UNION STRENGTH
MEET THE TEAM: JANINE

TAKING BOSS LADY TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Published 24 July 2020
The latest addition to our family but by no means a stranger. We all know Janine as The Boss Lady taking on the entrepreneurial and fitness world each day.

Tell us a little about yourself.


I own a wellness select store called RE:HEALTH that carries brands that advocate all things health, wellness and sustainability. On the side, I co-founded a wellness and fitness platform called THESWEATCO. and conduct group fitness classes at Union Strength and TRIBE Boxing Studio.


Quite a list for someone who was once gunning for a career in the investment banking industry - but hey, life surprises you sometimes!


What does a typical day look like for you?



24/7 on-the-go. Having to wear multiple hats, my "typical day" always looks different and requires a whole lot of multitasking.


I spend most evenings with my coach cap on, conducting classes in both Union Strength and Tribe Boxing Studio. When I'm not in a class, you'd most likely find me working out on the gym floor.


My "9 to 5", so to speak, revolves around running RE:HEALTH, a small retail business in the health and wellness space. It keeps me on my toes most days with all things marketing and operations. We have most recently launched our online presence and are currently conceptualising our pilot product range so my days are usually occupied with supplier calls/visits, testings, product and packaging design and the works.


Simultaneously, my co-founder, Wen Li and I do the A-Z in everything for THESWEATCO. We spend a lot of time planning and developing collections, programming classes and filming content for our online platforms. The R&D process for a single SWEATBAND Collection easily takes up 3-4 months of our time so the work never really stops. We're constantly making tweaks for consistent upgrades from one collection to the next and alongside running classes and content creation, things can get pretty busy amongst the two of us.


So, I guess you can call me a workaholic.

Photo credit: Janine in TRIBE's Rave Cave

Who or what inspires you as a coach?


As cliché as it sounds - every single person who walks through the door for class. Showing up day after day shows determination, drive and the will to challenge themselves to be better. I'm a big mental health advocate and seeing not only the physical progressions that each member makes but the improvements in mental health are truly the most rewarding experience.



What is the most challenging aspect of being a coach?


We all have bad days - and having to push through the days when you feel like the whole world is on your shoulders, to put on a big smile and conduct a class with the same level of energy as you do on a good day is probably the MOST challenging aspect of being a group fitness coach.


On days like these, I leave my problems at the door, put my game face on and get going. It doesn't take long until my problems melt away with the big energy radiating from every single member in the room. It's incredibly empowering!

Photo credit: Janine at 'SWEATTURNS 1' at Wet Deck W Kuala Lumpur

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?



Wow, this one's a tough one. On a personal level, my happiness is and always has been at the forefront of my life so as long as I'm happy and healthy, that's where I want to be.


From a business standpoint, I would like to have opened at least 3-4 more RE:HEALTH stores all over the nation and see THESWEATCO. expand to more countries around the world alongside a wider product offering. Last but definitely not the least, I’d love to still be conducting group classes - perhaps a different modality of fitness, who knows?! But one thing's for sure, the love for teaching will still be in me five years from now.



What would you say to someone who is looking to attend one of your classes?



Give me your 100% and I'll give you my 110%. Show up, push through and give every session your absolute best. Know your "why", be relentless in your pursuit and I promise to be your side cheering you on.


Janine
Founder of RE:HEALTH,
Group Coach at Union Strength,
Founder of THESWEATCO. and
Boxing Coach at TRIBE Boxing Studio.