Today, that mission extends to farming and education, as the company integrates botanical sourcing with hands-on learning experiences.
McKelvey’s journey began as a consumer navigating her own health questions, which led her to formal training in herbalism and nutrition education. After years working in brand and copywriting roles, she reached a turning point. Realizing she wanted to work directly with women using her expertise to support their health journeys, she launched Her Vital Way.
“I was like, ‘I’ve got to do this.’ I looked in the mirror and I was like, ‘This is terrifying–I can’t believe I’m even considering it,’” she said. “You have to do this. If not now, when? So that really was the impetus for me going like, ‘let’s do this.’”
A defining influence on her mission was the loss of a close friend to cancer. That experience reinforced her belief that women must listen to their bodies, advocate for themselves and take a more proactive role in their health. McKelvey noted that many women ignore early warning signals. Preventing that delay in care has become a driving force behind her brand, which is why education and empowerment have become so instrumental to her brand.
McKelvey also highlighted an encouraging trend: The growing momentum in conversations around women’s health, particularly menopause and hormonal shifts. However, she still sees the need for more balanced narratives, including positive and empowering menopause experiences rather than fear-based messaging.
“I wish that we were bringing more women to the table who have gone through menopause successfully,” she said. “I want to hear more from people like me that are through the other side, that have navigated their way through and that love menopause. I want to hear more of those voices and I want to hear exactly how they did it.”
Since launching Her Vital Way, McKelvey has prioritized direct-to-consumer engagement by focusing on customer feedback and making wellness more accessible. McKelvey said that authentic connection has fueled the brand’s growth, with word-of-mouth and practitioner relationships playing a key role.
“Every day now it’s like, ‘Are you where you’re supposed to be? Are you on that path?’ And the answer is a resounding yes, ” she said.
“I encourage so many women to ask that question and then go for it because women are amazing leaders and they have an extraordinary skillset that they tap into and they can nurture teams and grow a successful business and be purpose-driven and not lose sight of the health of the ecosystem.”
