Leadership & Fitness Discipline: how fitness helps strengthen leadership qualities

Leadership & Fitness Discipline: How My Journey in Fitness Strengthened My Leadership Qualities By Johana Poveda

When you stand behind a brand that operates on a global stage. It's about the discipline, resilience, and personal commitment that you cultivate over the years. My journey as a business manager and marketing director has taught me many things, but one lesson I keep coming back to is this: leadership starts with leading yourself. And for me, a significant part of that has been my dedication to fitness.

Discipline Built Over Time . From early mornings pushing myself through workouts to late nights strategizing the next big move for the brand, I’ve come to understand that the discipline needed to stay consistent in fitness is the same discipline that drives business success. Every day I showed up for myself in the gym was a day I could show up even stronger for my team and the brand.

Resilience Through Physical and Mental Challenges Life and business both throw unexpected challenges. I’ve had my share of setbacks, both professionally and personally. But just like in fitness, where you have to push through plateaus and frustrations to get stronger, you learn to adapt, grow, and push forward.

Fitness has helped me cultivate resilience. When I’m running or pushing through a tough workout, my body wants to quit, but my mind won’t let it. This mental toughness is exactly what’s needed to lead. When things don’t go according to plan in the business world, that resilience—built through years of discipline and fitness—kicks in, reminding me that I’ve pushed through worse and come out stronger every time.

Confidence and Leading by Example Confidence is everything. But it’s not the kind of confidence that’s built on a title or position; it’s the confidence you earn through hard work, determination, and personal achievement. For me, fitness has been a source of that earned confidence. Whether it’s completing a difficult workout or reaching a new fitness milestone, every accomplishment has reminded me of what I’m capable of.

In the business of plastic surgery, I’ve always believed that leaders must lead by example. I can’t just talk about discipline, resilience, or innovation—I have to live it. My commitment to fitness is part of that. If I can maintain discipline in my personal life, I can ask the same of my team.

Fitness as Stress Management Managing multiple business units, strategizing global training programs, it is amazing with the innovative mind of it's creator but also a lot of work . Fitness has been my sanctuary for managing stress. It's where I clear my mind, process challenges, and reset my focus. That post-workout clarity has allowed me to come back to the business with fresh energy and a renewed sense of purpose.

Whether I’m working on launching a new course for surgeons or organizing an international meeting, I’ve learned that taking care of myself through fitness helps me take care of the business. It’s not just about the physical benefits, but the mental clarity and stress relief that come with it.

The Intersection of Fitness, Innovation, and Leadership As I reflect on the years I’ve spent with my incredible boss Alfredo Hoyos, a brilliant mind , growing Total Definer into what it is today, I realize how much my journey in fitness has shaped the way I lead. Innovation doesn’t come from staying comfortable. It comes from pushing yourself beyond limits—whether in the gym or in the boardroom. Fitness has taught me that the real growth happens when you step outside of your comfort zone, and I’ve applied that lesson to every business decision I’ve made.

Just like in fitness, where progress is gradual and built over time, leadership and business success come from consistent effort and a refusal to give up, no matter the obstacles. Every achievement, big or small, is a testament to the discipline and resilience I’ve cultivated over the years.

A Journey Still in Progress I’m still on this journey. Every day is an opportunity to grow, both personally and professionally. Fitness has given me the tools I need to be a stronger, more resilient director, and I’m grateful for how it’s shaped not just my body, but my entire approach to life and work!