6 minute read
Carving a Path for Women Fitness Leaders
INSIGHTS FROM WOMEN LEADERS ON OVERCOME CHALLENGES, PUSHING FORWARD, AND BUILDING CONNECTIONS IN 2023
Erin Phelan
Within the Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC), many of the top roles are held by women - a large percentage of board members, provincial council leaders, and the executive team are women. “Women are able to multitask, and in this day and age if you are running a fitness business, lobbying the government for provincial tax credits, and driving kids to hockey practice, you need to proficiently multitask,” quips Sara Hodson, President of FIC.
I interviewed several members of FIC to talk about the powerful role women play in the industry, the challenges that are unique to women, and how we can carve a path forward for the leaders of tomorrow.
The last three years have been incredibly challenging, but there have been unique challenges for female business leaders in the fitness industry.
Nathalie Lacombe, Vice President FIC: After almost two years of compassion, many expectations were back to 2019 levels in 2022. This meant female business leaders were expected to achieve new goals at work, often compensating for lost revenue and staff all while also managing the realities of home life.
Stefanie Jeffrey, Executive Director Manitoba Fitness Council: Fitness tends to attract lots of part-time positions and those can be people like stay-at-home moms or retired people - many of them were not able to work, due to pressures from the pandemic, and they moved out of fitness to work that was more reliable. We lost about 20 percent of our fitness leaders during the pandemic - lots of rural programs are only now starting back up. We have to help people, and especially women, get back on track.
Paula Comfort, CEO of Impact360 and FIC Board Member: There was a tremendous amount of restructuring that took place in our industry, including layoffs, cutbacks, and a realignment of compensation. Succession planning was placed on hold and it was hard to find good mentors in this time. Many fitness owners found it hard to plan and all of this had a huge impact on women.
What made female business leaders succeed in the face of so many challenges?
Trisha Sarker, Executive Director FIC: One of the greatest challenges during the pandemic, for anyone, is the ability to feel supported during the ever-changing understanding of rules and regulations that were implemented during COVID-19. For fitness leaders, many felt isolated with their businesses – this is where FIC was able to come in and create a unit of support. This assisted in getting business owners and operators the support and information they craved. With a leadership team consisting of both a female President and Vice President, this provided the opportunity for more female led fitness businesses to connect to a support system.
Sara Hodson, President FIC: We came together at a time when it mattered the most, and everything is possible moving forward. I see opportunities and huge growth in our industry. This is an industry that has proven itself to be adaptable, amendable, and more inclusive than we ever imagined. The FIC brought me in and were so compassionate and welcoming - I came from the exercise medicine field and they say that this is what our industry needed in leadership. I think it speaks volumes to where we are heading!
What impact do women have in our industry?
Sara Hodson: Fitness employs more women than men, and having women in leadership roles creates a sense of connection and team cohesion, and sets a great example for the women coming up. It is possible to elevate women in business - women build each other up!
Trisha Sarker: Women have an ability to adapt – which is a quality that allows for perseverance. When it comes to resilience, the opportunity to thrive forward in order to evolve is unmeasurable.
What would be your advice coming into the industry?
Trisha Sarker: Learn from the leaders who have paved the way for you, and share that knowledge with others. Share your life lessons, your successes, as well as your downfalls – help others learn from your challenges in order to work together to build a better future for our industry.
Nathalie Lacombe: You will thrive in your career thanks to your integrity. Keep an eye on industry trends and successful leaders, but getting to know how YOU can authentically serve your clients will open doors for you forever!
Stephanie Jeffrey: Be flexible. Clients may not know what they need so they need room to make decisions. Fitness leaders need to be prepared more than ever to make changes on the fly. We have to make sure we are not undervaluing the reasons why people participate...it is not just physical but it is the social connections as well.
Paula Comfort: Create a strong network, communicate with others - strong relationships provide new opportunities. Be positive and bullish when new opportunities are presented – do not be afraid to start and try, nothing must be done perfectly the first time! And have a presence on LinkedIn - make sure your profile is engaging and up-to-date. Follow industry leaders all over North America and brands – keep up to date on the latest news about the industry. Be self-aware and compassionate, and take care of your own health!
How can we move the industry forward, taking into account the realities facing women?
Sara Hodson: We are working harder than ever before, and our life demands are also in overload. Those things converging together is the greatest risk for us. Who has time to mentor the younger generation? This is my biggest concern and something we have to be aware of and plan for in 2023.
Nathalie Lacombe: I am hoping we keep giving one another grace to navigate our lives with sustainable wellness in mind.
Erin Phelan is the owner of the Erin Phelan FitFam, a virtual fitness community with live group training classes. She is also the communications lead for the Fitness Industry Council of Canada.
