Ep 149 - Simon Flint: Business lessons from 175 gyms in six countries.

Behind the scenes with leadership lessons from a pioneer of fitness in Asia.

Sincere and reflective, this Escape Your Limits podcast interview with Simon Flint is the kind of honesty that we need in fitness today.

Simon is the CEO of Evolution Wellness, a six-brand total port folio making $300m in revenue across 175 sites in six countries. He's leading his 7000 employees with compassion, communication and a camaraderie that will see the companies gyms and studios coming back stronger than ever.

For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast

Video Version – https://youtu.be/-EbxHtqhulU

 

Simon Flint was born in the UK to hard working parents that instilled a mindset in him of continual growth and progress. He moved to south east Asia in 1994 and has put the hours in that's led to his 26-year veteran career, leading Asia's health and fitness industry.

Today as the CEO of Evolution Wellness, created from a $500m merger by the Fitness First Asia and Celebrity Fitness brands, his six-brand total port folio has been making $300m in revenue across 175 sites in six countries, with 7000 employees.

Established in 2017, Evolution Wellness is comprised of six brands: Celebrity Fitness, CHi Fitness, FIRE Fitness, Fitness First Asia, Fivelements, and GoFit. The brand reaches as far across Asia as Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

The vision is to build a comprehensive wellness ecosystem, and the company is focused on leveraging combined industry knowledge and the team’s global experience to extend reach across the vibrant Asian fitness and wellness scene.

 

Episode highlights -

• How to cope with closures in multiple markets, and then deal with the organisation of some markets opening again, some staying closed, and some closing again after reopening.
• What can change optimism into pessimism during dark times, and how to manage a business effectively with a realistic mix of both outlooks.
• How different government approaches can affect business through standards of practice, communication and ministerial level access.
• Why each member's needs different affects how a gym can react with space concerns and workout offerings if one aspect such as group exercise is prohibited due to COVID restrictions.
• What the contrast is between trainers leading classes in person or instructing others through digital platforms, and why some may thrive on one medium over the other.
• How a leadership team and perform at peak capacity during challenging climates through staying resilient and nurturing the team dynamic.
• What both landlords and gyms can do to help each other and work together for mutual benefit in the future.
• Why access to senior management and being able to communicate information is vital to the understanding, empathy and mental health of staff and teams throughout an entire business.
• What trends are set to take over from HIIT workouts and the popular modalities of recent years, and what members are most looking to get back when the pandemic passes.

 

Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Simon Flint…