Bari Klein, Founder of UpwellMe
Names: Bari Klein
Founder: UpwellMe
In one sentence, what problem do you solve and for who?
I help people feel better, look better, and live better
What's your story? Share how you got to where you are and WHY it is you do what you do.
A 30+ year successful corporate executive, with a passion for and education in health and fitness, was diagnosed with Ulcerative Gastritis summer 2024.
The stress, the burnout, the drinking, the eating, the travel, life as an executive was winning. This painful and life-altering diagnoses changed how I showed up to everything.
I ditched alcohol (and boy did I love my Tequilla), changed everything I eat to plain and clean foods, incorporated yoga and other new fitness routines, worked with coaches in all aspects of health and wellness.
I changed how I socialized and entertained clients. I was really trying.
Then March 2025 my new boss for over a year continued with her "let me make as many enemies as I can by manipulating facts and lying so I can continue to fire as many people as possible so I have control and I am the smartest in the room" and fired me, after 23 years. I went into such a dark place.
I knew I could not stay like that and knew I had to continue learning and educating women and men to take the control of their lives, their minds and bodies; working from the inside out to heal, to change their relationship with food, fitness, stress, sleep and recovery. I wanted to speak about my journey, my transformation (I get it and get them) and be a resource for so many who can't and don't want to take their journey alone.
So many follow trends, fads, yoyo diets and restrictive eating plans. So many work at looking like people on their reels. And so many take advice from strangers that don't work because that advice is not optimal for that person's body, genetics, lifestyle, etc.. There are so many very unhappy and unhealthy and frustrated people who are often just uninformed and ill-informed.
I want to change that for as many people as I can.
Too many people feel like crap, look like crap, and live like crap. They don't have to, especially women perimenopause - a whole other aspect that I help with.
UpwellMe is born to elevate health and transform lives. I did it and I want to help others do the same.
What does BEING a FoundHer mean to you?
It is an honor. Women supporting other women. Smart, ambitious ladies, leading a charge, from the depths of their soul, with much to teach others. I have been a silent reader until now, but am now ready to be anything but silent. I am ready.
How do you support other female founders and women in business?
However they ask or need me to support them. Very specifically and deliberately: it is THEIR business I am supporting, not mine. The work has to be about them & what they ask of me.
What podcasts do you listen to that have helped you with your business?
The Mel Robbins Podcast
What is ONE BOOK that you would recommend every female business owner read?
The New Leaders of Change by Maitri O'Brien - leading with purpose and empathy
Who is a female entrepreneur you look up to and why?
Mel Robbins - she came from a dark place. She had strong beliefs and perspectives she knew could make impact and help others and did not stop. She spoke for free, anywhere and everywhere, as a wife and mom. She believed she could and should and did. Let Them changed my life. If I were allowed to include 2 books, Let Them would be another.
What are the first five things that you did when you were starting your business?
Told everyone I knew what happened to me and what I was doing
Set up an SCorp with a domain - I am real!
Posted continuously and at nauseum
Reached out to and have been meeting with several coaches and business owners for insight and help
Joined Dear FoundHer
Who is someone who has helped change or shape your business for the better and what did they do to help you?
Rocco Caprarella - one of my trainers. Not only did he give me encouragement to start the company but it was him who encouraged me last year to go for my certification in Precision Nutrition. Once I was fired, he didn't hesitate to guide me with where and how to develop a logo, company name, find a website designer, create packages, made connections for me, and still continues to be my sounding board and support.
At what point did you make your company a full time gig? How did you know the time was right?
April 2025, a month after I lost my corporate job and completed my certification. I am ready, it is time, and it is right.
What lesson or skill did you take with you from a prior job to help you succeed in your role today?
Relentelss pursuit of goals. Sales and Account Management is my forte, and I have learned from some of the best. I will never stop selling and being out there.
Let’s talk social media—who handles it for your company (you, an internal team member, an outsourced solution?) and what is the secret to making it successful? What is the biggest challenge?
I do all my social media. As I build, the message must come from me and be authentic. I need to have the control and see who is reading, commenting, not reading and commenting, etc. Need to fully understand the platforms. Biggest challenge is getting clients and getting full engagement with people who want to hire me.
How did you land your first client?
My stalking people on social media, and some friends.
What is something you do differently from the industry standard?
I have the corporate business & sales experience with health and wellness so the combination seems to be not the norm (good for me!). I also use my own story to allow people into my world so they see I was them and am relatable. I am just an everyone woman trying to figure our what the heck she is doing starting and running a business!
What would you do differently if you were starting your business today?
Too early to tell. Maybe slow down and be a bit more methodical, but then again my drive and obsessions with success might not really allow for that.
What are three strategies you use to market your business, grow brand awareness and generate bottom line growth?
Relate to the people I am trying to reach to coach
Reference personal experience so I am coming from a place of vulnerability and understanding
I follow the 5 steps of weekly posting from Thrive Academy - engage, teach, win, story, offer
Jump into nutrition and fitness groups and invite people to work with me
Working at my niche, reiterating my niche, and making sure potential clients see clearly what they gain from me - I make the messaging about them
What are three actionable tips you would give with other women who want to start a business or are just getting started?
DO NOT STOP/GIVE UP
Define your niche
Find 3 experts you admire, engage with them, ask them for help
Talk Talk Talk about the business everywhere
Is there anything else that you would like for us to know about you and your business?
Health & wellness is on a significant rise. Too many people are not healthy but information is being bastardized, and saturating society.
So many factors help and hinder a person's success with weight and inch loss, fitness, stress, sleep, and overall health results.
Bloodwork should be reviewed, supplements should be included based on the blood work deficiencies, programs and solutions should be personalized because we are often a “one size fits all” field and that is not successful or sustainable for many. I could scream all of this from the top of the Trade Center. We have to take better care of ourselves, and invest in the right ways to do that.
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