Building Empires: Anne Mahlums Journey from Fitness to Fortune
- Jan 29, 2025
- 2 min read
Episode 46
In this episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast, host Kyle Matthews interviews Anne Mahlum, the founder of [solidcore], a premier boutique fitness brand in the U.S. Anne's story is one of resilience, grit, and unparalleled entrepreneurial spirit. Starting from a strong belief in not having a Plan B, she used her life savings to open her first [solidcore] studio in 2013. Through her determination, she grew [solidcore] to over 2,000 employees and hundreds of thousands of clients before successfully exiting the company in 2023. Anne shares insights on her journey, the challenges she faced, her techniques for scaling a business, and life after her big exit. Join us for an inspiring conversation about building a brand from scratch, navigating legal battles, managing financial challenges, and finding the right balance in life.
Show Notes:
00:00 Introduction
00:21 Introducing Anne Mahlum: Fitness Industry Trailblazer
00:34 Anne's Journey with SolidCore
01:44 Life After SolidCore: Beach Volleyball and Beyond
02:39 The Challenges of Starting a New Business
04:57 Anne's Early Life and Entrepreneurial Spirit
10:55 The Impact of Family Dynamics on Ambition
16:17 Founding Back on My Feet: A New Mission
20:50 Building a National Nonprofit
29:46 Crafting a Compelling Ask
30:37 The Catalyst for Change
31:50 Discovering Pilates
33:07 Building Solidcore
37:30 Scaling the Business
46:44 Navigating Challenges
58:25 Reflecting on Negotiation Skills
59:10 First Big Lifestyle Purchase
01:01:16 Surviving and Thriving During COVID
01:05:54 Raising Capital and Final Exit
01:08:37 Financial Freedom and Mindset
01:14:55 Life After the Big Exit
01:17:55 Impact of Success on Personal Relationships
01:20:44 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
01:23:35 Final Thoughts and Reflections
