38. Joey Gonzalez | From Underdog to CEO @ Barry's

Joey is the global CEO of Barry's Bootcamp, which has 88 high end fitness studios across 14 countries.
Barry's was started in 1998 when the founder needed a place to go and have fun without drinking.
So how did Joey Gonzalez go from Barry's client to CEO? We unpack it all.
We discuss:
-How to balance a demanding professional and personal life
-Building and maintaining a top tier brand
-Organizing meetings to optimize output
-The biggest risks he's taken
"I always say, there's no such thing as balance. You just have to wake up and choose who you're gonna disappoint." -Joey
"You have to take control of the journey and hold your own reins and not lie in idea of being a victim, but actually go out and figure out, like, how to be empowered and how to make the most of your life." -Joey
Whether you're a fitness enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone looking for a dose of motivation, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and heartfelt moments.
Take a listen and let me know your takeaways!
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Joey's Complete Bio: Joey Gonzalez is a change agent, global strategist, entrepreneur, son of a Cuban refugee, gay parent, and the Global CEO of Barry’s, the original cardio and strength interval workout that revolutionized fitness and began the boutique movement.
His Barry’s journey started in 2003 as a client in the iconic Red Room. He became an instructor soon after working his way up the ranks before finally taking the helm of the business as CEO in 2015.
Since then, Gonzalez has dedicated his life to expanding the brand around the world, fostering diverse communities across 14 countries including US, Europe, Mexico, Australia and South East Asia.
Under Gonzalez’s stewardship, and after the business grew exponentially between the years 2015- 2020, COVID-19 took hold and forced studios around the world to shut down. Gonzalez spent the next 18 months innovating, investing in new modalities, launching dozens of outdoor studios, developing a robust digital product (Barry’s X) and the brands first ever loyalty program, The Academy. His leadership through the pandemic set Barry's apart from other fitness organizations and is documented in a Harvard Business School case study written in 2021.
In 2018, Gonzalez was named to Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business list and received CEO Award of the Year from North Castle Partners. In 2020, Gonzalez was named EY Of The Year Greater Los Angeles’ Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2022 was honored with STARTOUT’s leadership award.
Gonzalez recently earned his OPM degree from Harvard Business School. In 2021 he moved Barry's HQ from Los Angeles to Miami where he currently resides with his husband, daughter, and son.