Today we’d like to introduce you to Larissa Macko
Hi Larissa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, I’m Larissa Macko, and I’m passionate about life and experiences! I’m a first-generation American of Jamaican-Indian descent. I began my journey in Western Medicine, then transitioned to Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, and I’m also a licensed massage therapist. Recently, I dove into the world of tech, where I learned to program my own GPT bot and began developing an application designed to educate, empower, and and enable those looking to take their health to a deeper level. The goal is to integrate AI with Eastern Medicine, and the app is called Qi Wellness.
It’s been a long journey. My story started when I volunteered in a hospital at 15 years old and began studying Western medicine. Along the way, I earned my massage therapy license and transitioned into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture. My last job in Western medicine was in the Emergency Room, where I realized it wasn’t the path for me. After taking a break, I rediscovered my passion for healing through TCM and found another way to help people. I then earned my Master’s in Oriental Medicine. I even had the opportunity to teach in a Massage Therapy program while completing my studies.
After graduation, I joined a pageant, where I represented Miss India in the Miss Global International competition hosted in Jamaica. Although I didn’t win and it was my first time doing something like that, the experience taught me there was power in my unique beauty, especially as I was on stage for intellect. Representing my ancestral roots meant a lot to me. What many don’t know is that when the British colonized Jamaica, after slavery was abolished, Indians were brought over as indentured servants. I’ve since become even more connected to my family’s history. This connection has inspired several projects honoring my ancestors’ journey.
After the pageant, I modeled for a wellness brand called Fitness and Financial Gains, which promotes mental health and movement, and has an athleisure line. I also needed to focus on my Acupuncture board exams. It was during this time that I discovered The Hub @ Office Logic, where I began hosting Wellness Wednesdays. It was through The Hub that I was exposed to tech, which led me to program my own GPT bot and develop my idea to leverage AI and technology to share TCM with the world
I recently started the Knight Foundation Fellowship in Healthcare Technology Innovation at Baptist Health South Florida. I’m really excited to see how I can integrate various medical practices to help transform our healthcare system in a positive direction, especially post-COVID.
I’m also part of several organizations:
• The Florida State Oriental Medicine Association (FSOMA), where I serve on the membership committee.
• I’m the City Director for the Holistic Business Network in Miami, where I bring holistic practitioners and the community together to network and engage.
• I’m an advisor for Space Kidz India, where we aim to empower girls in underprivileged regions to learn about space and technology, with a goal of getting ambassadors from 108 countries to support the initiative.
• I host Girl Time Miami, an event that brings women together to focus on Health, Wealth, Love, Abundance—and now, tech! We want more women to understand the amazing opportunities in this space.
• I serve as the Wellness Coordinator for The Hub @ Office Logic, where we host wellness events to engage both founders and the community.
• I serve as Wellness Coordinator for The Hub @ Office Logic, hosting events that engage the coworking space around wellness.
• I’m an unofficial ambassador for GPTuesdays, Miami’s longest-running AI meetup. We promote learning about AI and its incredible potential for the future.
• I work in Business Development at AugierAi.com, an online platform that leverages AI to help small businesses win federal contracts and grants. I’m a huge advocate for women- and minority-owned businesses, and I love sharing these opportunities.
All my endeavors come full circle with my desire to help humanity build awareness in the Artificial Intelligence Age, integrating Eastern and Western medical practices into healthcare. I believe the more we discuss these ideas, the more progress we can make. That’s why I launched my podcast, “Lotus Talks,” to highlight stories of personal growth and transformation, much like the journey of the lotus flower. I hope to spend more time on this project and, through QiWellnessApp.com, share many more stories.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been a smooth journey?
Absolutely not. The world is your oyster, but there will be challenges and thats how you grow. What’s important is to always be learning, no matter the outcome. Be a student of life. Communication is key—seek to understand before being understood. It’s also essential to stay in touch with your emotions and express them constructively. Finally, AI and technology are advancing quickly, so it’s crucial we all make an effort to understand them because they’re not going away.
Looking back, showing up was the easy part. But spiritually, it felt like I was swimming upstream like a fish swimming against the current. At one point, I thought I’d become a doctor, but now I’m in the tech world. I was on the path to becoming a physician assistant when I lost my older brother suddenly, and it completely changed my perspective. It was a life-altering moment that made me rethink everything. I withdrew my application and quit my job in the ER because I knew it wasn’t fulfilling my purpose.
There was always a voice within me telling me not to settle for what others expected of me. Modern Western medicine is incredible but I felt like it wasn’t enough, that there were more layers to healthcare beyond prescriptions and surgeries. While I respect the advancements in Western medicine, when I discovered Eastern Medicine, it opened my eyes to a new way of fostering relationships with patients and a a more holistic approach to treatment.
Before leaving the ER, I would often say, “I just wish they knew.” Many patients treated the ER as their primary care, which was exhausting our resources. Then COVID hit, and the situation only worsened. It became clear to me that considering alternative treatments was crucial and we need to talk about it. The experience in the ER taught me that leveraging AI and technology in medicine is an opportunity we can’t ignore.
On the personal side, jumping into tech was a challenge. I programmed my bot and the next day participated in a hackathon. I cried from frustration but also from joy and then it became incredibly rewarding when something clicked. It was a turning point, and I knew I had found the way to merge my medical studies with AI to help others nd share it with the world. Since then, I’ve been learning, growing, and building the right relationships. Like Bruce Lee said, “Be water, my friend,” and once you flow like water, things start to fall into place.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Well, first of all—go to Qiwellnessapp.com and sign up to stay in the loop! Haha.
In all seriousness, I’ve struggled with putting myself in a box. I believe in being multifaceted, constantly learning, and growing. I’m a problem solver by nature, and I’ll either find a solution or connect you with someone who can. One of my strengths is creating meaningful experiences, especially in Massage and Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture. I’m not your typical massage therapist—I take a holistic approach, combining various modalities to meet my clients where they are in their healing journey.
My business, Lotus Hands, reflects this philosophy. Just like a lotus grows through murky waters to emerge on top, I believe we all go through challenges that shape our personal growth. My TCM knowledge allows me to understand my clients more deeply, treating them based on their current state to help them find balance and continue their journey. Ultimately, my role is to facilitate healing and remind people that they hold the power within themselves.
I’m really proud of programming my GPT bot and now developing the Qi Wellness app. It’s something I never would’ve imagined doing, now I’m merging two worlds—healthcare and tech and it has been incredibly fulfilling. If the system isn’t going to provide the knowledge people need, I will. I always think back to those moments in the ER when I’d say, “I just wish they knew,” and now I’m in a position to make that knowledge accessible to everyone. The possibilities with AI are endless, being in tech has not only shown me that it’s possible, but it reminds me that there are no limits to my imagination.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Definitely my curiosity! I’m ambitious, discerning, and a proud Jamaican-Indian woman, and that perspective has given me a unique perspective. I’m constantly learning more about myself and how to leverage my strengths to fulfill my purpose. My ability to communicate, analyze, and connect with others has been the recipe for my success and helps the mission I’m on to spread love and awareness in everything I do.
Pricing:
- $200 Mobile Massage
- $50-100 Consultation/coaching
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.Thelotushands.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larissamacko?igsh=dDdlaWp4cjVrNm56&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@lotustalks?si=hkI-OO_qmApWklPv
