137. What Exactly Does A Wellness Consultant Do?

Most wellness leaders feel the pull toward consulting, and then freeze on one simple question: 

“But what would I actually do?” 

In this episode, I break it down clearly and practically, so you finally understand what the role really looks like. 

When wellness leaders ask me, “Sonal, what does a wellness consultant actually do?” I always smile because I remember being in that exact place myself. 

Years ago, when I first stepped into consulting, I thought I could do everything. I had just come off a successful pre-opening in the Middle East, so when a boutique hotel in Spain hired me for my first consulting project, I rolled up my sleeves and jumped straight into operations. I created the concept, opened the spa, trained the team — all the things I knew how to do exceptionally well. 

What I didn’t realise was that the moment I got pulled into day-to-day execution, I lost the strategic altitude that a consultant is supposed to hold. 

I wasn’t guiding the why or the what. 

I was drowning in the how. 

Fast forward nearly 20 years, and I’m consulting with the same owners again. Their wellness facility is still beautiful but strategically, it’s as if they’re starting from scratch. 

Not because they failed or because the concept was wrong. 

But because no one stayed above the day-to-day to protect the strategy, refine the concept, and iterate as the market evolved. 

That realisation changed the entire trajectory of my consulting career. 

A consultant is not an upgraded wellness director. 

A consultant is the strategist — the guide — who shapes the why and the what so the team on the ground can execute the how. 

And once you understand that distinction, you also start to see the three natural consulting paths that wellness leaders grow into and which one might be the right next step for you. 

Here are the 3 Things you’ll learn in this episode: 

1.- The real difference between consulting and operations 

How consultants own the why and the what, while wellness directors own the how, and why a hotel needs both. 

2.- The three consulting paths wellness leaders naturally move into 

Internal Advisor, Project-Based Consultant, and Strategic/Specialist Consultant, and what each path looks like in practice. 

3.- Why operational excellence alone isn’t enough to become a consultant 

And what mindset and skill shift is required to make your transition successful. 

By the end of the episode, you will see clearly what wellness consultants actually do. You will also understand how the role differs from, and complements, that of a wellness director. 

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Are you ready to take wellness to the next level?


Here are 2 ways I can help:


1️⃣  WHO: Wellness directors who want to join 1% of wellness leaders


📌 WHAT: The Wellness Asset Academy
A 10-week online group programme where I guide you through my 7-step ESSENCE framework. Achieve higher pay and secure a genuine seat at the hotel’s big table—so wellness is no longer the most neglected area in the hotel.

→  Join the waitlist here.



2️⃣  WHO: Owners of small, independent hotels with a strong wellbeing focus


📌 WHAT: Asset Builder Mentorship
Exclusive 6-month 1:1 mentorship programme to master creating a wellness asset, build a proud team, and deliver transformative experiences for your guests.

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