Integrating Eastern wisdom with Western science, Johnna and her team guide clients to live with clarity, freedom, and a thriving sense of purpose—cultivating success that feels both meaningful and abundant.
ThiveWise Philosophy
The Way of the Buffalo
Out on the plains, there’s a quiet wisdom in how to meet the storm.
Cattle, when they sense thunder rolling in, turn, scatter, and try to outrun it. But no matter how fast they move, the storm always catches them. Inevitably, they end up spending more time in the storm, suffering, scattered, injured, lost from the rest of the herd, and many of the young do not make it.
Buffalo do the opposite. They turn toward the horizon, lower their heads, and, as a herd, run straight into the storm. Because they face it directly, they move through it faster, together. On the far side, the sky clears, and their goal is no longer a distant idea but solid ground beneath their feet. They arrive not just relieved, but remade: stronger, bonded, and certain of who they are.
From that day on, the young know: this is what their herd does. They run straight toward what matters. Courage becomes their way of life, and they live out exactly who they were born to be.
It’s instinct. And it’s wisdom.
Your ThriveWise coaching team helps you see your goal clearly, choose a strong line forward, and keep moving with grounded support—so every step becomes a step toward strength and a trusted finish. Our method is simple: turn toward your goals, commit to the path, move together, and make your success inevitable.
Central to our philosophy is our three-tiered strategy, thoughtfully designed to cultivate a life of vitality, purpose, and fulfillment. We recognize that each client’s path is unique—some may find transformation through just one or two, while others embrace the full spectrum.
1. Nourishment & Movement
Foundational wellbeing begins with nourishing the body and moving with intention. Our coaches help you integrate balanced nutrition and mindful physical activity into daily life, generating the energy for transformation.
2. Goal Setting & Growth
Through personalized coaching, we empower you to set meaningful goals that align with your values, develop actionable plans, and build the resilient habits and mindset required for your success.
3. Vision & Purpose
Our approach helps you clarify your deepest values and aspirations, aligning daily choices with a compelling vision and greater sense of purpose. We honor the whole person—Body, Energy, Awareness, Mind, and Spirit—to create lasting and meaningful change.
At ThriveWise, we engage the whole person—Body, Energy, Awareness, Mind, and Spirit—within our signature BEAMS Coaching System™; each coach tailors this approach to your goals, pairing practical solutions with profound support for lasting transformation and a life you truly love.
Our Mission: Transforming Lives with Clarity, Direction, and Growth
At ThriveWise Coaching, founded by internationally recognized wellness leader Johnna Smith, we believe true fulfillment begins with living in purposeful alignment, where clarity, confidence, and vitality flourish. For over two decades, we’ve guided individuals and organizations to transcend limitations, redefine success, and awaken their highest potential.
Blending evidence-based methods with holistic wisdom, we empower meaningful transformation from the inside out—helping clients cultivate awareness, resilience, and purposeful action that leads to thriving, abundant lives.
Why Choose Us
Our Unique East - Meets - West Method
The ThriveWise Advantage: The BEAMS Coaching System™
What sets ThriveWise apart is the BEAMS Coaching System™—where Eastern wisdom meets Western psychology. This holistic method drives real results across five pillars:
Body (physical vitality)
Energy & Behavior (daily rhythms and habits)
Awareness (emotional clarity and presence)
Mind (focus and pattern change)
Spirit (purpose and meaning).
Clients love how BEAMS™ blends purpose, mindfulness, and manifestation with evidence-based tools and practical action steps. By integrating ancient wisdom with modern science, we go beyond conventional coaching to create deep, meaningful change.
BEAMS™ doesn’t just shift mindset—it installs transformation into daily life, so progress is lived, sustained, and compounding.
ThriveWise Coaching History
We started ThriveWise Coaching with a simple belief: our role isn’t to have all the answers, but to help people see more clearly and take purposeful action toward what matters most in this one precious life.
Our clients come from all walks of life—professionals, business leaders, athletes, homemakers, artists, entrepreneurs, retirees, innovators, and change-makers. Many have decades of experience and are already successful, but they’re ready for their next chapter and want a fresh, clear perspective.
They don’t need another consultant telling them what to do. They need someone who will listen deeply, ask the hard questions, and then move with them—head-on—toward the next challenge. Our clients want a trusted partner who can test their ideas, strengthen their plans, and stand beside them as they pursue real results, not just talk about them.
At ThriveWise, we’ve been honored to help hundreds of driven, capable people from all walks of life clarify their vision, turn toward the storm instead of away from it, and advance toward their goals with courage and conviction
Clients
With 30+ years of experience, Johnna and her team have trained, coached, and mentored individuals globally toward fulfillment and excellence in their personal and professional lives.
Our clients represent a vibrant spectrum of backgrounds and life stages—including entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, creative professionals, retirees, empty nesters, corporate employees, homemakers, parents, teens, and students.
ThriveWise empowers growth-minded individuals to transform with clarity, purpose, and unwavering support.
Areas of Expertise
At ThriveWise Coaching, we are dedicated to meeting you exactly where you are on your journey.
Our multidisciplinary team offers a whole-person approach; we help clients (including teens) cultivate clarity, confidence, and purposeful growth across all dimensions of life. Our specialized areas include:
Career and Business: Align your career with your purpose.
Relationships: Find and nurture meaningful relationships.
Emotional Well-Being: Cultivate calm, resilience, and emotional balance for greater inner peace.
Physical Well-Being: Unlock physical vitality, build healthy habits, and master self-care to support a balanced and energetic life.
Personal Growth: Transform doubt, anxiety, and fear into laser-focused clarity and relentless confidence.
Fitness Goals: Train with a structured plan, measurable milestones, and steady support so you can finish what you start and feel proud of your performance.
Services
ThriveWise Coaching is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. However, currently, most of our sessions are conducted via Zoom to offer flexibility and convenience to our clients. At ThriveWise, we provide coaching services in both English and Español.
Johnna Smith, Internationally Recognized Leader in the Wellness Community · Public Speaker · Life and Wellness Coach
As the Founder of ThriveWise Coaching, Johnna Smith is an internationally recognized voice in the field of holistic transformation. A board-certified wellness and life coach, she has spent over two decades helping individuals overcome fear, reimagine success, and feel healthy in body and mind. Her approach blends depth and compassion, empowerment and precision—creating measurable change in both inner and outer life.
Professional Background
Over more than 25 years, Johnna Smith has designed and led results-focused wellness and coaching programs in boardrooms, hospitals, women’s correctional facilities, and through her service with the Women’s Caucus of North Carolina, supporting women in leadership and public life. Her work is marked by personal responsibility, discipline, and a deep respect for human dignity, helping individuals rebuild confidence, strengthen character, and step into their full potential.
As an educator and mentor, Johnna has spent decades equipping other wellness professionals and yoga teachers with practical tools, clear standards, and steady leadership. Her influence has helped extend the reach of integrative health and principled, mindful leadership to communities and organizations across the globe, multiplying her impact far beyond the individuals she serves directly
About the Founder
Education & Training
Johnna holds a B.A. in Psychology, a CAS in Ayurveda, and advanced certifications as a board-certified wellness coach and life coach. Her specialized training spans somatic therapy, emotional release techniques, yogic therapy (meditation, pranayama, asana), and counseling methodologies. This combination of Eastern tradition and Western science forms the backbone of her integrative coaching philosophy.
Influences & Approach
Johnna’s work builds a bridge between what is timeless and what is practical, honoring both spiritual depth and real-world results . She brings a deep respect for personal responsibility, service, and the inherent dignity of every person to all of her work .
Over more than three cumulative years living and studying in India, she has immersed herself in the embodied wisdom of Ayurveda, Tantra, and Yoga, while also engaging modern insights from psychology, neuroscience, and behavior-change research . Her path has included study and retreat in the Plum Village tradition of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, whose teachings on presence and compassion inform the way she helps people meet life with clarity and courage .
She draws on the enduring wisdom of the Vedas and the Dao De Jing, alongside the work of thinkers like Carl Jung, Brené Brown, and Eckhart Tolle, always with a focus on integrity, character, and practical application . With a deep commitment to her clients’ success, Johnna helps translate awareness into disciplined action, steady follow-through, and meaningful, lasting results in family, work, and community life.
India, 2014
Fun Facts
Born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with Appalachian and Scottish roots, Johnna visited 30+ countries—only to fall even more in love with her Charlotte, North Carolina, community and its thriving future. When she isn’t coaching, teaching, or mentoring, she’s with her beloved family and friends—and her two Labs, Sunny and Silas—laughing and carrying on.