Creating a global brand from a single idea – what it takes and where it comes from

In this episode, JP talks to Karen Mahar, one half of the dynamic global brand that is Animal Flow. His mission in this conversation was to get at what it takes as a person, and as a professional, to become known and significant in a crowded marketplace; the decisions that need to be made; the humility needed in a partnership; the drive and energy; and how we can leverage our personal experience and professional acumen to become a cutting edge, unique offering, established in 35 countries. This is an eye-opening interview, delving into a lot of ‘behind the scenes footage’ that is both deeply interesting and highly educational. Karen’s understanding and ability to communicate all the layers involved is a brilliant example of why most of us have heard of Animal Flow and many of us have sampled the modality. We can all take away something from this interview, whether we have a local, national or global brand. Karen is the COO of Global Bodyweight Training and the Animal Flow brand, which she co-founded in 2010 and developed into an international fitness company with 20,000 instructors. She holds a PhD in Sociology, and prior to launching her fitness career was the director of the Institute of Homeless Studies in Miami, Florida. She's been a Board Member for numerous non-profit and quasi-governmental entities focused on issues of poverty and inequality, and is committed to making the world a better place in whatever she does. After 30 years living in Miami, in 2016 she and her business partner embarked on a two year tour of moving to a new country every month as they developed the Animal Flow program around the world. Karen now lives in Denver Colorado, where she hikes, skis, and hangs out with her Bernese Mountain Dog.