Anni Hood from Northumberland is a leading global wellness strategist and co-founder of AstralMandala. Her business experience spans hospitality, tourism, travel and business solutions. The new AstralMandala model aims to demonstrate how investing in employee wellbeing can deliver a positive impact on business performance.
What was your first job (and how much did it pay)? My first paid jobs were in the village where I grew up, where I made maybe £3 for washing a car (both inside and out!), and 50p an hour babysitting. So, when I started waitressing after that for £2 an hour in local pubs and hotels, I felt rich! Pocket money wasn’t a ‘thing’ in our house, so I’ve always been a grafter and never said ‘no’ to any opportunities. I’d like to think that work ethic has served me well ever since.
What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business? Start with you, people first, and network, network, network. The latter sounds a little ruthless but that valuable morsel came early on, way before mobile phones and social media were even a possibility. Today, amid AI systems, platforms, and relentless urgency, it’s easy to forget that business, at its core, is still about people. Relationships, trust, connection, and emotion aren’t “soft”; they’re the glue. I’m far better in person than on socials.
What are the main changes you’ve seen in your business/sector, and what are the challenges you’re facing? The landscape is shifting dramatically, but the core needs remain. There’s pressure to automate, optimise and operate ‘sans humans’ and, whilst there are opportunities there, there’s also risk. People need more nurture, not less. I can see systems, products and experiences built for reach and efficiency that may not deliver what people need. The biggest challenge in the wellbeing sector is keeping our arms wide open to hold the simple complexity of what it means to be human now, in this modern world. It calls for a radical response. Yes, scale. Also, equitable reach and high efficacy, which doesn't mean a second mortgage. The available technology is gold, but it needs to be paired with genuine nurture and nourishment.
What would your dream job be? This! Connecting proactive health, culture, leadership, business performance, and human nurture to meet the realities of modern life. Building agile, people-first systems that respond to personal needs, maybe even inventing something entirely new that serves every human. If I could stretch it? Global systems strategist meets inner landscape mentor, raising human consciousness worldwide.
What advice would you give to someone starting out a career in your sector? Know your values and anchor to them. They’re your lighthouse. Don’t get seduced by the shiny glamour at the surface; depth and darkness are more dazzling and rewarding. Distractions around you will be immense; stay connected to your values. Develop your inner tech as much as intellectual tools. Emotional intelligence and capacity, nervous system regulation, deep listening, and boundary setting. None of these are ’nice to have’. They’re your toolkit for staying resourced and adaptive in a volatile world. Do your inner growth work and be a full-capacity human.
What makes the North East a good place to do business? Where to begin? I grew up here. My foundation is built on North East values: graft, grit, and warmth. People want to know who you are, what you care about, and if you mean it. There’s tenacity born of challenge, a knack for reinvention, and grounded ambition. Being the underdog fuels innovation and resourcefulness.
How important is it for business to play a role in society? Essential. Business shapes culture, our values, relationships, and how power flows. To think it can be separate from social responsibility is outdated, even dangerous. Businesses can be powerful agents of healing and change, but it starts with courageous leaders willing to respond to today’s reality, not yesterday’s.
Outside of work, what are you really good at? Cooking. I love food and flavours and bringing people together through that. Living what I teach. Health and wellness are personal as well as professional. I’m also told that I’m good at 'holding paradox’, being practical and grounded, at the same time as being a dreamer and an idealist. I like living in the complexity of multiple perspectives.
Who would play you in a film about your life? Crikey, I don’t know. Perhaps, Nicola Walker, for her depth and range, or Phoebe Waller-Bridge, for her originality and mischievous storytelling.
Which three people would you invite to a dinner party, and why? Need more than three! The Irish poet and philosopher David Whyte, for words that heal. Jacinda Ardern, for leadership with heart. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, whose TED talk captivated me. Jiddu Krishnamurti, one of the last century’s great philosophers. Brené Brown, for her wisdom and humanity. And of course my dad, for the laughter, grounding, and one more conversation, especially with this crowd, so he can see who I’m still learning from.
