#122 Diana Williams - Founder of Fernwood Fitness

In this episode, I interview Diana Williams - Founder of Fernwood Fitness. Driven by her love of strength training, Diana opened Australia's first women-only gym in 1989. Today, Fernwood has grown to more than 70 clubs nationwide, supporting over 90,000 Australian women. 

Throughout the episode, Diana reflects on her decision to franchise and the rapid growth and publicity that came with launching a women-only gym. She discusses her leadership style, how the fitness industry has evolved over the past 40 years, and the ways that she's adapted to both the market and women’s needs and how they've changed. 

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Chapters

• 2:05 Diana's Early Days
• 4:18 Why Diana Chose to Franchise
• 6:34 The Transition From Managing the Gym to Franchising
• 9:06 The Growth of Fernwood Fitness
• 13:41 What Drives Diana to Run Her Business
• 16:10 How Diana Keeps Up With the Changing Trends in the Fitness Industry
• 17:34 The Best Decision Diana Made in Her Career
• 19:12 The Impact of COVID-19 on Fernwood Fitness
• 20:40 Continuing the Legacy of Fernwood Fitness
• 24:14 Franchise Compliance Management
• 26:03 How Diana Defines Success
• 26:59 Building a Culture that Aligns with Values
• 28:41 Diana's Advice to New Business Owners
• 30:17 The People That Inspire Diana
• 30:58 What's Next For Fernwood Fitness