Novo Nordisk And Lego Board Member Joins Data-Focused Wellness Company Bellabeat

Wellness, as many know, is a tremendous industry with a global value north of $4.5 trillion. Whether it’s diet plans, exercise regimens, or the latest in meditation practices, more people around the world want to feel better and improve their health. This also means that there are new and innovative companies in the wellness space to serve consumers. 

One of these is Bellabeat. Based in San Francisco, Bellabeat is a data-driven wellness enterprise that creates custom plans for its users based on their individual needs and quirks. Its primary focus is on closing the wellness gap which disproportionately affects women despite the fact that women constitute the largest number of caregivers worldwide. 

The company works by collecting data from its users regarding their menstrual cycle and then forming a wellness program around it. By taking various factors into account, such as mood swings and energy levels, Bellabeat not only sheds the stigma regarding period discussions but also helps to ensure better results. 

Since its inception four years ago, the firm has seen not only support from its users by encouraging results as well. Per its website, Bellabeat facilitates over 6.4 million workouts each day and have sparked over 600 thousand discussions about women’s health. 

Jeppe Christiansen Joins Bellabeat

Photo: Jeppe Christiansen

With all its success, it is only natural that Bellabeat would see some new changes, particularly to its management. Earlier in November, it was announced that the company would be welcoming Jeppe Christiansen as a new board member. 

Christiansen is an internationally acclaimed economist and investment manager from Denmark, bringing decades of professional experience to this new role. He began his career in the financial sector in 1984, has worked as executive director at Danske Bank from 1999 to 2004, and has led the Copenhagen-based, nationally-recognized asset management firm Maj Invest since 2004.

Most notably, Christiansen has held the vice-chair position of the multinational pharmaceutical powerhouse Novo Nordisk NONOF  since 2013. The corporation currently operates offices in five countries and production facilities in eight, with revenue surpassing $19 billion in 2019. 

In addition to his board positions at Bellabeat and Novo Nordisk, Christiansen is also a member of the Board of Directors at KIRKBI. The Danish holding company is primarily known for its subsidiary The Lego Group, the world’s leading toy manufacturer by revenue and employer of more than 18,000 workers globally.

The Need for a Data-based Approach in the Wellness Sector

While Bellabeat’s current business model is innovative in its own right, it is also representative of a changing climate within the wellness industry. When many people think of wellness, they think of mass-produced quick fixes or fads that are marketed to large audiences. Take the average fad diet that promises to help everyone lose weight regardless of differences in body composition, genetics, and so on. This is one of the reasons why most diets are poised to fail. 

This is why new companies like Bellabeat are going against the grain. Data is one of the most powerful tools in the internet age and the proper leveraging of data can be very beneficial to consumers. 

For example, a person who experiences heavy periods might be recommended an exercise regimen during their period that helps relieve cramps as opposed to one that might worsen their symptoms. This means that the user is more likely to stay on track with her program and achieve her goals with more ease. 

As the wellness industry evolves, it has become apparent that companies cannot mass-produce impersonal products and services but must be attentive to their customers. This, however, can only be possible with the right data used in a creative and ethical manner. And Bellabeat is big on data. The company reports having an average of 50,000 data sets for each user. These sets come together to create a unique consumer profile that means that no two customers receive the same program. 

It is clear that there is no going back to the ways of old. Hopefully, this new addition to the management of Bellabeat means that it can continue to create a new world based on ethical data use and inclusion of women. 

Disclaimer: the writer does not have any relationship or vested interest in Bellabeat. This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial advice.