Origin story
At WellFests, our mission is to empower professional excellence through personal wellbeing, integrating mindfulness and movement into daily workflows. We prioritize individual health and wellness, inspiring leadership to embrace and support this methodology for their teams.
Our journey began with CEO and Founder Shannan Slevin, who has over 10 years of teaching experience in corporate wellness. With a BA in Communications and certifications in Yoga RYT, SCOTT Pilates System, The GYROTONIC Expansion System®, Integrative Nutrition Health Coaching AADP, The Wonder Method Energy Work, and Mindful Leadership, Shannan’s expertise revealed the impacts of sedentary, high-stress jobs.
Dating back to 2011, while working in software sales in San Francisco, Shannan was also building her wellness coaching business. Her direct experience working long hours at a desk shaped the development of our curriculum and sequencing, specializing it around the needs of modern employees and business professionals.
Inspired by her management experience, she sought to explore the intersections of workday excellence and personal vitality. This curiosity led her to integrate wellness practices into professional settings, advancing innovative ways to support the health and well-being of business professionals for a thriving workplace.
Every idea starts with a problem. Ours was simple: Sitting all day at a keyboard, in a high stress job leads to mental burnout and physical injury.
History of WellFests
In 2015, a pivotal moment in our journey occurred when Shannan Slevin was introduced to Chris Mittelstaedt, Founder of The FruitGuys, a leading B2B health company. Under his guidance, Shannan honed her producer skills, and together they launched the innovative video series, FruitGuys TV, in 2016. This series highlighted the importance of workplace wellness and showcased Shannan's talent for creating engaging, impactful content.
Chris's influence extended beyond production. His entrepreneurial expertise and mission-driven approach helped coach Shannan in various business projects, including SHOWGA and innovative collaborations with The FruitGuys.
His invaluable insights refined our vision and approach, making his mentorship a cornerstone of our success and fostering a relationship that remains fruitful today.
In 2020, Shannan launched her first reoccurring calendar of scheduled wellness breaks during the early days of the Covid pandemic. The FruitGuys, a loyal client, signed up to host two sessions a week for their team.
The impact on their employees was so profound that they extended the sessions to their customers, leading to the joint project Take a Breather On Demand, now offered to FruitGuys clients and beyond.
These initiatives reflect our shared commitment to promoting workplace well-being and demonstrate the powerful synergy between WellFests and The FruitGuys. Chris's mentorship has been instrumental in shaping WellFests' growth strategy and he is still involved today.
In 2019, Shannan met founding ally Matt Thomas at a CEO retreat. Their shared vision for applying yogic practices in professional environments led to an alliance in 2021.
Since our launch in 2018, WellFests has evolved through partnerships with like-minded brands and thought leaders, growing into a global resource for well-being. Our programming supports professionals with daily workflow breaks, workshops, and travel guides, promoting health and well-being wherever you work.
No matter where you are, WellFests has you covered!