Shelly is passionate about community and is utilizing her gifts as a midwife to create a safe-space for pregnant women. Her business is called Holistic Therapy & Birth Services with Shelly Varelli and she offers inclusive, empowering homebirth midwifery services to families, and birthing people in Northwest Ohio. Follow her Instagram page and she invites you to send her a message to let her know you’ve read this post, or share similar ideals. We are stronger together! You can also discover more about her services at www.shellyvarelli.com.
What is the name of your organization/business?
Holistic Therapy & Birth Services with Shelly Varelli
Describe your business/services and then tell us about what brought you to creating this business and why you’re passionate about it.
I am a community-based midwife. This incredibly impactful and deeply personal work speaks to a part of myself that longs to be in service to others, particularly during times of transformation. I get to be a part of evolution (on so many levels) and create safe spaces for people that value, want or need the empowering experience that pregnancy and birth can be… I am committed to restoring birth to its honored, sacred place in our culture.
What goals do you have for your business in the future?
I am in the process of developing a community-based birth collective and feel it would be best aligned within the non-profit framework. I am diving deep into researching the different types of NP status options, and existing entities with similar philosophies that align with my mission.
What is your proudest achievement?
Completing a midwifery apprenticeship has been a monumental task, filled with many obstacles. I am proud to have come through it while building strong professional alliances, and a solid practice foundation with roots that extend throughout our community.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a business owner and how did you overcome it?
I offer many different services within my business. I rely heavily on a paper planner, a color coded digital calendar, and directing clients to use my online scheduling process -the automatic reminders are a lifesaver!
What advice would you give to a woman looking to start a business or get into a leadership role? Is there one thing that has helped you specifically?
Align yourself with those who are doing the thing that you want to be doing. Resist the urge to make comparisons or feel jealous, instead use that as motivation.
Do you see someone that you respect, admire, and aspire to be like? Reach out to them and make a connection, build your bridges, and never burn them.
What made you want to join HerHub?
So many of women I admire and respect were already members, so I decided to take my own advice (see the answer to my question above)! Plus, I love making new connections and expanding my community. Having a sense of ‘belonging’ is very important to me, and I saw a space within the HerHub community where I felt I belonged.
Why do you feel it’s important to collaborate and empower other women?
My personal and professional commitment to collaboration runs deep within my desire to build community and foster a sense of belonging for all people. Empowering other women aligns with the innate desire for freedom, autonomy, trust, and sisterhood -while removing obstacles, barriers, and systems that were designed to hold us back. We are the women of Toledo who participate in the paradigm shift of listening, engaging, leaning in, and supporting each other.
If you could recommend one resource (book, podcast, quote, class, website, etc.), that has helped you in life or in business, what would it be and why?
I adore Jasmine Ivy of “the Women of Woo”. It is a podcast for spiritual women, called to be entrepreneurs. She poses the question that, “entrepreneurship is a calling… the question is WHO is doing the calling and WHY?”. Every episode dives deep into some type of business aspect while applying introspective, savvy, spirit driven advice.
We love spreading love to other woman-owned businesses and we bet you do too. Give a shout out here to your favorite, local, woman-owned business (besides your own)!
Ohhh— there are so, so many, and I am afraid to leave someone out! I give my love, share resources, and recommendations openly across many platforms. You know who you are -XO, Shelly
