Hi, I’m Jill Shapiro, IIN Class of 2011, and founder of Wellness by Jill. I traded in a life full of stress and anxiety working in finance for green juice, meditation and yoga. I am passionate about empowering women in the corporate world that are stressed and tired from the demands of their jobs and frustrated with their health. I help implement simple, healthy choices that make a big impact on women's lives as a whole. You can connect with me on my blog and Twitter.

I remember so clearly back in high school, I decided that because I loved math, I should be an accountant.

An accountant? I mean, doesn’t that just make sense? Back then I thought that this was the logical pathway to a fulfilling career. Sit behind a desk at a computer, work your behind off, collect your paycheck, and pay your rent and living expenses. Repeat daily, weekly, monthly.

I’ve learned a lot over the past year. I know now that just because you are good at something does not mean that you are passionate about it. Real passion is much deeper than just that.

I worked on Wall Street for some of the biggest financial companies in the world in New York City. Life was glamorous. I went to fancy parties, drank expensive Dom Pérignon, and schmoozed with famous clients. The stock market was on fire and so were my spending habits. I even went to business school to get my MBA because I thought I had to climb the corporate ladder with these three letters on my resume.

What about happiness? I was so blind I didn’t realize what was going on deep within my true self.

What all of this corporate ladder climbing actually did was cost me my health. It took me hitting a wall to realize that my career was actually making sick.

Severe anxiety, stress, and digestive issues were ruling my life. I felt out of control, numb, and truly defeated. I had absolutely no energy left and I was popping pills round the clock.

I knew it was time to put an end to this and I was desperately ready for a change. This change that I was seeking actually led me to my real passion for health and wellness. I was able to heal myself naturally from all the damage I had done to myself. With my awareness for health and wellness in full swing, I then found the Institute for Integration Nutrition.

Integrative Nutrition could not have come into my life at a better time. I knew immediately that this program was for me. I signed up on a whim and never looked back.

IIN teaches you that it’s not just the food we eat, but it’s the lifestyle we live, that nourishes us. All of a sudden light bulbs started going off in my head!

Within a few months after starting the program, I decided I was going to leave Wall Street once and for all. I knew that staying in the financial industry watching the stock market was doing way more harm than good for my health. It didn’t matter how much money I was making. All that mattered was that I wasn’t fulfilled or happy.

I took a leap of faith and quit my job in finance last March, and focused all of my attention on my health coaching business. To be completely transparent with you, it hasn’t been an easy ride.  There have been plenty of windy roads over the past year, but I can tell you one thing… I have never been happier. Thank goodness for the school, the community, and coaching that is provided, because I would not be where I am if it weren’t for all the connections I have made. I have also met some of my closest friends from the school.

One of the biggest things I always noticed along the windy roads was that the Universe always conspired to help me. Even in the toughest of times, it always worked out. It always does, if you just trust that it will.

Choosing to leave my job has led to so many amazing opportunities in my life, including my dream of moving to California. I also just recently manifested a month-long raw-food culinary class in Bali this November. For once I feel deeply fulfilled in the most internal and true way! IIN truly shifted me and I am now living the life of my dreams.

Life is too short. If you come to a dead end, keep on going. If you work hard, it will all work out, I promise you.