Ariana Rodriguez
Mentor, Registered Dietitian & Co Founder of Embody Health London
I am born and raised in Canada, half Venezuelan and quarter Italian which luckily has allowed me to move myself to the UK where I work as a Registered Dietitian, Intuitive Eating Counsellor, yoga teacher and where I have co-founded my nutrition clinic Embody Health London – London’s Eating Disorders and Body Image clinic. I work to empower people around the world to renew their relationship with food and body to live a rich and abundant life!
How did you hear about Mentoring Young Creatives?
From Founder Sarah Macklin directly
Why do you want to be a Mentor on the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
I believe it is so important to focus more on prevention than our society currently does in relation to mental health illness. If I can help even just one person to prevent them from developing a mental health issue or to inspire them to own their authentic self in their industry, my mission is accomplished!
What past experiences do you have which you believe will help you to mentor a young person in the creative industries?
I was a competitive dancer for 18 years and am very well versed on the pressures that an industry highly focused on physical appearance such as the fashion industry may place on young people and their bodies. I believe my experience growing up in an industry as such will be helpful to pull into my mentorship and my experience as a counsellor and clinician will also be a strength to be able to guide my mentee (e.g. motivational interviewing skills).
What do you hope to achieve from the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
To give back to a young person in need of guidance and support and to network with other like-minded individuals.
What are you most excited about in starting the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
Meeting my mentee! And to see how many mentees are able to be supported by this wonderful initiative.
How do you think your career and health would have been affected had you had the opportunity to be mentored early in your career?
Luckily I had a mentor which is what I truly believe enabled me to thrive. I would like to give this blessing to someone else.
What is the best piece of advice that you have been given by a mentor/colleague/friend?
Stay in your lane! Everyone around you is going to be doing their own thing, some of those things will seem great and easy to compare to while others not so much – regardless, focus on your goals, passions and you do you because THAT is what you have control over.
To find out more about Ariana hear to her Be Well expert profile here or head over to her social media page.