Building a business is one thing—doing it while navigating pregnancy and motherhood is another. In this episode of The Dietitian Success Podcast, I sit down with dietitian and entrepreneur Olivia Cupido to chat about the realities of growing a business while raising a family.
Olivia shares:
- How she started and scaled her private practice (and why she ditched one-off sessions for packages)
- The unexpected challenges of working through pregnancy—and the moment she realized she had to slow down
- How she structured her maternity leave and came back stronger than ever
- The biggest mindset shift she had to make when balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship
- Why setting work-life boundaries has been a game-changer for her business and family
If you’re an entrepreneur (or future entrepreneur!) wondering how to juggle business and motherhood—or just want a candid, inspiring conversation—this episode is a must-listen!
Links:
Transcript Summary:
[00:00:00] Introduction
- Krista welcomes Olivia Cupido to the podcast.
- They introduce the episode’s topic: balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood.
[00:01:00] Olivia’s Background & Dietitian Journey
- Olivia shares her path into dietetics.
- She didn’t start in private practice right away—first worked in a clinic setting.
- Early career included contract work, writing projects, and media work.
- She has always taught cooking classes, which has been a creative outlet.
[00:04:00] Starting a Private Practice
- COVID was a turning point—Olivia launched her private practice during lockdown.
- She started with virtual consultations after a friend referred her a client.
- Built her business gradually while still working in a clinic setting.
- Also began offering recipe development and brand collaborations.
[00:07:00] Early Days of Business Growth
- First few months were faster than expected in terms of client growth.
- Used Wix for a website and Practice Better for managing clients.
- Initial struggles included contracts, legal forms, and pricing.
[00:09:00] Structuring Offers & Pricing Changes
- Initially did one-off sessions, but later moved to packages (3, 5, or 8 sessions).
- Switched to packages to:
- Improve client results.
- Avoid re-selling services at the end of each session.
- Make sessions more structured and effective.
[00:12:00] Marketing & Client Referrals
- Struggled with marketing at first—Olivia doesn’t see herself as a salesperson.
- Found success through therapist connections rather than doctor referrals.
- SEO (search engine optimization) on her website has been key in attracting clients.
- Email newsletter has been a valuable marketing tool.
- Social media (Instagram) has not been a major source of clients.
[00:17:00] Motherhood & Business Changes
- Olivia shares her experience of being pregnant while running a business.
- Struggled with fatigue in late pregnancy, leading her to stop seeing clients earlier than expected.
- Had a moment of nearly passing out during a client session, which was a wake-up call to slow down.
[00:22:00] Navigating Identity Shifts as a Mom & Entrepreneur
- Struggled with accepting changes in her work capacity and new priorities.
- Faced an internal battle: “Am I still ambitious if I don’t want to work 60 hours a week?”
- Took 12 months of maternity leave, but resumed her business at 19 months postpartum.
[00:27:00] Setting Boundaries with Clients
- Now only sees clients during work hours (no evenings or weekends).
- Was initially nervous about losing clients but realized that:
- Clients will adjust their schedules.
- A few lost clients are not business-breaking.
- Dietitians should have the same professional boundaries as doctors or therapists.
[00:29:00] Pregnancy with Second Child & Business Adjustments
- Currently 6.5 months pregnant and managing business differently this time.
- Feels more in control due to having flexibility in private practice.
- Preparing for maternity leave again, with plans to pause client work but keep content creation active.
[00:36:00] Biggest Challenge of Motherhood & Business
- Hardest part has been accepting the shift in work pace and goals.
- Realized she no longer wants to work 6–7 days a week.
- Struggles with mental load of motherhood (e.g., meal planning, family logistics).
- Acknowledges that men often don’t have to think about these things.
[00:39:00] Future Vision for Business
- Wants to expand social media content and recipe development.
- Passionate about cooking and food relationship coaching.
- Exploring more virtual and in-person cooking classes.
- Considering program launches and more digital product offerings.
Still loves 1:1 client work and isn’t ready to let that go.
