Maria Haggo, Founder of Little Miss Wellness, will be joining us at the World Spa & Wellness Convention Asia, chairing the Everyone Is Talking Wellness session, including speakers: Sharon Kolkka, Steve Harvey and Ingo Schweder. We caught up with her ahead of the event.

Which other speakers are you interested in listening to at the conference and why?

Who is influencing the Influencers with Catherine Nicol, as social media is such an important part of running a thriving business.

Retail – The hard questions with Sam Arnold, as it is always an interesting topic when working on any new spa/wellness opening.

Motivation. An overused word, an under used resource. How motivating staff, partners suppliers and even customers can help grow your business with Lyndall Mithcell, as this is such a key concern for all my corporate clients so always interesting to hear another perspective.

What is the best piece of business advice you ever received?

This is a combination of advice I have received from two amazing mentors: to face challenges by understanding the message/learning and then once this is understood, how to quickly get up and move on using your learnings. And reinvest your profits into the business for as long as you need to.

What do you think the future holds for the spa and wellness industry? 

Reform, responsibility and reconnection. 

What do you know now, that you wish you knew at the beginning of your career?

That taking care of yourself mentally, emotionally and physically is more important than any job. That when something goes against your core values it is time to let it go, regardless of the lost rewards. That when the door is bolted locked, it is not your door.

Complete this sentence: “The greatest advice I ever received was…” 

Be kind and be fearless. Be bold enough to say you don’t know. Be courageous enough to ask questions. Be confident enough to be wrong. And be kind, always be kind.