Inside the Power Struggles, Silent Barriers, and Missed Opportunities in Fitness Sector Leadership.

In this episode, we bring together two voices who rarely sit at the same table - Steffie Bryant, COO of Keepme , and Herman Rutgers, a veteran of the fitness industry with decades of boardroom experience.

What unfolds is an unfiltered conversation about the fitness sector and its diversity challenges, why most leadership teams look the same, and what it’s really like to try to change it from the inside.

We talk about the uncomfortable truths:
– Why women are still the minority in decision-making roles.
– What’s happening at our industry events and who decides who gets the mic.
– Why mentorship alone isn’t enough and what real sponsorship looks like.
– The quiet crisis of inactivity among women, and what needs to happen now.

– How fear and fitness often go hand in hand for fitness beginners.

– The data we have, but still ignore.

Steffie shares how she risked everything to start over in a new country and rise to the boardroom. Herman reflects on over 30 years in the industry and why he believes legislation, not good intentions, is what it will take to drive change.

This is not a feel-good episode. It’s a call to action. For leaders, for investors, for anyone serious about growing an industry that works for everyone.
Shout Outs
Michelle Thavasi- https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-thavasi/
Hilary McGuckin https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmcguckin/
Tash Porter https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashporter/
Steph Nicholson https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanie-nicholson-44363353/
Julie Allen https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-allen-593a33216/
Rebecca Passmore
Francine Davis https://www.linkedin.com/in/francine-davis-17b42459/
Susan Turner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-turner-8b4978a/

Listen if you care about leadership. Share if you want it to change