WIFA 2021 Impact Report

2021

impact impact report

THE WOMEN IN FITNESS ASSOCIATION

together we are unstoppable.

letter from our founder DEAR WOMEN IN FITNESS FAMILY,

At WIFA we believe that success comes by collaboration. This past year more than any other year, the milestones we have achieved are truly because of the collaboration of our partners and members. Their generous support allowed WIFA to have a team in place that upleveled the entire member experience. Thank you, and thank you to the ambassador team, the board of directors and all the countless hours of volunteer work that goes into WIFA, it makes this work possible. Our WIFA HQ team is so very grateful to all the community support that makes our work a reality.

Reflecting on 2021 as it comes to a calendar end, I am especially proud of our members' success. When I read your stories, see your faces on speaking event promotions, and watch the LinkedIn announcements sharing your new jobs, it confirms why we exist. I have a folder called “inspiration” in my iphoto, dozens of screenshots of your brilliant work and notes to me, that what we do for women in fitness matters infinitely to our collective success, you keep me going on the hardest days.

It is important before we forge into another calendar year of goal setting and achievement that we pause to acknowledge what we have accomplished this year and honor where we started and where we ended.

It is not lost on me that without you, we would not exist, you are the momentum that keeps us moving.

With love and appreciation, Lindsey Rainwater

FOUNDER AND CEO

rue stor

To frame this, I have always been a go-getter, the ideas girl, the GSD girl and have always been remunerated well for my efforts. My career has been grounded in my purpose to help others have a career in fitness, specifically in the group training arena, to touch lives and help people feel connected to others and themselves on a deeper level - physically, mentally and emotionally.The pandemic has really challenged future opportunities - and I know EVERYONE can feel me on this.

While I still have 1000 ideas I’d love to implement, it feels like the brakes have come on - there isn’t the businesses let alone the $$$ to make things happen with the level of freedom I had been afforded. As I dived into that dark place of “How can I fulfil my purpose if I don’t have the resources and tools to make it happen?”, it was a moment of real humbling. There are people around me willing to take pay cuts and career changes to jobs they probably don’t want to do just to make ends meet and feed their families. I basically get to keep my job, status quo.

So in this incredibly challenging time in history, I want to reach out and ask for help as well as offer help - the exact reason WIFA was brought to life!

As a WIFA member and ambassador, I thought my “role” was to help others but I now realise that there are people here that can help ME, just by listening and supporting, by the group meet-ups and calls.

I am going to “up my game” and be an active WIFA member, not for what I think I can provide but by being a part of the community. Knowing there is a global community of women, not just cheering for me in my wins (which I have been blessed to experience) but holding me through the tough times too, is a true blessing.

Tracy Minnoch WIFA GLOBAL AMBASSADOR NEW ZEALAND

ENTREPRENEUR, CREATOR, BLOGGER, PODCASTER, SPEAKER/PRESENTER, TRAINER

membership 1,033 GOAL SURPASSED! WIFA surpassed 1,000 members this past year, for a total member base of

632

WIFA GROWTH GRANT

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) sponsored over 600 WIFA Annual Memberships for health and fitness professionals accelerate their careers.

global

expansion

WIFA has members in 6 out of 7 continents!

In 2021 WIFA expanded into 6 new countries.

Countries where WIFA members are represented include: USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, Kenya, South Africa, China, Singapore, Thailand, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, New Zealand, Australia, WIFA grew to 24 total ambassadors spread out between the United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia

programs In 2021, WIFA launched an e-learning platform with 3 accredited personal and professional development programs: LEAD, Speaker’s Academy, & Writer’s Academy.

These programs are accredited by organizations such as ACE, NASM, AFAA, ISSA, and Canfitpro.

WIFA

.

LEADERSHIP THROUGH ELEVATION AWARENESS & DISCOVERY

W

W

WIFA SPEAKER'S ACADEMY

WIFA WRITER'S ACADEMY

Each program launch created opportunities for WIFA Women to be paid as coaches and mentors.

From the WIFA Speaker's and Writer's academies, WIFA Released WIFA VOX, a platform where graduates of these academies can share their wisdom using both the spoken and written word.

THE COLLECTIVE VOICE OF WIFA.

"the wifa LEAD program was such an amazing experience. Much more than I ever expected! I was given the space and opportunity to peel back the layers and really hone in on my why. I was able to use that to build myself up. To build my business and my brand. It was such a great opportunity, and I am so happy I chose to go through LEAD."

kara flowers WIFA MEMBER & L.E.A.D. GRADUATE

impact 157 15 GRADUATES SPEAKER'S ACADEMY

L.E.A.D.

GRADUATES

152 RUN THE WORLD

PARTICIPANTS

42

80

WRITER'S ACADEMY

12 GRADUATES SPEAKING

OPPORTUNITIES

FOR WOMEN IN THE FITNESS INDUSTRY

WOMEN IN FITNESS

SHARED THEIR STORIES ON THE WIFA WAVES PODCAST

10 NETWORKING

EVENTS

Allies In 2021, WIFA collaborated with 12 new companies in efforts to see a more diverse and inclusive future for the fitness industry.

We couldn't do what we do without all of our amazing partners. Thank you for your support and commitment to making this world a more equitable place.

looking ahead together we grow. together we change the world.

we're organized forGrowth

Additional 2021 accomplishments include: Increased our social media following by 23% across all platforms Executed brand refresh and website rebuild with in-house branding and creative Completed an equity audit and action plan on our DEI efforts Doubled the size of our Head Quarter team from 2 to 4 powerhouse women Created a custom 2022 WIFA Way Journal and Planner

we're making aDifference

Together with our partners, we are working toward making women of all identities supported and empowered in the workplace or in their business. With every partner we are able to facilitate more mentorship opportunities, conduct more research, offer more opportunities for affordable, accredited training and development, more spaces and places for women to connect and grow.

our partners areCommitted

To women in fitness, to tackling norms and barriers that have held women back. To helping their colleagues have an equitable chance to succeed in their organizations and as entrepreneurs.

we share their impactWith the World We make sure that they can use our platform to tell their stories. That our members and the fitness and wellness sector know more about the organizations who are true allies and are making the changes we need.

join us.

youBelong.