“Inspiring & Empowering Women”

For Elisabeth Brandt, Director of Healing Earth, passion, authenticity, and transparency are the key qualities towards becoming a successful leader. “Only when you are consistent and honest on the journey, will people trust the brand. The authenticity of a brand doesn’t rest solely on the shoulders of its director or CEO; nurturing a passionate team of dedicated individuals to carry the message is imperative,” she explains. “I am conscious of the fact that without cultivating an empowered and inspired team, nothing can be achieved.”

Elisabeth believes that women need to show each other honour and respect. To believe that they compete with each other is to have a scarcity mindset. “This is the belief that there is ‘not enough’, when the truth is that there is more than enough room for us all to flourish without stepping on each other to do so,” she says. “I try to do this by sharing the knowledge I have gained from 30 years in the industry and providing opportunities in management for women.”

Elisabeth founded the concept and identified a niche in the high-end hospitality wellness market after extensive research and investigation nationally and internationally, realising that not much had changed in the last decade concerning hospitality offerings in this field. Service providers were tapping into superficial services that were not a true representation of the profession and leisure wellness industries. “In order to create unique, REAL and lasting experiences, a pure and original model combined with health and holistic approaches with the necessary expertise, knowhow, experience and flexibility had to be designed,” she says.

The pioneering leader is passionate about spreading proudly South African wellness throughout Africa and the globe. “Africa is rich in natural resources that have the power to heal and nourish us, but it is our responsibility to steward that gift responsibly,” she explains. “That’s why we are committed to only using ingredients that are sustainably sourced, cruelty-free, and environmentally-friendly.” What’s currently closest to Elisabeth’s heart is her Healing Earth Foundation, through which they offer weekly yoga, meditation, and life skills classes at a children’s home in Cape Town as part of their community upliftment initatives.

“While our products are high performance and results driven, we are also deeply rooted in holistic wellbeing, offering results that are safe, natural, and more sustainable in the long term. We remain strongly aligned to our vision and values. This means that, if a contract or opportunity does not resonate with our ethos or what we think is best for our people and planet, we won’t pursue it,” emphasises Elisabeth.

In one of their many prestigious global partnerships, Healing Earth is the spa operator for Leeu Collection at their flagship property Leeu Estates in Franschhoek. In the words of Group Advisor Nicolette Waterford, “The Healing Earth team is a turnkey operator, responsible for every aspect of Leeu Spa, from product supply to curating spa menus, as well as the management and sourcing of staff and all other daily operations. We operated our own spa on the Estate before and we were nervous to outsource such an important part of our guest experience, but I can joyfully report that the Healing Earth team has taken our spa experience to the next level.”

Passionate about spreading proudly African wellness throughout Africa and the globe, Elisabeth continues to grow Healing Earth’s presence across borders in places like Zanzibar, Kenya, and the Maldives, to name just a few. “We are constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation within the industry, and we have our sights set on achieving global expansion.” IEWL