Meet Shasta Nelson

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shasta Nelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shasta, what do you attribute your success to?
For me, the most important factor behind my success has been the conviction that I could bring more connection to a world that often feels disconnected. That might sound trite but I didn’t start with business know-how, empire-building habits, or even a clear plan. In fact, I wasn’t even always convinced I could make a living. All I had was a deep belief that people were suffering from loneliness, craving deeper relationships—and no one was talking about it. There was so much shame and silence around loneliness when I first started, but I felt called to name it, to bring it into the light.

That conviction—that my work could contribute to one of the most important aspects of life, our relationships—drove me to learn everything else along the way. From marketing and sales to business models and tax structures, I had to acquire skills I never thought I’d need. But what kept me going through all the challenges, including financial instability, was knowing my purpose: to call people to high-trust, meaningful, and rewarding connections, and to teach the science of building those relationships. Without that deep conviction, I wouldn’t have been able to do what I do today.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As a speaker and thought leader, my business is centered on helping people and organizations build high-trust, meaningful relationships. I deliver keynote speeches, host events, write books, and produce podcasts—all with the goal of translating the science of human connection into practical, actionable insights. What makes me unique is my ability to break down the complexities of relationships into my model of the 3 Requirements of all Healthy Relationships, offering a clear, practical framework that helps people understand how to create deeper, more meaningful connections. For many, it’s the first time they’ve had a tangible, actionable guide to building high-trust, fulfilling relationships both personally and professionally. By blending stories with science, I empower individuals and teams to foster relationships that are not just “nice-to-haves,” but essential to thriving in life and work.

Today, my business is an extension of that original calling: to give people the tools they need to create fulfilling relationships, whether in the workplace or in their personal lives. Through my talks, workshops, and content, I aim to challenge the status quo and inspire others to prioritize the relationships that matter most.

The journey has definitely not been easy. In the early years, it often felt like I was a lone voice, trying to call attention to the disconnection I was witnessing while most people weren’t even acknowledging it. I had to push against deeply ingrained biases—when I started, the focus was almost exclusively on romantic or parent-child relationships, while friendships were seen as less important or something that should just happen naturally without effort. There were widespread, damaging misconceptions: how long it should take to build a relationship, whether friendships were even appropriate in the workplace, and what we should expect from our friends.

Through it all, I kept researching, coaching, surveying, and listening. I knew the world needed more connection even if they weren’t yet ready to prioritize what it took to build meaningful relationships. Trusting in that conviction, I kept pushing forward, believing that eventually, this message would resonate—and slowly but surely, it has.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that sometimes we have a role to fulfill—or a product or service to offer—that isn’t trendy, widely accepted, or even recognized as needed. But that doesn’t mean it’s not important. People don’t always realize what they’re missing or what they truly need, and it’s our job to help shine a light on better ways of living and connecting.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many shout-outs! My Dad– he jumped in back in the early days and helped me build one of the very first friendship matching websites. His willingness to share his coding skills and his belief in my idea helped me make my first tangible service. Then, came the early supporters, thousands of beautiful humans who not only began to acknowledge their own hunger for better relationships, but became early champion of my work. They were my fuel that led to blogs, books, videos, coaching programs, and retreats. I will forever be grateful to Maci Wescott who was my fist assistant and employee, Diane Gedymin who helped me get my first book deal, Melody Biringer who was one of the first event planners to give me a stage to speak on, and Gummi Bryjarsson who took some of my first headshots and made early videos for me on the cheap. I definitely didn’t get here alone.

Even now, I credit ImpactEleven, a community of speakers, for helping me build my speaking business to what it is today. And of course more important than all the ones who helped shape my career are the ones who held my heart– my husband, my family, and all my girlfriends– they cheered me on during the low times, mirrored back to me who I am when I doubted, and cheered loudly for every success along the way. The list could go on-and-on- everything I’ve ever done is through relationships.

Image Credits
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