{SS}: What is your current profession? 

{NH}: I am the owner and Education Director of Equilibrium Studios. 21 years ago, I was practicing law, raising 4 children and training to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. A sporadic nerve injury resulted in my third back surgery which left me walking with a brace. Frustrated with my prognosis I did some research and learned for the first time about pilates as a therapeutic exercise. I was lucky to meet Khita Austin, a teacher working in her basement in Ann Arbor, and the infamous Romana practicing in New York City. The results were amazing and life changing!  I quickly realized that Oakland County would not miss another attorney, but was badly in need of a pilates training studio. The timing was right and I was lucky to meet leaders in the pilates education world and was offered a license for the first Stott Pilates training studio in the United States.

{SS}: Tell us about your typical day.  

{NH}: I work on various teams at the studio so everyday includes communicating with the coordinators of client services, training, marketing, and teaching.  With the opening of a second studio in downtown Birmingham I am busier than ever with typical start up tasks; hiring and developing a great team and reaching new clients.

{SS}: What do you love about your job?

{NH}:  Wearing workout clothes to work but mainly being in a career where people are genuinely happy and appreciate to receive the services/product I offer.   The adversarial aspect of law was interesting but rarely rewarding.

{SS}: Any advice to those starting out in your profession?

{NH}: Talk to everyone in your profession and identify mentors.  Be flexible. Business plans are important as a road map but they are not set in stone.  Things will go wrong.  Be sure you understand that owning your own business is not for the quasi-lazy person.  I constantly hear from women that they want to own their own business for the flexibility they imagine it affords. I would warn them that you will need to work long hours and like motherhood, it is 24/7

{SS}: What would you tell your 23-year-old self?

{NH}: This might surprise your listeners who are accustomed to hearing that they should have slowed down, spent more time with family, and allocated more time for leisure activities.  I would tell people that your twenties are an excellent time to learn as much as you can, gain degrees and credentials that you desire, and explore everything that interests you.  Be sure to think of ways that you can positively impact your community.  Be bold. Work hard.  Don’t be afraid of working long hours and of missing a party. 

{SS}: Where do you, personally, get your daily news fix?

{NH}: Slate, NYTimes, when in a hurry theSkimm, and NPR in the car. 

{SS}: What do you do to make you feel beautiful, confident and ready to take on anything? 

{NH}: I think confident women have a strong sense of self, convictions, and a passion for living life to the fullest. Confident women are always the most beautiful women in the room.  Their confidence is real and comes from inside.  Nothing looks better on a face of any age than confidence.

{SS}: What is your “Style Archetype?”

{NH}: Sporty Chic