Mentorship Inspired These Nutritionists to Help Others Step Into Their Careers

Although 77 percent of women practitioners who responded to SimplePractice’s February 2023 survey said that mentorship relationship is critical to career success, there was no consensus on what a great mentorship for a practitioner actually looks like. 

And sometimes, what mentorship looks like may surprise you—like when Jamie Mok MS, RD, RYT, owner of Yogini RD, met Mascha Davis MPH, RDN, owner of Nomadista Nutrition.

The two nutritionists met at an event Davis was hosting. 

At the time, Mok wasn’t necessarily looking for a mentor. She was looking for camaraderie in the field, and she found it in Davis. 

Mok and Davis became professional friends, and, after a period of time, Mok had an important realization about their relationship: Davis had been helping to propel Mok forward in her career—even if it was in an informal way.

Today, Mok runs her own private practice. She’s focused on helping pre- and postpartum women learn how to take care of themselves through yoga and nutrition, whereas Davis is focused on helping men and women optimize their health through nutrition and mindset practices. 

Both women have flourishing private practices with active and engaged social media followings. And they both agree on one thing: mentorship has helped pave the way for their successes.

Building Resilience and Empathy Through Adversity

A refugee from Ukraine, Davis came to the United States at age seven. She didn’t speak English at the time, and she had to work hard to make a place for herself. 

Originally, she had her eye set on an international career as a registered dietitian (RD). She traveled extensively and, along the way, had several mentors help guide her through various steps of her career. 

After traveling to, and working in, five countries over a span of five years, Davis decided to return home to Los Angeles. 

Though the work was gratifying and interesting, she was experiencing burnout. 

She knew she needed change, and she had an entrepreneurial spirit. 

The transition wasn’t easy, though. 

Davis remembers how isolating and fear-inducing it was trying to figure everything out on her own as she navigated what it would take to start a private practice in the states. 

Many days, she said, she’d end up in tears from the overwhelm of it all. Still, she pressed on. Her resilience and the memories of her previous mentors helped her through.

Davis understands first-hand what it feels like to be on the outside, looking for a way in. She also knows the courage and vulnerability it takes to make a way for oneself—which was born out of her experience as an immigrant. 

“Initially it was so difficult and so challenging, but it also made me really empathetic to anyone else who might be feeling that way [including]people who are trying something new or trying to break into something.”

The Power of Confidence 

Though Davis has a demanding schedule, juggling the various aspects of running her successful private practice—including writing a book, managing an engaged social media presence, and making media appearances—she knew right away that Mok could achieve great things. 

However, Mok—then in the throes of a demanding hospital position as a dietitian and worried about the unknowns of private practice—couldn’t quite see her full potential at the time. 

“It’s really hard to see all the qualities or the potential you possess when you’re so in your own head,” Mok remembered. 

When she met Davis though, the connection was almost immediate. Davis embodied the entrepreneurial spirit, and her personality was magnetic—Mok wanted to embody those qualities as well. 

“I learned so much by osmosis, just by being in her orbit.”

Mok remembers learning about Davis’ story and feeling a sense of wonder and amazement at the opportunities Davis had created for herself. And Davis wasn’t afraid to share what she knew, especially with someone she recognized as having so much potential. 

“Jamie is so kind and genuine,” Davis said. “I could see how incredible of a practice she could build, and I felt I could see that before she could.” 

She invited Mok to events, introduced her to industry professionals, sent her opportunities through email, and offered to walk alongside her as she built a network and a name for herself. 

More than anything though, Davis really pushed Mok to embody the confidence she knew Mok possessed.

“That’s really what you need to make that leap, right? To step outside of your boundary and take a risk, it’s that confidence,” Mok said.

 According to Mok, confidence is one of the most important qualities Davis helped her harness. 

“Confidence is everything,” Mok said. “And I think women lifting up women is the ultimate confidence booster.”

Davis agrees, noting a mentor can make all the difference in the trajectory of a mentee, and helping a mentee find their confidence is a key factor. 

And so, with Davis guiding her, Mok created the private dietitian practice of her dreams. 

Today, she’s garnered a robust social media following with nearly 12,000 followers on Instagram. She’s also attracted media attention, appearing in articles and becoming a trusted resource in the RD space. 

The Rewards of Mentorship

Both women are proud of the careers they’ve forged. They’d like to inspire more people by showing them what it looks like to break from tradition and create a meaningful and impactful presence in the dietitian space. 

To do so, they remain confidantes to one another, with Davis leading the way when Mok has questions or needs guidance. Additionally, Mok has found her way to the other side of mentorship as well.

“I think one of the most rewarding parts of my career thus far—aside from working with clients, which is extremely fulfilling—is working with interns, dietetic interns,” said Mok.

Davis and Mok are both dedicated to helping those who come after them. 

Whether it’s formal or informal, the benefits of practitioners sharing, learning, and growing from one another are immeasurable. 

“I didn’t realize that it was going to be one of the most rewarding parts of having my practice— helping all of these young women to become more confident and to step into their careers and to be really excited about their careers,” Davis said. “It’s exciting to see that.”

Grow Your Practice—and Career—With SimplePractice

To support practitioners in connecting and finding mentors, SimplePractice launched a new mentorship pilot program to help pair health and wellness mentors with fellow practitioners seeking mentorship.

And, when it comes to building and managing your practice, another tip that can help you level-up and simplify your administrative work is using a practice management system like SimplePractice.
The preferred practice management software for more than 200,000  practitioners, SimplePractice has all the features you need to effectively run your practice—including billing, scheduling, insurance, and a secure client portal—all combined in one easy-to-use platform.Want to experience how SimplePractice can help you more effectively build and manage your private practice? Sign up for a free 30-day trial today.

READ NEXT: Connecting Over Shared Identity Helped This Pair of Practitioners Grow Their Careers