Beehind the Scenes with Shelby Tutty

Some women quietly endure perimenopause. Shelby Tutty wants to change that.

After earning a master’s in health administration and building a successful career in healthcare operations, Shelby found herself in the midst of hormonal changes she never saw coming. The symptoms were confusing. The information? Dry, clinical, and disconnected from real life experience.

So she became certified in perimenopause education and built what she couldn’t find.

Today, Shelby leads The Periprofessional, a global education and coaching platform dedicated to helping women navigate midlife with confidence and community.

“If I felt lost during this transition, even with all my experience in healthcare, I couldn’t imagine how others were managing. I knew I had to create something that made women feel seen, supported, and understood.”

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Educating, one topic at a time

Education is the foundation of Shelby’s practice. She’s on a mission to deliver information that’s not only medically sound, but also understandable and compassionate. Her goal? To help women feel informed, empowered, and less alone as they navigate one of the most misunderstood phases of life.

Each week, Shelby publishes an article on Substack, diving deep into one perimenopause-related topic at a time. From unexpected pregnancy in your 40’s to hormone fluctuations, brain fog, and mood changes, no topic is off limits.

“Many women feel overwhelmed and scattered like they can’t focus or absorb anything. That’s why I slow things down. Instead of adding to the noise, I take one topic at a time and dive deep. There’s already so much missing from the conversation, and women deserve thoughtful, clear information they can actually use.”

Beyond her weekly articles, Shelby has built a thriving presence on Threads and other social platforms, where she shares daily insights, breaks down myths, and opens up honest conversations about midlife health. She offers one-on-one coaching for personalized support, and also hosts group events she calls Peri-Pausie Parties. They are safe, welcoming spaces where women can gather with friends, ask questions, and feel seen in a community that understands what they’re going through.

As more women began reaching out, Shelby knew she needed a better way to manage it all–a system that could handle the behind-the-scenes work so she could stay focused on what mattered most: educating, connecting, and supporting her clients.

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Powered by purpose (and Zanda!)

When Shelby launched her solo practice, she had a list of what she needed in a platform: affordability, flexibility, HIPAA compliance, and tools that wouldn’t overwhelm her or her clients.

Before Zanda, she used Healthie, a platform she found overly complex and too expensive for what she needed.

“It was just too much. The functionality didn’t align with how I work, and the cost was hard to justify as a small business. You really have to be a large company to make it worth it.”

With her healthcare background, Shelby knew exactly what she was looking for. She did her research, compared options, and chose Zanda.

For anyone starting out, her advice is simple: trust your instincts, do your homework, and don’t settle for systems that make your work harder. The right fit is out there and it can change everything.

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Why Zanda works for Shelby

Once she made the switch, Shelby found that Zanda did the heavy lifting behind the scenes, no admin hire required. From scheduling to invoicing, everything was handled within the platform without needing to transfer payments to Stripe or trigger anything manually. Once she set it up, Zanda took care of the rest, giving her back time, headspace, and full control.

With Zanda, she has:

• Self-service scheduling: Clients can book, pay, and manage their appointments online, no admin needed.
• Flexible formats to connect with clients: Video, SMS, and email communication are all supported in Zanda.
• Automated email flows: From intake forms to telehealth links and reminders, Shelby customized it all up front so the system runs itself.
• Custom forms: Her Tell Me Your Peri Problems form helps clients share concerns before their session.
• Support for group sessions: Zanda supports her signature Peri-Pausie Parties–live group Q&As for women who want to learn together.
• Client resources: Shelby uses the Zanda letter tool to send links and follow-up notes.

“Everything is streamlined and professional. I don’t need to be in the system all day–it runs smoothly in the background and frees me up to focus on what I do best.”

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Personal support

What stood out even more was the support behind the software. From her very first interaction with the Zanda team, Shelby felt like more than just a user–she felt part of a community.

“The customer service has been outstanding. I’ve met with real people, gotten help quickly, and felt truly supported every step of the way.”

She also credits the Zanda blog, Zanda Academy, and onboarding resources for helping her hit the ground running.

“I’m very detail oriented, and I love to learn. The Academy gave me everything I needed to set up my business the right way, and the ongoing blogs and emails keep me learning and growing.”

Zanda helps Shelby deliver a polished, professional experience for every client, from the first booking to the final follow-up.

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Zanda tip from Shelby: Use letters to personalize follow-up

Shelby discovered a smart way to make the most of Zanda, even though she doesn’t use traditional clinical notes in her work.

Here’s how she keeps her workflow personal and professional:

1. Create a custom letter template — Use the letter feature in Zanda to write a personalized recap or follow-up after each session.
2. Include helpful links or summaries — Shelby uses this space to provide curated resources, supportive notes, or next steps tailored to what was discussed.
3. Send it as a follow-up email — It’s an efficient way to give clients something tangible without needing a full clinical chart. Plus, it reinforces value and builds trust.

“I don’t need traditional notes, but I still want my clients to walk away with something useful after each session. Zanda’s letter tool made that possible.”

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Shelby’s final thoughts

Shelby knows firsthand what it takes to build a business from the ground up, and she’s learned to be intentional with every decision. For anyone starting out, her biggest advice is to invest wisely and choose systems that will grow with you, not slow you down.

“Be smart with your money in the early days. Don’t waste time or resources on tools that don’t serve you. Zanda is affordable, flexible, and lets you build a business that works for you, not the other way around.”

Whether it’s automating admin, creating a seamless client experience, or just feeling supported by a real team, Shelby says having the right platform in place has made all the difference.