Meet Michaela Robertson

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Michaela Robertson.

Hi Michaela, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It started during my college pre-requisites for nursing school. My college advisor told me, “Maybe you should consider a different major or apply to other nursing programs; I’m not sure you will make it in this one.”

When I first launched my podcast, Built to Be You, people said ‘you’re doing what?’ When I left full-time travel nursing, a job that looked good on paper, to pursue entrepreneurship as a career and self-mastery coach for nurses while also planting my roots in a part-time staff position to embark on a mission to create systemic change within a nursing culture, people again questioned what I was doing.

There have been so many times during my journey where people have questioned me, but I always had certainty and authority in myself – I was meant to do nursing differently, and I definitely don’t fit in the box people have tried to shove me.

From a first-generation college student getting into a top-rated nursing school to navigating new grad nurse life during the pandemic to becoming a travel nurse and experiencing the worst burnout of my career to now loving my job as a part-time bedside nurse, introducing wellness initiatives on my unit, precepting new grads, filling my days off with play and adventure, all while building a business around helping nurses create a career and life they love without sacrificing parts of them.

I know I was meant to be in this profession and make a systemic ripple effect of change in the way humans who take care of humans, take care of themselves as well as the culture they create.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s taken me trial and error to find my spot in nursing where I feel like I’m making an impact and not just following the transactional sick care model a lot of healthcare tends to follow.

Outside of that, I’m learning how to navigate being a two-time business owner and podcaster. I am the co-founder of Strides for Strength run coaching, the founder of Michaela Robertson coaching, where I do career and self-mastery coaching with nurses, and the host of the Built to Be You podcast.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My favorite compliment is “what you see on social media, is what you get in real life”. My energy, passion, and love for not taking life too seriously are infused in everything I do. I am known for changing the narrative and culture in nursing.

From introducing initiatives in my unit to create cultural and systemic change to working 1:1 with nurses all across the globe to help them find themselves in a career where most lose the most valuable part of their license- who they are. I am most proud of myself for learning how to let all of my worlds co-exist; as a multi-passionate entrepreneur, it can be hard not to feel like I need to “do it all” while also trying to quiet the noise of people who say “Pick only one thing and get really good at.” Nurses come into my world because they want to get their lives, health, careers, and energy back.

They want to feel like the work they do has a purpose, like they’re making a difference, like they have the energy to go play, adventure, and have fun on their days off. I take the whole human approach in everything I do– whether it’s training for your first marathon, navigating the ebbs and flows of new grad nurse life, or pivoting in a major career transition, I hold space for it all.

I’m a no stone left unturned kinda coach– from health, finances, career, relationships and everything in between, everything is an integral part of the work we do. We build the foundation of YOU so you can create the life and career you want.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
It’s so important to find people that look like the direction you are headed. When looking for a mentor, make sure you have a friendly vibe but also that they can hold a powerful space for you and call you out on your bullshit when you need it.

It’s truly so hard to be what you can’t see and when you’re head down in the same environment you’ve always been a part of, it’s hard to grow. A lot of times social media sets the tone for our perspectives and thoughts about what is possible, remember the algorithm gives you what you spend time scrolling. You can curate a feed that inspires you, supports you, and encourages you to dream and play big.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.builttobeyou.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaela_robertson_/

Image Credits
@wildmariephotography