Meet Alana Sandel

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alana Sandel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alana, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Being Myself – Alana Sandel

For years, I struggled with the question, “What is my purpose?” Not because I lacked ambition or effort, but because I expected the answer to be clear, packaged in a role or title. In my younger years, I didn’t have clarity about what I was meant to do. But I carried a sense that my challenges and the way I engaged with the world were asking me to pay attention.

As I built a career in marketing, I began to sense that my purpose was connected to helping people be well. And yet, I wasn’t a doctor or therapist; I was a strategist and connector. I have been asking myself and others what my purpose is until I began doing deep personal work: leadership development through the Apeiron School, meditation retreats with Dr. Joe Dispenza, soul-searching, and emotional healing. Slowly, I started to understand that I didn’t need to tie my purpose to a single job title or identity.

Eventually, I was able to exhale. I stopped searching for a definition and started asking myself: *Who am I?* That question became a turning point. If I show up as the real me, and not as someone shaped by what others expect or find acceptable, then I’m living more truthfully. The more I focused on asking that question, the more things started unfolding naturally. I came to see that purpose isn’t something you find once. It’s something that reveals itself when you align your outer life with your inner truth.

Through my work and personal experiences, I’ve come to share a message that continues to guide me: Wellness is Everything.

My ultimate purpose isn’t tied to a role, it’s about enjoying *being* in the moment, even when it’s not easy. It’s about how I feel doing what I do, how I show up, and who I surround myself with. And the best indicator if I am on purpose or not is how I feel about my everyday.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

About Me – Alana Sandel

I live in Naples, Florida, with my husband and our two wonderful children, ages 10 and 12. I cherish the gift of being a mom, it’s a gift that lifts me up and reminds me every day why presence, love, and inner truth matter most.

Professionally, I lead Marketing for Wellness https://www.marketingforwellness.org, a marketing agency I founded in the early 2000s to align my work with a deeper mission: promoting wellness, authenticity, and meaningful partnerships. I’ve been in the marketing field for over two decades, originally working with large organizations and Fortune 5000 brands. Over time, I realized I needed to walk my talk—I decided to represent brands that I respect for their work in wellness. Respecting, listening to, and honoring myself—and practicing wellness didn’t come easily. I had to learn it the hard way. And now, I do my best to embrace wellness every day, in how I eat, how I lead, and how I show up in the world. Wellness is Everything not just a belief, but the message I live and share.

In addition to my agency, I recently stepped into a role as facilitator for the Forbes Council Wellness Group, where I guide conversations among entrepreneurs and business leaders. I believe those in positions of influence can create real cultural impact, especially when equipped with trusted, research-based information about wellness. That’s why this work is so important to me: it’s about helping people make better decisions for themselves, their teams, and their organizations.

I also run a small charity ForWellBeing.org(h ttps://www.forwellbeing.org), which currently focuses on supporting children and the elderly in Ukraine through direct humanitarian aid. Whether it’s helping clients stand out in the wellness space or coordinating relief shipments abroad, my work is guided by a single principle: **creating good through connection**.

When I carve out time for myself, I dedicate it to personal growth—especially learning philosophy, psychology, and participating in leadership development programs through the **Apeiron School**. I also take acting classes with the local theater group, The Naples Players, which brings joy and playfulness into my week. I love dancing (especially Latin and ballet), swimming, walking on the beach, and having great conversations with curious, brilliant people who have a sense of humor and a genuine love for life. travel is one of my greatest joys*, and when I have the opportunity to explore the world with my family, I laugh through every minute even if the kids are yelling in the backseat with their very creative demands.

Whenever I can, I love attending events hosted by TWIN Global(h ttps://www.twinglobal.org)—a global innovation network that brings together some of the most inspiring minds from across industries. Being surrounded by humble, brilliant people who are building a better future fuels something very alive in me. These connections remind me of why I do the work I do—and how purpose and passion are meant to evolve together.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Taking Responsibility
The most transformative quality I developed was realizing that I am fully responsible for what happens in my life. Earlier in my journey, when things were difficult, I would look for explanations outside of myself, asking who caused what or why certain situations happened. When I came to understand that everything begins and ends with me, that I am the author of my life, I felt a deep sense of empowerment. Personal evolution is directly linked to how much responsibility you are willing to take. The more ownership you claim, the more power you have to change your reality.

*Seeing Strength in Struggle
Another major shift came when I began to see challenges, whether they were health issues, emotional setbacks, or life disruptions, as opportunities to access a deeper part of myself. I aligned with the idea that the place of your greatest pain is also the source of your greatest strength. When I embraced that, I stopped resisting my experiences and started exploring them. I looked at what hurt, what felt unfair, what felt heavy, and instead of hiding from it, I asked what strength was waiting on the other side. For me, it is not about wishing for an easy path, it is about paying attention to what the path is revealing. Challenges are not punishments, they are invitations to find power you did not know you had.

*Learning to Listen and Ask Questions
The third and ongoing practice in my life is learning how to truly listen, not just to what people say but to what life communicates through interactions, disruptions, and the people who cross my path. There are many ways of listening. Some people speak through words, others through actions, energy, or resistance. When you pay attention on that deeper level, you start recognizing that even your opponents or critics can be your greatest teachers. The people who tell you the truth without sugarcoating it are rare, and I cherish those voices. I am learning the art of asking questions that make people stop and think for a moment. The right question can shift someone’s perspective, open new awareness, or bring clarity to something that felt stuck. For me, this combination, listening and asking with intention, is one of the most meaningful ways to connect and support others.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

Who is the ideal client for Marketing for Wellness?
At Marketing for Wellness, we partner with brands and organizations that are committed to building long-term preference and meaningful connections with audiences who care deeply about their health and well-being. Our ideal clients are companies that understand wellness not as a trend, but as a core value that influences everything—from product development to storytelling.

Industry Niches We Serve
We work with forward-thinking companies in the following wellness-driven industries:
Functional Food and Beverage
Natural and Clean Beauty
Supplements and Nutraceuticals
Integrative Health and Personal Care
Wellness and Preventive Healthcare
Wellness Tourism and Hospitality
Fitness, Recovery, and Mind-Body Spaces
Mental Wellness and Emotional Well-being
Technology and Wearables for Wellness
Spiritual and Personal Development Programs

Our ideal client is led by founders, brand managers, and marketing leaders who have a clear handle on their business objectives but also recognize that every product, campaign, and message they put into the world has the power to create either a positive or negative impact.

We work best with teams who are:
Mission-driven and aligned with wellness values
Open to strategic collaboration and long-term brand building
Focused on substance over hype
Ready to engage in authentic storytelling and community building
Interested in partnerships that elevate industry conversation and create real value

We dedicate our time, know how and creative talent to help wellness-focused companies thrive in their niche while contributing to a more conscious, connected world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marketingforwellness.com
• Instagram: @alanasandel @marketingforwellness
• Linkedin: @marketingforwellness.com @alanasandel
• Other: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/people/alannahtsimissandehl/

  https://forwellbeing.org/ukraine

Image Credits

Marketing For Wellness
Alana Sandel