Meet Joanne | Health & Wellness Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joanne and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joanne, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My journey into my wellness coaching business was more like a calling that unfolded through personal upheaval and deep reflection. I started my career as a pharmacist, working in clinical settings and helping people understand their medications, counseling and speaking about lifestyle factors to help improve patient’s health conditions. I always cared about education and advocacy — making sure people had the knowledge they needed to take better care of themselves. I also worked in drug safety and labeling in corporate pharmaceutical industry. Again, I believe in protection of public health, ensuring medications being developed and already on the market were safe and efficacious.
Everything changed when I was diagnosed with cancer at age 34. That experience shook the foundation of my life. I suddenly went from a healthcare provider and researcher to a patient of a diagnosis that would become my nightmare. I became vulnerable, confused and lost during grueling treatments of chemotherapy, surgeries and radiation. I spent years navigating beyond my diagnosis, the aftermath of difficult treatments, managing my physical and emotional recoveries and figuring out what it meant to truly care for myself.
In that raw, messy middle, I became a student of healing. I never really took care of my physical body prior to my diagnosis. I didn’t feel the need to – I was young, thin, and felt invincible. I could not have been more wrong. After my treatments over, I looked deep into my relationship with food, rest, movement and explored mindfulness — not as checkboxes but as lifelines. What started as personal survival for my own health and wellness grew into a passion for helping others find their way, too.
That’s how BraveSpark Wellness was born. I created it to be the kind of support I wished I had — heart-centered, empowering, rooted in both science and lived experience. My mission is to help people — especially those healing from illness or burnout — reconnect with their strength, reimagine what’s possible and reclaim their sense of wholeness. I believe healing isn’t about fixing what’s broken, but about befriending yourself and finding your way forward, one brave spark at a time. Afterall, we don’t get moments back. So live with joy, purpose and intention – you don’t have to wait for illness to start living fully!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
This is a new venture for me, born out of my own health and healing journey, and a desire to walk alongside others on theirs. My mission is to support survivors and thrivers—people who’ve faced serious illness, life-altering diagnoses, or major transitions—and help them reconnect with their sense of agency, purpose, and possibility. Through personalized coaching, I work with clients around the world—from Hong Kong to Rome, New York to California—offering online sessions that center around vision work, consistent goal-setting, and small, sustainable shifts that build long-term momentum.

As part of giving back to the community that supported me, I offer some free coaching sessions to individuals actively undergoing cancer treatment. I know how isolating and overwhelming that chapter can be, and it means a lot to simply have someone in your corner. I also offer a number of sliding scale spots, because I believe access to healing support shouldn’t be limited by income. We all deserve to feel seen, supported, and empowered in our wellness journey.

I also hold space for group coaching – for cancer survivors and for corporate groups committed to mental and emotional health of employees. I have supported mothers rediscovering their identity, women facing menopause, or anyone seeking structure and accountability for goals like weight loss, movement, or stress relief. These sessions foster connection, shared healing, and community—reminding people they’re not alone. Social bonds are powerful and this work supports holistic well-being, prevents burnout, and helps individuals restore balance and thrive.

This work is deeply personal. As a healthcare professional who became a patient, I’ve seen both sides of the healing journey. I know the emotional weight of illness—the fear, the grief, the uncertainty—and how easily we can lose our sense of self in the process. A diagnosis or chronic illness can be profoundly transformative. It can change your relationship with your body, your identity, your energy, and even how you move through the world. The physical losses, shifts in body image, and emotional toll can leave people feeling unmoored, confused, and lost. After cancer or a major diagnosis, it can be absolutely mind-boggling to figure out how to live again—what now, how to begin, who am I now? That’s what sets me apart: I meet people where they are, with deep empathy, honesty, and a voice that comes from lived experience. My goal is to be a steady guide—a witness to their pain, and a champion for their growth.

A health and wellness coach is a supportive partner who helps clients clarify their goals, build sustainable habits, and navigate the emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions of well-being—especially through life’s transitions. That’s what I aim to offer: a safe space, practical tools, and unwavering encouragement.

My approach is rooted in the core pillars of wellness: nourishing your body through balanced nutrition, restoring your energy with movement, calming your mind with mindfulness, and reconnecting with joy and purpose. True healing, in my view, comes from tending to the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. When we nourish ourselves on every level, we create the conditions for deep transformation.

One of the biggest challenges in starting this venture has been believing in myself—trusting that my voice matters and that I can make a difference. It’s easy to compare yourself to others or feel lost in a crowded space, especially when you’re also learning new skills like building a website or navigating social media. But what I’ve learned is that when you speak from your truth and lead with care, it resonates. It reaches the people who need it.

What has truly shaped me, more than anything, is the realization that life is fleeting. We don’t get minutes back. Facing my own health challenges taught me that every day is a gift, and every moment is an opportunity to live more fully. That’s the energy I bring into my work—helping others find joy again, reconnect with purpose, and focus on what truly nourishes them. I encourage the people I work with to set healthy boundaries, to stop waiting for the “right time,” and to stop taking each day for granted.

This isn’t just a business—it’s a calling. I’m here to help people rise from the most difficult chapters of their lives with clarity, intention, and hope. To remind them that healing is not just about surviving, but about creating a life worth waking up to.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting L.A. for a week, I’d start with what I love most – the ocean. We’d definitely spend time at the Santa Monica Pier, which is a must for families. The rides, the energy, and those panoramic views of the Pacific make it such a classic California experience. For a little nature and animal fun, I’d recommend the L.A. Zoo—it’s walkable, shaded, and has a wide variety of animals that kids (and adults!) love, plus it’s nestled in Griffith Park so you can combine it with a hike or a picnic.

We’d take a day trip to Malibu, which is the perfect mix of laid-back beach town and luxury escape. I’d stop at the Malibu Country Mart for a little people-watching and boutique shopping, then head to Broad Street Oyster Co. for unforgettable seafood—don’t skip the lobster roll, and if you’re feeling fancy, go for the uni and caviar add-ons.
The Taiwanese in me has to include a foodie adventure to the San Gabriel Valley, home to some of the best Asian food in the country. I love Bistro Na’s upscale Chinese dishes, Duck House for incredible Peking duck, and Yi Meh for affordable, traditional and delicious Taiwanese breakfast—warm soy milk, daikon cakes, scallion pancakes, and crispy rice rolls. It’s the kind of food that tastes like comfort and home.

Of course, you can’t come to L.A. without experiencing a little glitz. The city is known for its perfect weather—sunshine, blue skies, and beach days almost year-round. Between exploring Beverly Hills, Hollywood, West Hollywood, and Melrose (for trendy restaurants and Instagram-worthy shops), we’d squeeze in a few hikes—Runyon Canyon, Griffith Park, or the scenic trails near the Palisades.

And personally, one of the reasons I love L.A. so much is the balance—it offers not just nature and beauty, but an incredible variety of nutritious food, movement, mindfulness spots and opportunities. There’s space here to live well, breathe deeply, and enjoy life fully. L.A. really has something for everyone—families, singles, foodies, creatives.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely – no journey is ever truly solo. I owe deep gratitude to several people and influences that shaped both my personal and professional path.

First and foremost, my family, close friends, and colleagues – especially those who stood by me during my own health challenges. I’m deeply grateful to the friends and colleagues who showed up for me during my diagnosis, while I was still working full time, and throughout my treatment. They checked in on me, visited me, and sometimes just sat with me in quiet support. My husband also came with me to treatments, offering a steady, quiet strength during a time when everything felt uncertain. Their unwavering presence reminded me that healing doesn’t happen in isolation – it happens in community. That kind of care gave me strength when I felt most vulnerable, and it’s something I carry forward into the work I do now.
I’d also like to give a special shoutout to my medical and wellness community – my medical team, the nurses, phlebotomists, social workers, therapist, wellness mentors who shared small chit-chats in the darkest moments, resources, stories, inspirations and knowledge helped me rebuild and reimagine what it means to truly live well.
And finally, there’s a book that has stayed with me: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. The concept of aligning what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for—this gave language to what I was seeking and building. It reminded me that we don’t get moments back, so we must live fully and intentionally now.

To everyone who’s walked with me in big or small ways—thank you. You’re part of this story.

Website: https://www.bravesparkwellness.com

Instagram: bravespark.wellness