Meet Yuli Ziv

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

Yuli, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

Finding my purpose wasn’t a straight line—it rarely is. I’ve been a serial entrepreneur for most of my career, building and scaling businesses, and eventually selling my last company. But after that, I reached a turning point. I knew I wanted to create something more meaningful, something that aligned with my deeper values. It wasn’t just about business success anymore—it was about impact.

And then I did the scariest thing I’d ever done: I stepped away. I took a break from my career, in my mid-40s—what most would consider the prime of my professional life. That was terrifying. Who takes a pause when everything is supposed to be accelerating? But I knew I had to.

During that time, I immersed myself in holistic healing—working with incredible practitioners who helped me reset on every level. It wasn’t just about reseting; it was about rewiring. And through that process, something unexpected happened. I started seeing the gaps, the inefficiencies, the ways this industry—one so deeply needed in the world right now—was struggling to adopt the digital tools that could help it thrive.

That’s when my next chapter became clear. My background in marketing and tech, combined with my lifelong passion for wellness and holistic living, naturally converged into something bigger than me. I knew I had to build Heallist—not just as a business, but as a mission-driven platform to support healers in growing and sustaining their work.

It wasn’t a calculated move. It was something I felt in my core. My own healing journey showed me just how much my skills were needed in this space. And when you see something that clearly, when every part of you knows it’s the right path—you don’t hesitate. You build.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

In 2022 I founded Heallist, a digital platform designed specifically for holistic healers. At its core, Heallist is about giving practitioners the tools they need to manage and grow their businesses with ease—so they can focus on their healing work, not the backend logistics.

What makes Heallist special is that it’s not just another booking system—it’s a mission-driven ecosystem built for healers, by someone who deeply understands both the tech and wellness worlds. Our platform offers seamless booking, payments, and client management, along with unique features like Telehealing (via our integrated video platform), group sessions, workshops, and retreats.

Beyond the software, what excites me most is the community we’re building. Through our Heallist Masterclasses, we provide essential training on everything from digital marketing to financial wellness—because running a healing practice is also running a business. And we take it further with in-person experiences like our upcoming Healers Retreat at Menla Retreat Center Upstate NY in May, where practitioners can gather, recharge, and grow together.

This year is all about expansion—more tools, more resources, and more opportunities for healers to step into their power and scale their impact. I truly believe that the world needs holistic healing more than ever, and my mission is to make sure the people doing this work have the support they deserve.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three key qualities have shaped my journey:

1. Resilience
Being a two-time immigrant taught me early on how to adapt, rebuild, and thrive in new environments. Change was never something to fear—it was just part of life. That mindset has been invaluable as an entrepreneur, where uncertainty is constant. I believe resilience is like a muscle—the more you challenge yourself, the stronger it gets. Whether it’s stepping into an unfamiliar situation, traveling to a new place, taking a cold plunge, or learning a skill that scares you, pushing your limits regularly helps you build the capacity to handle anything.

2. Intuition
Many times, I’ve been ahead of the curve with my ideas. That can be frustrating when the world isn’t quite ready yet—but I’ve learned to trust my intuition and stick around long enough to see my vision come to life. I feel the same about the holistic healing space right now—it’s still developing, but its time is coming. For anyone starting out, I’d say: learn to listen to your gut. It takes practice, but when you cultivate that inner knowing, it becomes one of your greatest business (and life) tools.

3. Optimism
Taking risks is part of the journey, and you can either approach it with fear or curiosity. I choose curiosity. I believe that everything—successes, failures, detours—has meaning. There’s always a lesson, always a purpose, even when you can’t see it right away. The best advice I can give? Work on your mindset. Take small risks first, build confidence, and develop trust in the process. Over time, optimism becomes less of a conscious effort and more of a way of being—and that’s when the magic really happens.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

The past 12 months have been a huge growth period—not just for Heallist, but for me personally. Scaling a business at this pace has been an incredible challenge, but the real test wasn’t just about growth—it was about how I grew it.

This time around, I was intentional about not sacrificing my well-being in the process. It’s so easy to fall into the startup founder mentality of “never enough, always more to do”, but I knew I didn’t want to build a company that helps others heal at the expense of my own health. So I put my own practices to the test. My daily meditation practice (30-80 min a day) became non-negotiable. I made sure to move my body every day, whether it was strength training, cardio, or long hikes in nature—because physical movement is just as important as mental clarity.

On top of that, I committed to being present for my family—balancing the demands of running a startup with raising two young children. It required constant course correction, but I’ve developed a new approach to life: recognizing when I’m out of balance and adjusting before burnout takes over. That ability to pause, reassess, and realign has been one of my biggest achievements.

At the end of the day, Heallist is about sustainable success for healers—and that includes me, too. If I can grow a thriving business while staying deeply connected to my own well-being, then I know I’m building something truly meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://heallist.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/heal_list
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Heallist/
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/yuliziv/

Image Credits

Eric Traore
Rebecca Weiss
Christine Ashburn