateful for every opportunity. Eventually, that journey led me to a coveted role at a private equity firm. It was high-level, high-volume, and nonstop. I remember feeling proud that my efforts had “paid off.” But beneath the pride, something else was brewing.

The culture was classic Type A: fast-paced, no rest, no boundaries. We wore exhaustion like a badge of honor. And for a while, I kept up—until I couldn’t.

The Moment Everything Changed

One afternoon, I was sitting at my desk, buried in spreadsheets and emails, when I reached for my mouse and noticed something strange:
My hand was shaking. Uncontrollably.

That moment stopped me cold. I had pushed through every deadline, every expectation, every personal sacrifice. But now, my body was waving the white flag.

A few months prior, a colleague had passed away unexpectedly. They were young and talented, and just like that they were gone. Their death rattled me. But it was in that quiet moment at my desk, with my own body breaking down, that I finally said to myself:  “I don’t want to die from stress.”

Something had to change.

From Breakdown to Breakthrough

That moment marked the beginning of my departure—not just from a job, but from a way of living that no longer served me.

At the time, I had a small bookkeeping side hustle I loved. It was honest, empowering work. And slowly, I began to pour my energy into building it into something real.

The transition wasn’t easy. Healing never is. I had to unlearn my addiction to overworking and relearn how to honor my body’s need for rest—something that still challenges me to this day.

I remember one particular yoga class offered in my company’s building. I would go to it after the formal workday ended before my self imposed evening shift started, just to feel my breath, to lie on a mat in silence, to remember that I still had a body beneath the blazer. I’d dread putting my work clothes back on. But those tiny moments of stillness? They carried me through a year that nearly broke me.

The Aha Moment: Breath, Tears, and Clarity

Just weeks after I left my job, I attended a business retreat for bookkeeping firm owners. That’s where I experienced my first session with a breathwork practitioner. I had no idea what to expect—but by the end, I found myself sobbing.

Tears of grief. Tears of relief. Tears for all the pressure, pain, and burnout I had silently carried.

It was there, in a room full of people who understood the weight of business ownership, that something clicked:
I want my firm to support the businesses that help people heal.

The vision for wellness at Elmwood was born.

Why We Serve the Healers

Since that moment, Elmwood has evolved into an established firm that's become the financial home of  mental health practices, wellness studios, acupuncture clinics, yoga teachers, physical therapists, and other holistic health practitioners. We still serve a few clients outside the wellness space, but our heart will always lean toward those doing the deep, meaningful work of healing.

Because when I fell apart, wellness providers helped put me back together.

And now, it’s my mission to hold space for those who hold space for others—to be a trusted financial partner, a grounding presence, and a quiet force of support behind the scenes.

That’s the “why” behind wellness at Elmwood.
It’s personal. It’s lived. And it’s the legacy I’m proud to build.