Black History Month: Meeting Yemi Penn
We're celebrating Black History Month on Milk and kicking it off is Yemi Penn, the owner of F45 Brixton! Yemi grew up in Brixton and was given the upbringing, confidence and tenacity to pursue her goals to help her community. She's a entrepreneur working in STEM, Empowerment and Success Coaching, and on top of that, she's a mum! She's used her passion for health and fitness to support her local health and fitness movement in Brixton and we had the chance to speak with her!
Did you always know this was the career you wanted?
The truth is that I've wanted to be all things that excite me and it never quite had a career title. My actual career is in Engineering. I manage my Consultancy in Sydney, Australia which manages large complex infrastructure projects. However, during my university degree I got the pull to become an aerobics instructor and motivate at the front, middle and back of a class to get people to move their bodies and have fun while working out. I effectively embarked on my journey as a fitness instructor 18 years ago and have since then taught in many well known fitness studios including the US Air Force. Opening my own fitness studio which showcases the best scientific sport related programs was high on my list but launching the studio in a part of town that is screaming community collaboration was just as key!!! So F45 Training Brixton was born
I have more recently launched my Life and Professional Coach Organisation called W Squared where I seek to combine and progress all my learnings into bespoke programs and courses that empower others to be their best versions of themselves and succeed at ANYTHING they want.
So! I guess my career is being an Entrepreneur.
As a black female entrepreneur, what are some of the challenges you've faced?
FINANCE! As I mentioned in my interview with Refinery29 recently, the majority of black communities don’t have that generational wealth that our white friends and colleagues have. Our challenging history runs deep and still has huge ramifications on our ability to progress in today’s world. Investing well over £200,000 of my own money into the studio still has banks scratching their heads on my financial viability!!!! It’s extremely demoralising in some instances however I have bigger dreams and visions so it doesn’t keep me down for long. Who knows! One day I might just open my own bank!
What's something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Ooooh!!! I feel like I’ve told all already! I was part of a small select group to have dinner with Tony Blair some 15 years ago, ok that’s boring! That'S not long after leaving the UK I went to a boarding school in the depths of Nigeria where I trekked for miles to fetch my water and cut grass with a tool not much bigger than a butchers knife as punishment!
What is the most fulfilling part of your work?
The variety and diversity of what I do. During the day I am working with great minds in engineering, geology, design, strategy and then in the evening I’m finessing my latest product or building a coaching program (currently my 3 Simple Steps to Success), liaising with my studio manager remotely on the operations of the studio and other times dreaming BIG dreams. I just love it!!
What are you currently working on?
Ha ha! All of the above but if I was to list it all out I would most likely scare myself shitless but here it goes!
Working on Sydney Metro as Design Manager
Writing my first book called ‘did you get the memo?’
Working with my mentor the fantastic Nathaniel Peat to launch my female hygiene product
Managing my F45 Brixton Fitness Studio
Finalising the launch of my 3 Simple Steps to Success program
What advice would you give your younger self?
This has been taken from Richard Branson’s mum (long story!) but I would say this to my younger self
‘You are guaranteed to miss the shot you don’t take, so TAKE it’
Check the links below to check out what Yemi is working on next!
F45 Brixton https://f45training.com/brixton https://instagram.com/f45_Brixton/
W Squared Coaching http://wsquaredcoaching.com/
Yemi Penn https://www.instagram.com/yemi82/