Meet Sarah Hunt, M.AN, RDN, owner of her own company, Modern Prenatal Classes. Using her previous experience of owning a franchise swim coaching business, she was able to use these transferable skills to develop her new dream job while finishing her dietetic education. Amazing time management skills, too. Read on to learn about her inspiring aspirations, determination, and savvy business plans. - Sarah

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?
I was initially drawn to the field of dietetics because I knew I belonged in a helping healthcare profession. I was always of the belief that nutrition is a fundamental building block of integrative healthcare. Then, in my late teens, I saw a dietitian to discuss the skin problems I was experiencing, and I resonated with her client-centered evidence-based approach to care. I left that appointment feeling empowered with information and knew that was the profession I wanted to pursue.

Your Job Title?
Prenatal Nutrition Educator

Company you are with now?
Modern Prenatal Classes

Website:
https://www.modernprenatalclasses.com/

Social Media:
Instagram: @modern.prenatal.classes

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you?
At Modern Prenatal Classes, we feel it is about time prenatal classes had an upgrade.

Our midwife, researcher, and nutrition postgrad team develops custom prenatal programs for each of our clients. Content is curated on an individual basis depending on their learning style, circumstances, and knowledge gaps and is sent out on a monthly subscription basis. We take a well-rounded, nurturing, and scientific approach to build their confidence from the moment they find out they're pregnant until 6-months postpartum.

Being an online business, we work from home, so each workday I will touch base with the team to discuss the progress of on-going clients, developments in content creation, new intake appointments, marketing strategies, finances etc. I love the flexibility of being my own boss while having the collaboration and support of an integrative team.

For me the most rewarding part of my work is the personal interaction with my clients whether it be answering their questions via email, a virtual nutrition intake appointment, or a virtual private consultation. I appreciate the uniqueness of each of their stories and hearing how I can best support them as their pregnancy journey progresses. In addition, due to our services being completely virtual, I enjoy having the opportunity to work with clients from all over the world and make prenatal education accessible - especially in these unprecedented times. For instance, we are currently offering our services for a family in Spain. When I am not in direct contact with the clients, I am curating prenatal class content to be sent out, keeping up to date with the changing literature, and helping manage the social media.

How did you get your current job in dietetics?
I created it! I had an entrepreneurial background running my own franchise of a swimming lesson/first aid business for 4 years throughout university; so I felt confident building off that experience to create my dream nutrition job. My sister Laura (the midwife) brought years of experience and expertise in the field, and Anna (the researcher/midwife) brought a unique evidenced-based lens and graphic design abilities.

I adore working with this population as they are so highly motivated, and I know the significant impact prenatal and early infant nutrition can have on the long-term health of both the mother and child. It is my goal to provide current and credible knowledge to this sensitive population that is exposed to high amounts of misinformation through my professional career as a registered dietitian.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
Empathy, problem-solving, and patience are skills that came very instinctually to me. Whereas, I feel that I have actively put energy into developing my leadership skills throughout my life. I am an extraverted person, but it is not my nature to be the center of attention, so for a long time I believed that impacted my effectiveness as a leader. But I have learned that it is not always the loudest people that make the best leaders. I actively sought out leadership opportunities throughout school, volunteering, and jobs to develop my unique leadership style. To me a leader is someone who knows their distinct skill set and uses it to help others discover theirs. This is a guiding philosophy and approach to leadership I use to empower my clients.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
My advice to dietetic interns and young professionals is that “you get out what you put in”. Meaning you have the whole dietetic world at your fingertips, your university institution’s faculty, your preceptors, your colleagues, and your peers. You have such a valuable platform to learn from other’s experiences and make valuable contacts along the way. The more effort you put into engaging in your experience the more you will get out of it.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
Plane tickets! (Once it is safe to do so of course.) Since this business is based online, I can work from anywhere as long as there’s WIFI.