Healing Meets Disruption: How Dr. Natanya Wachtel is Humanizing Innovation
- Editorial
- Jul 21
- 10 min read
When Dr. Natanya Wachtel launched New Solutions Network in 2008, she set out to disrupt business as usual. With a background in behavioral psychology and integrative wellness—and early aspirations to become a therapist—she was driven by a deep curiosity about the human condition and a frustration with the cookie-cutter approaches she saw in healthcare and marketing. Her mission: to fuse evidence-based science with bold, creative solutions that help organizations create real, lasting change.
Today, New Solutions Network is a dynamic collective that launches health-tech innovations, partners with nonprofits like Women Who Create, and advises global life sciences brands. It’s where science, nature, and innovation meet to shape how we live, heal, and connect.
And Natanya didn’t stop there! She also co-founded evrmore, a youth mental wellness app that reflects her belief in the power of empathy, collaboration, and tech for good.
Read on to follow Natanya’s journey—from behavioral scientist to founder, angel, and investor—and discover how she’s helping purpose-driven organizations amplify their impact through innovation.
What problem does your company solve, or aim to? When it comes to that issue, what are some of the most meaningful impacts your company has had to date?
At its heart, New Solutions Network seeks to bridge the gap between innovation and accessible healthcare, education, wellness, and mental health. The problem we address is twofold: the fragmentation of resources in these sectors, and the pervasive inequities in access to them. By combining behavioral science with strategic partnerships, we create tailored solutions that empower and support organizations and communities to overcome these challenges.
Our most meaningful impacts include launching evrmore—an AI-driven platform revolutionizing Gen Z mental wellness—and driving initiatives like Women Who Create, which empowers women of color through mentorship and scholarships. Additionally, our work with nonprofits and startups has directly contributed to addressing disparities in mental health resources globally, ensuring that the underserved aren’t left behind in conversations about wellness and transformation.
With NSN 3.0 launching this year, we’re building something even bigger. Through initiatives like our upcoming lifestyle brand—currently called Soil to Soul—and investments in minority-run circular economies like Regal Resilience, we’re not just offering services—we’re creating ecosystems of impact. Whether it’s empowering marginalized communities, redefining wellness, or amplifying allyship, our mission remains the same: to turn purpose into measurable change and dreams into shared triumphs.
Can you delve deeper into the evolution of your company's mission and values over time?
New Solutions Network is more than a company—it’s a collective of changemakers, a movement built on the belief that solutions are born at the intersection of bold ideas and shared humanity. It began in 2008 with a desire to disrupt how industries like life sciences, mental health, and wellness approached growth—not through isolated strategies, but through collaboration that uplifts all involved.
Today, NSN 3.0 expands that vision further, integrating platforms like Regal Resilience and our sexy-sustainability lifestyle brand about to launch, where we’re building not just programs but an empire of purpose with friends and partners. Our ethos? When one of us rises, we all do. It’s this culture of collective empowerment that transforms dreams into measurable impact.
Our values have grown alongside us, grounded in diversity, equity, and allyship. By connecting voices across industries, identities, and geographies, we’re building bridges that transform dreams into realities.
In what ways has your upbringing or past experiences contributed to how you operate as an entrepreneur/leader?
My path has woven through the deeply personal terrain of behavioral psychology, integrative wellness, and marketing innovation. It began with a desire to understand the human condition—and evolved into helping organizations turn empathy into action.
It was, in fact, the detours—navigating personal health battles, pivoting to launch New Solutions Network, and co-creating platforms that address systemic challenges in mental health and resilience—that defined me. Every step has been centered on connection—bridging gaps between industries, ideas, and people. Today, my work reflects a singular truth: transformation doesn’t happen in isolation, but is built with community, purpose, and a dash of audacity.
Have you ever felt like you’re “different”? If yes, in what ways has this contributed to your journey as an entrepreneur?
I’ve always felt different, and for a long time, I thought that was something I had to hide. Despite growing up blonde and Caucasian while living in Europe and then navigating suburban New Jersey, I never quite fit into a single mold. At home, we spoke multiple languages, ate foods that seemed foreign to my peers, and carried values that didn’t always align with the culture around me. I was a contradiction—an athlete who loved fashion, a literary magazine editor who hung out with stoners, a rap and hip-hop fan in a sea of pop enthusiasts.
Even as an adult, that sense of being “too much” or “not enough” followed me. I was too bold, too loud, and moved too fast for the corporate world. But over time, I leaned into the idea that being different is what makes us extraordinary. Now, I use those experiences to connect with others who feel like outsiders and show them that what makes them different is their superpower.
Through platforms like The Natanya Experience and the Confession Series, I’ve embraced my own otherness as a strength. Being different has given me the perspective, courage, and drive to build bridges—between cultures, industries, and communities—and to inspire others to step unapologetically into their own unique stories.
Did you always know that you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
Absolutely! From a young age, entrepreneurship was woven into the fabric of my life. At twelve, I launched my first venture—a babysitting network in the suburbs. Recognizing the demand and building upon my own established good reputation, I began coordinating assignments among friends, taking a small commission for each referral. This initiative quickly evolved into a full-fledged operation, with me managing the business aspects while others handled the babysitting.
Even in play, my entrepreneurial spirit showed through. While peers engaged in typical games, I transformed my favorite doll into a symbol of the working woman I aspired to be, complete with an office, briefcase, and a seamless transition from professional attire to evening wear. These imaginative scenarios mirrored the balance I observed in my mother, a corporate professional who effortlessly combined career and family life.
With a mother excelling in the corporate world and a father who was a chemical engineer and entrepreneur, the blend of structured professionalism and adventurous enterprise was ever-present. By the time I reached twenty, I had initiated numerous small businesses, each teaching me invaluable lessons and reinforcing my passion for creating and leading, shaping the leader and innovator I am today.
What’s the most impactful career experience you’ve ever had, and how does it impact your work today?
One of the most defining experiences in my career was when my dear friend and former colleague, Ivy Mahsciao, invited me to help create and share evrmore. It was about more than just building an AI-powered platform—it was about reimagining how technology could foster self-discovery and resilience for Gen Z. The process required me to balance clinical insights with user-centric design while navigating the unique challenges of serving a tech-savvy, emotionally complex demographic. This experience taught me the profound importance of adaptability and listening deeply—to my team, our users, and the broader cultural shifts influencing mental health conversations. It reinforced my commitment to making wellness accessible and relatable across all platforms, from The Natanya Experience to my partnerships with The Chopra Foundation and other lifestyle brands.
I’ve been guided by a single truth: transformation isn’t a solo act. It’s about connection—between industries, ideas, and people. My upbringing taught me that, and it’s a lesson I carry into every project and partnership.
What’s been the hardest and most rewarding part of your entrepreneurial
journey/professional journey?
What could be more rewarding than turning dreams into action? Every day in my role, I see the ripple effects of the work we do, whether it’s mentoring a young woman through Women Who Create, helping a Gen Z user unlock their potential with evrmore, or connecting global partners to build something bigger than ourselves.
What truly fuels me, though, is the sense of shared triumph. Through our initiatives, we’re proving that collaboration is the ultimate superpower. The most rewarding moments are those “aha!” breakthroughs when someone realizes they have the tools—and the community—to transform their lives. It’s about more than individual success; it’s about building a community where we rise together.
"What truly fuels me is the sense of shared triumph ... It’s about more than individual success; it’s about building a community where we rise together."
What are the biggest challenges you’re currently facing, and how are you solving them?
Scaling a movement without losing its soul—that’s the balancing we’re navigating now. With NSN 3.0 expanding its reach, Soul to Soil redefining wellness, and Regal Resilience building a global network of empowerment, the challenge is to grow quickly while staying deeply aligned with our mission.
The solution? Purpose. Every decision we make is grounded in a single guiding principle: Does this move us closer to the future we’re building? This clarity helps us avoid distractions and stay focused on what truly matters.
We’ve also leaned heavily on collaboration. By empowering our partners and community members, we’re not just solving challenges—we’re creating opportunities for mutual growth.
We dare you to brag: What achievements are you most proud of?
Have you ever watched an idea turn into a lifeline? That’s what co-founding evrmore felt like. It went far beyond merely creating an app; it was about crafting a safe space for Gen Z to explore self-discovery, resilience, and connection. That process forced me to rethink everything I thought I knew about technology, about how we communicate, and about the unique challenges this generation faces.
I learned that no single tool or approach can solve such a complex problem. It takes a village—a community willing to innovate and collaborate. That mindset now drives everything I do. The lesson? When you dare to reimagine what’s possible, you create something that’s not just impactful—it’s transformative.
What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on to date?
Imagine building a movement that’s equal parts personal growth, global responsibility, and community connection. That’s what our new lifestyle brand venture is for me. I see it as a blueprint for how we can live better, care more deeply, and reconnect with what truly sustains us: our humanity, our planet, our food, and each other.
The concept of Soil to Soul—the hive collective—is so compelling to me for its ability to challenge the status quo and for its combined missions of wellness and reimagining how we live, consume, and contribute. Through sustainable practices, mental wellness initiatives, and integrative health, we’re creating something deeply personal, yet universally impactful.
This project feels like an empire built with friends, a shared vision that invites everyone to be part of the transformation. Together, we’re rethinking priorities and cultivating a purpose-driven way of life that uplifts us all.
What is your approach to incorporating social or environmental impact as part of your company’s culture and mission? How has this contributed to innovation, your team, and bottom line?
Social impact is the very core of our mission. The partnerships and collaborations I have built in forming NSN and transforming to NSN 3.0 are built with a team that is committed to elevating others, especially the disadvantaged. These values are exemplified in evrmore, Women Who Create, Regal Resilience, and all of our chosen partners.
Sustainability and positive environmental impact are the raison d’etre for Soul to Soil. It’s founded on producing food in a way that is sympathetic to the environment and the seasons; food that is of such a high quality that it can be served in a five-star restaurant, while also being accessible and affordable to everyone.
What advice would you give to someone starting out on the journey you’re on?
Dream boldly but start with intention. Building a career—or an empire like New Solutions Network 3.0—isn’t a linear path; you have to embrace detours, learn from failures, and find your people along the way.
Ask yourself: What kind of impact do I want to leave behind? Let that purpose guide your choices. Surround yourself with collaborators who challenge and inspire you, and don’t be afraid to take risks that scare you a little. After all, the best transformations often begin just outside your comfort zone.
Finally, remember that progress isn’t just about reaching the top—it’s about bringing others with you. Whether you’re building a movement like Regal Resilience or co-creating a vision like Soul to Soil, the most meaningful successes are shared.
How would you describe your evolution as a leader—and the skills you’re proudest to lead with now?
Leadership has been a journey of constant evolution for me—both personally and professionally. I’ve learned the power of adaptability: when setbacks arise, they’re often an invitation to pivot and grow. But the most transformative growth has come from embracing vulnerability. I used to think leaders had to have all the answers. Now, I know that showing up authentically—even in moments of uncertainty—is what builds trust and connection.
I’ve also seen the incredible power of community. Leadership isn’t about doing it all yourself—it’s about unlocking the strengths in others, amplifying their voices, and walking beside them as they grow. That, to me, is the truest form of leadership.
In what ways does your company think differently about your industry than others? In what ways is your company disrupting your industry?
Why settle for incremental change when you can create a movement? At NSN 3.0, we don’t just think outside the box—we question whether the box even needs to exist. By integrating behavioral science, technology, and community-driven solutions, we’re redefining industries from wellness to healthcare.
Our disruption lies in our ethos: we don’t compete—we collaborate. Across our range of offerings, we’re building ecosystems that thrive on shared success. We’re not doing things differently just to stand out; we’re creating a blueprint for transformation that others can adopt and amplify. From NSN’s inception in 2008, our mission was always to challenge the status quo. We set out to disrupt industries like life sciences, mental health, and wellness by creating harmony through collaboration.
What happens when a company evolves into a movement? That’s the journey of New Solutions Network.
Over time, our vision has deepened. With NSN 3.0, we’re not just solving problems; we’re cultivating a culture of empowerment—they’re ecosystems of purpose. Built with friends and partners, they represent our belief in shared success.
What’s next for you and your company/career?
Expansion, connection, and impact. With New Solutions Network 3.0, we’re doubling down on building a platform that goes beyond solving problems. We’re creating movements. Initiatives like Soul to Soil are growing into global communities of wellness and sustainability, while Regal Resilience is bringing together voices from all walks of life to redefine empowerment.
Personally, my focus is on scaling this vision while staying deeply connected to the values that drive it. That means forging new partnerships, amplifying diverse voices, and creating spaces where innovation meets purpose. The future isn’t just about what’s next—it’s about building something lasting, something meaningful, and something we can all be proud to be part of.
