EP. 286: Heather Florio: Transforming Women’s Health and Wellness
Jun 26, 2024
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Heather Florio shares her journey managing ADHD and autism, turning challenges into strengths. As the CEO of Desert Harvest, she showcases how ADHD traits can drive business growth. Heather's dedication to promoting health and wellness extends beyond her company, reflecting her passion for making a positive impact on the broader community.
Embrace personal challenges with incremental steps for growth and resilience.
Utilize unique traits like ADHD and autism to fuel creativity and strength.
Implement effective time management systems to leverage ADHD traits for business success.
Deep dives
Heather Florio's Inspiring Journey at Desert Harvest
Heather Florio, the second-generation owner of Desert Harvest, shares her impactful journey of collaborating with medical professionals to develop urology, pelvic and sexual health, and women's health products. Recognized as a top figure in wellness publications and a White House presenter, Florio's dedication to educating, advocating, and innovating in healthcare shines through.
Navigating ADHD and Autism Diagnoses
Florio candidly discusses her high school ADHD diagnosis and subsequent autism discovery at 41. Reflecting on the challenges of understanding social cues, emotional intelligence, and struggles in a neurotypical world, she emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, acceptance, and embracing neurodivergent identities.
Balancing Multitasking Superpowers and Time Management
Florio's multitasking abilities, a hallmark of her ADHD, prove beneficial in managing Desert Harvest's high growth. Despite struggles with time management and focusing on key tasks amidst distractions, her organizational methods and prioritization enable effective leadership and task completion.
Breaking Taboos in Pelvic and Sexual Health
Leveraging her ADHD-based no-filter approach, Florio fearlessly addresses taboo topics like post-menopausal sexual health and period care. By offering innovative aloe vera products for pelvic health, like period underwear, she promotes comfort, function, and education to destigmatize sexual health discussions.
Advocating for Neurodiversity in the Workplace
As a neurodivergent CEO, Florio advocates for workplace inclusivity and supports employees' diverse learning styles. Sharing insights on ADHD and autism intersection, she highlights the importance of understanding individual strengths, prioritizing employee comfort, and fostering an open dialogue to promote success and support in the workplace.
Heather Florio's journey is one of resilience and growth. Her advice? Do overwhelming things one step at a time.
Diagnosed with ADHD in high school and discovering she was autistic at age 41, Heather turned these traits into sources of strength and creativity. Growing up in a military family in Germany, she embraced her unique perspective and developed innovative strategies to manage her symptoms, such as using music to aid her focus and finding solace in books. Heather’s experiences highlight the importance of adapting and finding personal solutions to thrive despite challenges.
Heather Florio, the second-generation owner of Desert Harvest, has collaborated with medical professionals worldwide since 1993 to develop products and advocate for health in various fields, including urology, pelvic health, and dermatology. She serves on the board of the Northern Light Health Center for Healthy Brain Aging and launched a fundraising campaign for the AANE organization in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Heather's dedication to promoting health and wellness extends beyond her company, reflecting her passion for making a positive impact on the broader community.
As the CEO of Desert Harvest, Heather's ability to hyper-focus and multitask has driven the company's growth by 1,000% since 2012. She has created effective systems to manage her time and responsibilities, showcasing how her ADHD traits can be powerful assets. Heather's dedication to her work, combined with her roles as a mother and advocate for women's health, has earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of the top 50 Women in Wellness and a feature in Forbes. When not at the helm of Desert Harvest, Heather enjoys spending time with her husband, three sons, and three dogs, embracing the joy and balance of family life.