121. Anna Kaiser, Founder of AKT
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 3.7K Ratings
🗓️ 28 February 2019
⏱️ 59 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"I’ve always been about working hard and going after things that you are excited about and passionate about and working your ass off. That’s the only way to make it happen. No one else is going to make it happen for you." —Anna Kaiser
You may know Anna Kaiser as the creator, founder, and CEO of the dance cardio brand AKT. Maybe you've taken — and barely survived — her class, either in person or with AKT On Demand. Or maybe you recognize her from her professional dance days, performing on the Fame tour and dancing in the best movie ever, Enchanted. Or, let's be honest, maybe you know her as Kelly Ripa's workout BFF, or as the woman credited for keeping Shakira in shape.
On this episode, Anna talks about going from a wannabe opera singer in Zurich to an entrepreneur on the brink of opening 300 studios nationwide. She shares the mistakes, missteps, and challenges she's faced along the way, talks about why she wanted to improve upon the boutique fitness industry, and opens up about how becoming a mom two years ago changed her at home, in the studio, and beyond.
Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!
What you’ll get on this episode:
- What were Young Anna’s dreams for the future? (3:00)
- Anna reflects on her college experience and explains why it wasn’t everything she’d hoped it would be (8:15)
- Why Anna decided to move on from the dance world (12:00)
- How AKT was born, and how Anna stood out in the boutique fitness industry (15:00)
- How Anna became fitness BFFs with Kelly Ripa (21:00)
- How Anna has cultivated an empowering community (22:50)
- Why Anna decided to franchise (25:45)
- How Anna become business savvy, and the bad business decisions she’s made along the way (31:25)
- Anna’s take on the state of the fitness industry, now and in the future (34:30)
- Anna opens up about motherhood, including returning to work post-birth, having help, and “balance” (39:45)
- Does Anna have any insecurities? Plus, what she says she’s proudest of (46:30)
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by Aftershocks. |
| 0:08.2 | Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. |
| 0:10.4 | I'm Allie Felor and every week I talk with inspiring men and women who lead |
| 0:14.4 | interesting lives on the run and beyond. |
| 0:17.3 | And while running is what brings us all together on these episodes I'm looking for more. |
| 0:22.0 | So join me every Thursday to learn about the decisions people have made to get where they are today, |
| 0:26.8 | the good ones and the bad ones and how getting sweaty has factored in. |
| 0:31.4 | Today I'm joined by Anna Kaiser. You may know her as the creator, founder, CEO and |
| 0:36.1 | ABS behind the hugely popular AKT in Motion brand. Anna's dance cardio class is without a doubt |
| 0:42.5 | one of the hardest fitness classes I've ever taken. And it's no surprise that what started as a |
| 0:47.7 | small studio in Connecticut has expanded to have a massive online on-demand presence and will soon |
| 0:53.7 | hit more than 300 franchise studios across the nation. But let's be honest you probably also know |
| 1:00.0 | Anna as Kelly Ruppas workout BFF and the woman credited with keeping Shakira's hips that don't lie |
| 1:05.6 | in tip-top shape. Anna got her start as a professional dancer before transitioning into the fitness |
| 1:10.9 | world and you know I'm always down to nerd out on dance stuff, fitness industry stuff and badass boss |
| 1:16.8 | stuff. When Anna first created AKT in Motion she could have just said she wanted to teach in choreograph, |
| 1:22.0 | but no she also wanted to be CEO. We talk about all that and more including the mistakes, |
| 1:28.0 | missteps and challenges Anna has faced along the way. So let's dive right in. |
| 1:38.8 | Anna Kaiser welcome to the Alley on the Run Show as a long time fan and someone who has just about |
| 1:45.1 | died taking your class multiple times. I'm so excited to have you here today. |
| 1:49.6 | Oh thank you for having me here Alley. I can't wait to talk all about making people die. |
| 1:54.3 | Yeah I've been there but I've survived so we'll talk about that too. Before we get into all the good |
... |
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