An Interview With Vanessa Ogle
Don’t allow the women in your life to make excuses for delaying their dreams. Push them to just start!
As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Genevieve Ross.
Genevieve Ross is a dynamic entrepreneur and co-owner of Reforming Pilates, Miami’s premier Pilates studio. Originally gaining fame as the voice behind the travel and luxury blog “Passports & Perignon” and later as a television producer, Genevieve’s career took a transformative turn when she and her husband, Daniel Ross, ventured into the fitness industry. Despite her initial unfamiliarity with Pilates, she quickly embraced its elegance and core-strengthening benefits, leading to the opening of their first boutique studio in Bay Harbor Islands in July 2022. Their studio’s luxurious atmosphere and top-tier instruction have since attracted Miami’s elite, propelling their expansion to Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach, Boca, and plans for New York City later this year. Genevieve’s journey from blogger and TV producer to Pilates mogul showcases her flair for reinvention and commitment to luxury, humor, and passion in every endeavor.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
Business has always been a passion of mine. Since I was a child, I would try to sell things or experiences to people. I remember charging family members to watch musicals I wrote and performed after dinner. I worked as both a journalist and in marketing, but nothing made me feel as fulfilled as I do now. I think it’s the risk and reward of entrepreneurship that gets me up in the morning.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
We took over a small studio with zero social media presence. Within the first month, we had attracted some of America’s most elite (partly because of our location in one of the highest-income zip codes in America). Within three weeks, it was impossible to get a booking at the studio. It was a completely surreal turn of events in such a short period of time.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I threw all the old Pilates equipment in the bin, thinking it was outdated! My lead instructor had a complete meltdown. I didn’t like the way it looked in the studio aesthetically. I’ve learned that both beauty and functionality are important when running a successful studio.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
That’s easy! My husband, Daniel. He pushes me to take the craziest risks. I would be nowhere in this business without him as my business partner. He is one of the sharpest business minds I’ve ever met! Throwing business ideas around is our foreplay.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. Great things come from small habits. Everything you do becomes what you will be. Show up every day, and eventually, the hard work WILL pay off.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?
“No risk = no reward.” Sometimes saying yes is the scariest thing to do, but don’t close yourself off from any potential opportunity.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
I am most proud of my 501(c)(3). My friend and I started a dog rescue called Magic City Rescue. Animal rescue has always been one of the biggest passions in my life, and I’m so grateful I get to do it on a slightly bigger scale now.
In your opinion and experience, what is currently holding back women from founding companies?
Support. When a woman starts a business, shout it from the rooftops! Support your girlfriends. There is nothing more incredible than women supporting women.
Can you share with our readers what you are doing to help empower women to become founders?
I work with all of our team members to empower them to follow their passions, whatever they may be. Whether they want to become master trainers, create training programs, or run workshops, the sky is the limit. I love facilitating an environment where all of my team can thrive.
Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?
Because we can do it all! I’m currently doing this interview from a TSA line!
Can you please share 5 things that can be done or should be done to help empower more women to become founders?
- Support the women in your life when they open a business.
- Give equal opportunities to women in the workplace.
- Facilitate a work environment that listens to the concerns and dreams of your staff.
- Don’t allow the women in your life to make excuses for delaying their dreams. Push them to just start!
- Be an inspiration as a woman in business to those you work closely with. Let them see your tenacity and inspire them to mirror it.
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
Urge people to cultivate a life that makes them happy. Success means different things to different people. To some, that means being a mom, to others, it means owning a business, and to others, it’s feeling fulfilled knowing your job makes a difference in someone’s life. Whatever your idea of success is, grab it and run with it.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.
Genevieve Ross: Why We Need More Women Founders & Here Is What We Are Doing To Make That Happen was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.