In Chicago, where competition often reigns in the business world, some women-owned fitness studios are redefining success by prioritising community over rivalry. For four of these studios, collaboration is the heartbeat of their businesses, proving that growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of connection, or accompanied by hardships – such as loss and personal struggle – that can shape the entrepreneurial journey.
“The industry can feel so cutthroat, especially for women,” said Aubre Winters-Casiano, owner of Sweat Sessions Studio in the Bucktown neighbourhood. “I wanted to change that narrative by creating a space where we can lift each other up instead of competing.”
