Dietetics Dropout Creates Thriving Plant-Based Wellness Empire

The boldest move I ever made was walking away from the "safe" career path I had worked so hard to create. I was deep into my dietetics program when I realized something was wrong: I wasn't inspired by what I was learning. Every lecture was about managing illness after it appeared, rather than empowering people to create health in the first place. I remember sitting in class, asking myself, Why aren't we teaching people how to prevent disease instead of just treating it?

That question wouldn't leave me. And one day, I decided to act on it. I dropped out.

It was terrifying. I didn't have a degree to fall back on, and the criticism came fast: "You'll never succeed without credentials." But what I gained was freedom. Freedom to follow my curiosity into massage therapy, yoga training, holistic health, and eventually co-founding Blooming Botanicals, where we create plant-based wellness products that support mind, body, and spirit.

The risk of leaving a conventional path gave me something much greater than stability ever could: influence, impact, and alignment. Today, I run a company serves thousands of people, a direct reflection of the bold decision to choose purpose over security. Our visibility has grown because we're authentic about why we do this work—we live it every day.

What I've learned is that bold moves aren't comfortable, but they're necessary. Security is an illusion; purpose is real. And when you commit to your purpose—even when others don't understand—you set yourself apart in your industry. You create ripples far beyond your own life.

For me, the leap wasn't just about starting a business. It was about claiming ownership of my story and designing a life that actually felt like mine.

Sarah Birney, Co-Founder, Blooming Botanicals