Natalia Lumen
Thyroid Health Advocate, Cancer Survivor & Founder of ThyForLife
About me
I’m Natalia Lumen, the Founder and CEO of ThyForLife Health Inc., an award-winning mobile platform serving the thyroid health community.
In 2017, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer during a routine wellness check while working as a management consultant at Bain & Company. After two surgeries, radioactive iodine treatment, and the ongoing challenge of managing hormone levels, daily medication, and blood test results across five countries, I experienced firsthand how fragmented and overwhelming thyroid health management can be.
That experience led me to build ThyForLife in 2020. Since then, our blog has been read by nearly one million readers seeking reliable thyroid health information, and our app helps patients track their blood work, medication, symptoms, and weight in one place.
Read the full story behind ThyForLife →
What I write about
I write about thyroid health because I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed by a diagnosis, confused by conflicting medical advice, and desperate for clear, trustworthy information. Every article on ThyForLife comes from that place.
Topics I cover include:
How I approach content
Every article on ThyForLife is grounded in three pillars:
Peer-reviewed research
Sourced from PubMed, clinical guidelines from the American Thyroid Association, the Endocrine Society, and data from the NIH and WHO.
Lived experience
Written from years of managing my own thyroid health across five countries and different healthcare systems, and from listening to our community.
Medical advisory board
Informed by the ThyForLife Medical Advisory Board, a team of healthcare practitioners specializing in thyroid conditions.
When I share personal experiences or community insights, I clearly distinguish them from clinical evidence. I believe thyroid patients deserve information that is clear, accurate, and grounded in science.
Professional background
EDUCATION
MBA, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
CONSULTING
Former Manager, Bain & Company
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
World Bank & European Bank
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
3x Founder (20+ years combined)
Awards & features
- Named “Trailblazing Women to Watch” (2021)
- Global Awards Winner: “Women-led Start Up of the Year” (2020)
- Featured guest speaker, Harvard University (2021)
- Featured in NASDAQ, Crunchbase, BC Business, and Tuck Magazine
Prior to founding ThyForLife, I built two other businesses. At the age of 14, I founded Natlen House, an English language school in Ukraine that has been serving more than 100 students annually for over 20 years. In 2017, I launched UkraineCultureTrip.com, a boutique travel company that became Ukraine’s fastest-growing travel business with 10x year-over-year revenue growth before COVID-19.
I’ve lived permanently in 8 countries and traveled to 70+, gaining market experience across North America, Western Europe, the CIS region, and Southeast Asia.
Outside of work
I’m based in Vancouver, Canada. When I’m not working on ThyForLife, I paint abstract art, play drums, study improvisation theater, practice yoga, experiment with new recipes, read non-fiction, and spend time with family.
Ready to take control of your thyroid health?
Track your labs, symptoms, and medication in one place.
Download the AppConnect with me on LinkedIn