On this podcast episode, the Flywheel cofounder talks about staying strong in turbulent times and defining her own success. And Elizabeth, one of my cofounders, came up with the idea of just putting this rickshaw outside, painting it yellow and putting the name of our business on it to attract attention. Riding High by Ruth Zukerman - Bernstein Literary Agency Why is that? Continue with Recommended Cookies, Your email address will not be published. If I looked at myself at 42, I never in a million years thought I would start my own business. So that was really what I drew upon the most in terms of my leadership style. From the co-founder of Flywheel and SoulCycle comes a story of perseverance and success. And I dont know if I subconsciously knew that I really shouldnt go that route. I think its so rare to see someone as successful as you talk about how important it was, and Im also a big proponent of mental and physical fitness. Employees at Flywheel Sports rate Ruth Zukerman higher than employees at Orangetheory Fitness rate Dave Long And I said, Where am I going? [1] So again, everything happens for a reason, as trite as that is, but it really does. That was where my self esteem was. And its interesting; I believe a lot in kind of trickle-down theory and that the aura that you create in your business has a lot to do with whos at the top and the founders. So what a formula for success in our businesses. According to Page Six, the TV anchor and her husband who are parents of two children were friends with Zukerman before becoming regulars at her Flywheel spin classes. And taking a moment and understanding that and acknowledging that is huge. And what I ended up doing is I ended up with two partners who were very much like my mother. It was kind of a floor-to-ceiling glass room, dark, room was full, the sound of the wheels, club music blaring. I knew it would be a way to change the industry. And every day I walked in to teach class, I would have to look at both of them. Interview with Ruth Zukerman, co-founder of Soul Cycle and Flywheel Riding High on Apple Books So you get into spinning. Whats inspiring to me about their business, is despite their tremendous growth, their product is just as good as when they started. Were seeing whats happening with the industry. And I dont even think I answered, and I turned around and started walking out. It wasnt simple to get the best person in the world. So hes actually done a great job of doing that. It worked. Im curious about other elements you wanted to bring into both of these brands as you were thinking about the concepts and how you brought them to life in the brands that you did create. You know, that question is often verbalized by saying, What would you tell your 16-year-old self? And thats how Im looking at it. What I saw very early on was that there was this very strong mental component that kicked in during the 45 minutes in class. Leibson: Can you speak to your experience with resilience, and how you recommend others develop this important 'muscle'? If we have to focus on numbers, we might compromise that mindful component, and thats so important to me. They just begged me, Just get on the bike, and just go in there by yourself and work with it and see what you think.. And I stayed in it for a long time, way longer than I should have, but I cant really think of it that way because its who I was at that time. Unlike SoulCycle, Flywheel makes it possible for members to track their performance by displaying their score on a. This is probably the toughest one so okay if you dont get this right. Ruth Zukerman: No, because I knew that despite the negativity and the trauma, I learned a lot. And she kind of yelled to me as I was walking out, and she said, Okay, well just promise me that whatever other offers you get, will you come back to me? But it worked. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. And I knew that that would change the experience significantly. My names Kana Hammond. We had personalized cubby holes, and we saw who was coming to class ahead of time and had their shoes waiting for them. Health and wellness I think will always be a huge industry moving forward because of the challenges we all have in life in general, and people are finally starting to recognize that we need to take care of ourselves. She somehow had a keen sense that indoor cycling was going to be a huge trend and she wasted no time turning it into a lucrative business. Weve all had a lot of challenges growing up and in our adult life. In her View From The Top conversation at Stanford GSB, Zukerman discussed all this and more with Michael Lewis, MBA 20. Town Sports has . And its this beautiful full-service gym that offered every kind of group fitness you can imagine swimming pool, basketball court, really incredible place. My question was around the therapy topic you mentioned. Founder's Journey: The Story of Jennifer Bisceglie - Interos I was insecure and didnt think I could make a life for myself financially. Im a first-year MBA student. So that kind of speaks to wanting to bring it back full circle to a certain degree. BCB MomIRL: Ruth Zukerman - Bump Club And Beyond Mike: When I wrote these down, I actually couldnt remember who said what, so I had to go back. Eventually they did, obviously. I had no idea where to go next. Mike: Just between us friends here in the room. It was an escape. And I do feel that there will always be room for the group fitness part of the fitness industry. Ruth Zukerman: You know, it was about making people feel comfortable in every way. And it was one of the hardest decisions I ever made, and I did it for two years. And so both personalities worked, but they were just very different. Barbara Walters to Elizabeth Vargas: "We all knew you were a drunk." Ruth Zukerman: Honestly, Im looking forward to the rest of my life and everything thats happened thus far, everything that that will afford me in terms of my experiences. Now, she's coaching fellow spin enthusiasts and living nearby. Leibson: What entrepreneurs today inspire you the most and why? Sometimes when you get too personal, the business part can be compromised, and you just get too much into the weeds. A few years later, she left that partnership and co-founded spin studio chain Flywheel. As far as products go, someone recently gifted me with a Theragun. Mike: Would you prefer if this was an interview on bikes right now? Riding High: How I Kissed Soulcycle Goodbye, Co-Founded Flywheel, and Ruth Zukerman - a co-founder of SoulCycle and Flywheel, Ruth Zukerman's rise to entrepreneurial stardom, began with the acceptance that her career as a dancer would never take off. I discovered ballet classes when I was 8 years old. I very easily slipped into that role. Your email address will not be published. To me, thats the ultimate success for an entrepreneur. And so I looked at how I raised my children and what my style was in raising my children. In this View From The Top episode, the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks shares why it takes a diverse and inclusive workplace culture to get things done. Jon Corzines son, Vivienne Westwood Husband Andreas Kronthaler, Francesca Hetfield Metallicas James Hetfields Wife. You can find her LinkedIn profile here, twitter here. I think the reality is thats not accessible just based on different income levels. Mike: Plato? Leibson: How did you get into group exercise and spinning classes? That way, I didnt even have to push myself and could take the easy way out. Flywheel is unlike any other indoor . She is currently Flywheel's Creative Director and continues to teach several sold-out classes every week nationwide. This week, I sit down with Ruth Zukerman, Creative Director of boutique cycling favorite FlyWheel Sports. What are we going to do? Because we were in the back of a building. 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On this podcast episode, Diane Von Furstenberg, founder of the DVF clothing line, discusses the importance of character in bouncing back from setbacks. Mike: Walk us through that, because today, spinning is do we have any SoulCycle fans? One of my Flywheel co-founders had been taking my classes at SoulCycle and decided he wanted to get in on this kind of business and came up with this great new innovation and approached me and I had confidence at that point to know, Yes, I can help these people and create this new method.. SoulCycle took on a certain kind of Im blanking on the word. And I think that, again, as simplistic as it sounds, we do the best we can and thats it. Is there something wrong with me? She looked at me and said, Why would you ever think there was something wrong with you? And so that was one of the motivating forces in my getting to where I got to with this concept of spinning. What would be your advice for folks looking to reinvent themselves personally or professionally? Cohn has been married to 20/20 anchor Elizabeth Vargas since 2002. Its so therapeutic and amazing. Riding High: How I Kissed SoulCycle Goodbye, Co-Founded Flywheel, and Was there a moment where you did look back and you think, Im now caring for a family solely on my shoulders. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Miller, Gerri (July 11, 2018). Im a first-year MBA. Ruth Zukerman is the Co-Founder of SoulCycle and Flywheel. And literally within the first class I knew that this was something beyond exercise. A Long-Island native, Ruth had no exposure to business growing up. So in retrospect, when I look back, it made sense that I got so addicted to dancing because it became my way of expressing myself without words, without a voice. Zukerman: For me and my experience, so much of it was about circumstances and it being the right time within my own personal evolution. After attempting to make it as a . What does the audience think? But especially, again, in this business because with instructors, youre dealing with a very creative, ego-driven group, and that can be a slippery slope sometimes. I thought I was talented, but the truth was, I wasnt good enough especially if I wanted to stay in New York. I wouldnt recommend that. We were about including everyone, every shape, size and color. It was a cathartic experience. Riding High: How I Kissed Soulcycle Goodbye, Co-Founded Flywheel, and Inhale intention, exhale expectation.. I was at Flywheel through the acquisition in 2014, and I left in 2018. Sheila shares an early investor with Interos, Nick Beim! The second anecdote was about another trauma, which was the dissolution of my SoulCycle partnership. Mike: So I want to take us back, all the way back. And in terms of a learning lesson, that one, we had no idea. June 26, 2020 | by Jenny Luna Ruth Zukerman: Well, Im going to give John Foley a shout-out, the founder of Peloton. It's easy to look at successful entrepreneurs like Ruth Zukerman, cofounder of immensely popular spin studios SoulCycle and Flywheel, and assume their paths unfolded effortlessly before them.. The convenience factor will not go away, and people will want to be able to have the option of doing it in their home as well. His success has come from the rising of hard work. I love to reinforce for people that those are the moments where we get stronger, because failing is part of life. Ruth Zukerman: Clearly Im not giving them any credit. I drive inclusion in technology and product to improve the world. Would you believe she is in her 50's but looks 30-ish! I sat behind a desk, which was miserable for me because I was so used to being physical all the time, but I had no other choice. Manage Settings I geared my whole life toward being a dancer. Thanks so much for being here. But year was it when you started spinning? Since then, Ive been doing speaking engagements around my book, Riding High, and figuring out whats next for me. Mike: Yeah, exactly. Zukerman become a co-founder of cycling fitness giants SoulCycle and Flywheel. Ruth Zukerman: Yes. Its just always reminding myself of the importance of the mental component as well as the physical. in the courts fredericton daily gleaner. Little did she know, she basically created a monster in that I just took to it immediately. Mike: If its all right, can we just jump right in? That idea fell through. She credits her time in therapy with giving her the strength to finally get divorced. Her wisdom has been featured on several articles on the huffpost, she has written more than a dozen blog entries dating from 2011, titles include Kids and Exercise, Love Thy Self, Inside and Out,, Stressed Out? And again, at that moment, I had no idea what a huge part my experience with dance would play in my future career. There are Flywheel folks in the audience. I did, and in that period of time, 40 minutes, I knew this was going to be a game changer, because I could still do the mindful part and have the numbers. Where was the tension ultimately in terms of thinking about growth, what you all wanted? And so Im going to talk about the positive part first, which is, again, making everyone feel important, making our maintenance person feel as important as someone on the executive leadership team. Here, we speak to Founder Ruth Zukerman, and learn how her wildly-popular concept has found its way into the lives of fitness pros and novices nationwide: 1. Its an amazing story about beating the odds and persevering. While I was working there, I was set up on a blind date and met my future husband. Her stuff works huh! Every time you feel like you want to give up, you cant, and during that process youre actually building strength that allows you to go to the next step. The company has expanded across the country into South Florida, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, Los Angeles and more. When I started SoulCycle, we decided that people should applaud after the class. Ruth Zukerman: Im going to give you two anecdotes on that. My self esteem plummeted. And I find it interesting to myself that it took me a long time after divorce to really settle into a relationship with a man. Zukerman left SoulCycle in 2009 and started Flywheel the following year. Ruth Zukerman is the co-founder of SoulCycle and Flywheel, both wildly successful companies that innovated the studio cycling movement. Ruth Zukerman: This is definitely going to bite me in the ass some way. We heard this a lot, but I lived it and its so true that everything we do in our life and everything that creates this path that we take contributes to where we land. How do we see our future?. Online Classes | Fountain of Ruth Ruth Zukerman: Uh-oh. I have to say one thing first. She started a bakery business with her partner called Levain Bakery. At the end of the day, thats what we all want. Okay. Gabrielle Palay, Ruth Zukerman and Marc Murphy attend FLYWHEEL INAUGURAL RIDE at Sag Harbor on May 29, 2010 in New York City. Recounting the pivotal moments that helped launch Zukerman as the breakout star of the boutique fitness world, Riding High is a reminder that the greatest success stories often start in the unlikeliest of places. And its very amusing to me because John modeled the Peloton bike after the Flywheel bike. Mike: But a little bit of disagreement there. Multiple sources claim the songwriter Cohn famous for his Walking in Memphis and has been married to Vargas since 2002 bedded Flywheel Sports chain co-founder. Required fields are marked *. We thought youd just be an instructor is what she said to me. According to NY Post-Page Six, ABC anchor Elizabeth Vargas husband, Marc Cohn, had an affair with Zukerman while Vargas was in rehab for alcohol abuse. Interestingly, when I started Flywheel with two men, the dynamic was completely different. [Laughs] We were very big on empathy. So I know everyone is trying to think in that direction right now, and I think its so important. So when I look back and look back at my leadership style, I think, Well, what was my leadership style, and where did it come from? The truth is my biggest experience was being a mom. Ruth Zukerman - brightsightspeakers.com And a big reason people come to programs like View from the Top is were about to go in a lot of different ways. Her father was a physician and her mother a psychotherapist. Ruth Zukerman | Boutique Fitness Solutions And the other really key ingredient to success of boutique fitness is the personal connection that we would make with our riders. We can see how this works. Mike: If its okay, Id love to end with a personal question that I think you touch on a little bit or at least led me to want to ask in your book. Ruth pioneered the boutique fitness industry by creating the "studio" with a pay per class structure, modeling them after the dance studios she would frequent when she was pursuing her dance career. Its an old adage, but its so truewhen you find what you really want to be doing, you dont even feel like youre working. They approached me and said, How would you like to do this with us? And I said, Done. I loved it. You got into the health and wellness space when it was really nascent. I think a lot of us, an ideal state would be to go to [Spain], [unintelligible] core power [berries] a few times a week, Peloton at home. Co-founder Ruth Zukerman was on Fox 5 DC's Good Day D.C. morning show with Holly Morris FOX 5 DC to dish the best tips to get fit -- check it out! Other names that Ruth uses includes Ruth M Zuckererman, Ruth M Nm-zuckerman, Ruth I Zuckerman and Ruth M Zuckerman. Student Question My names Dan App. Elizabeth Vargas' husband Marc Cohn 'denies affair with spin studio I mean, we signed the lease, and it was after we signed the lease that the landlord said, Oh, by the way, no signage. And we thought, Oh my god. And a lot of that comes from dance. Right now, he is the most trending person in social media. It was almost like a mini reinvention every time I took a class. After her 1996 divorce, the former dancer and aerobics instructor felt lost and took to the Spin bike. Early life Zukerman grew up in Roslyn, New York to a family of Polish, Russian, and German-Jewish heritage. And Ive heard a lot of complaints about that from riders at both SoulCycle and Flywheel that the miss the way it used to be, and they miss the community and the attention that was given to the individual because its been lost. It was an idea I had dreamed about, but never had the capital, and she did. r**** The boutique industry is really not very accessible to everyone. This venture didnt work out, and its a painful next two years. Did you ever think about what life could have been had you not taken that risk? Ruth Zukerman Net Worth (2023) | wallmine Now on every corner in any neighborhood, especially places like Palo Alto and elsewhere, but a lot of metro cities now, you have a million different options. You touched on it a little bit, but maybe if you could talk more in-depth about what are some tangible things to help people understand what mental fitness could look like? Its like my church. So that kind of really spelled out my future. Earlier this year, Flywheel lost a major legal battle to its competitor. Flywheel Instructors Mourn Brand As Remaining Studios Appear - Insider What I learned in retrospect was that showing up for these spin classes was at the time my way of taking care of myself physically and mentally. Obviously, I wont go into the details, but theres a patent lawsuit going on against Flywheel from Peloton. At SoulCycle, people had to reach for their wallet and pull out some cash for a bottle of water and shoe rental. Health and wellness is an 80 billion dollar industry. Mike: Its a very simple game. When I was going through the divorce and the trauma that goes along with that, I started taking spin classes. At 51, she co-founded a new business, the highly successful Flywheel, and built the life she'd always dreamed of. Ruth Zukerman: So, its a good question because its thinking about the future of all of this. And what Ive learned is that I think of it as a muscle because it fortunately gets built every time we have a setback or every time we feel like weve failed at something. And I couldnt do it. Can we spend a minute just on those types of setbacks? Ruth Zukerman is co-founder of indoor cycling businesses SoulCycle and Flywheel Sports. So immediately at Flywheel we thought, were adding technology to the bike, so lets be consistent, and lets have small portable laptops set up in our lobby area so people dont have to wait in line and people can sign up by themselves. I still see lines around the block for their product. In late 2021 his net worth peaked at $137 billion, which made him the third-richest person . You can find that, and thats amazing, or you can find the opposite. I learned a lot about what people did and didnt like and I honed my own method within this genre of exercise. [Laughs] At Peloton, they actually did a really good job, I think, of bringing the community aspect into this at-home experience. Mike: And you describe a scene where you were at his bedside, and he said to you that, and I quote, Im ready to go. Flywheel Sports files for bankruptcy - denver7.com She asked me, and in two minutes I said yes. And the businesses have changed a lot because theyve gotten more corporate, and theyve gotten less personal. Because it wasnt that you went out, you raised a lot of money, you figured it out. But also, we have a lot of business school students in the audience now. I get frustrated sometimes because women need to support women always. on 25 August 2022, trading 915,000 units of FXLV stock currently worth $2,406,450. And now 15 years later, you have a company that just went public saying, You know what? There was a certain respect that the three of us had for each other, respect for each others areas of expertise. "Riders loved making a morning of it. I always advise people, you can go into business with someone you just met or you can go into business with someone youve known for 25 years, but they are both risks because when money gets involved, sometimes people take on behaviors that you never could have predicted. But what I learned was it really helps to know yourself when it comes to picking partners. Zukerman: This past weekend, I ran into an old friend of mine.