What is your name?
Theresa Melito-Conners, PhD (Dr. MC)
What is your title?
CEO/Founder
What is your business name?
Dr. MC’s Self-Care Cabaret
What is your website URL?
www.drmcselfcare.com
What is your Instagram handle?
@drmcselfcare
What is your LinkedIn URL?
linkedin.com/in/drmc
How long have you been a Boston Business Women member?
I’ve been part of the group for years and a paying member—this is my first official year in the Inner Circle.
Where are you based? How did you end up there?
Saugus, MA. I was born and raised in Massachusetts and grew up in Melrose.
Tell us more about your company! What do you do and what pushed you to start?
Dr. MC’s Self-Care Cabaret is a suite of theatre-inspired self-care and professional development services for helping professionals. It includes workshops, a podcast, and educational curricula focused on accessible, realistic strategies that equip and empower.
I was motivated to start after years of studying self-care to combat my own professional burnout. During my PhD research, I realized burnout is a widespread issue for helping professionals. As I completed my doctoral studies in 2019, I wanted a way to share my expertise and live experience, giving birth to Dr. MC’s Self-Care Cabaret.
What is your definition of success? How do you know when you’ve reached it?
Success is doing meaningful work while having the flexibility to attend to your own needs. It’s about balance, and you know you’ve reached it when you feel satisfied with your career path and at ease in your life.
Tell us about your most transformational moment as an entrepreneur.
In 2019, shortly after launching my business, I presented at a conference for professionals working with at-risk youth. That moment, where I realized I was starring in my own show helping people, brought all my passions together and clarified my path forward.
What was one of your biggest challenges in business?
Entrepreneurship comes with a lot of noise—people selling you things you don’t need. As a Pisces dreamer, I had to balance my visionary nature with operational discipline to stay focused on my path.
How do you handle the harder days?
I give myself space, vent to those closest to me, and honor my body and need for rest. This allows me to come back stronger, grounded, and ready to continue.
How has being a Boston Business Women Inner Circle member positively influenced your life + business?
It’s a wonderful, supportive community where I can ask questions, share updates, and receive fantastic feedback.
Tell us about your most proud moment in your career.
One of my first self-care presentations went viral. In May 2020, during school closures and uncertainty from the pandemic, over 500 educators attended a virtual workshop I hosted. Local news featured it with the headline: “Dr. MC Says Self-Care is Not Optional.” It was an incredible validation of my work.
Read the article here
Who is the woman behind your business? What does she like? How does she spend her free time? What does she value?
I am strong, sassy, fun-loving, honest, and operational. I love dancing, laughing, and spending time with loved ones. I’m married to an amazing man, of Italian and Portuguese descent, and intentionally childfree. I value consistency, time, abundance, vulnerability, and loyalty.
What makes you stand out from others in your field? What do you do differently?
Overcoming childhood trauma, abusive relationships, and multiple eating disorders shaped me into a resilient woman. Less than 2% of the world holds a PhD, and my education, combined with my lived experiences, theatre background, and research, allows me to bring authenticity and create engaging, memorable workshops.
Where can we keep up with you? What social media platforms do you use the most?
Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.