Irina Kapetanakis of Rumble Boxing: How Leaving Finance and Embracing Fitness Franchising Built a Thriving Community

Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Irina Kapetanakis.

Irina Kapetanakis is an entrepreneur, private investor, consultant, speaker, coach and Rumble Boxing franchisee focused on supporting women-led and community-centric businesses. It is Irina’s passion to do her part to bring equality to all founders and give smart, hardworking and driven individuals the voice and support to bring their ideas to life. Irina helps her companies in a number of ways, either through introductions to influencers in her network, fundraising efforts, and advisory services especially around building out their sales and marketing organizations.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I spent the majority of my career in finance and marketing, reaching a point where I questioned if that was my lifelong passion. After you do something for such a long time, you feel pigeonholed into that sector of work and I needed something more. Seeking purpose, I left those industries to work for a fashion startup that I was personally invested in. Through this role, I “shed that skin,” leaving behind many of my inhibitions and a pesky case of imposter syndrome.

With my finance and marketing career in the rearview, I opened myself up to exploring new possibilities and fitness became the avenue to explore. After speaking with folks at Xponential Fitness, one of the best franchise companies in the health and wellness space, I stumbled upon the opportunity to purchase the Rumble territory in Hoboken, NJ. At this point, Xponential had just recently purchased the brand, so the decision to buy the Hoboken studio was a no-brainer guided by a gut feeling I had.

Since opening Hoboken in February 2023, I have expanded to all NYC signature studios including four locations in the Manhattan area and another in the works to open this year in Jersey City. For me, it’s not about owning a gym, it’s about creating a community. People are going to Rumble to work out of course, but they keep coming back for that sense of community and friendship we work so hard to cultivate an environment for. I take pride in the events we put on to add value to my community, partnering with forty-five businesses that give discounts to our members.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

A friend of mine owns a franchise in the health and wellness space. She and I were talking one day and she began to explain to me what it is like to own a franchise and the benefits that come with that. This conversation opened my mind to the possibility of franchise ownership and was the catalyst that led me to explore fitness franchising, eventually connecting me with XPO to own a Rumble studio.

The main takeaway I received from that experience was that everyone should always be open to meeting new people and exploring new possibilities. Regardless of the industry they were in, networking with people of all kinds of backgrounds opened my eyes to diverse opportunities, which proved pivotal in my journey to leaving a siloed career.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Starting a fashion brand turned out to be a disaster, but it led to connections that facilitated my ownership of my first Rumble studio. The lesson: embrace risks, be open to change, and appreciate silver linings.

Sometimes taking a risk is a sign of you needing something different. Go with that feeling and be open to that road and change. Be calculated in that risk. Do your research and take any opportunity to learn. The more you know, the more you can mitigate the risk. It may not be the initial idea or concept that ends up coming to life, but keep your eyes open to see what other avenues you can take advantage of to grow with. Don’t be afraid to pivot; opportunities often arise from unexpected places. And remember that there is always a silver lining to every cloud as long as you focus and appreciate the things that do go right.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Rumble isn’t just about a workout; it’s about fostering communities. In a post-COVID world, people crave diverse communities. This is especially true in urban environments where people are often new to the area and don’t have built-in relationships. I have been that person who has moved to a new strange place and it was important to me to have a sense of community.

My studios are a place where my community is able to access aspects of health and wellness outside of exercise. We go beyond fitness, partnering with vendors in food, health, spas, and more, offering a comprehensive well-rounded health and wellness experience to my community. We make it easy for our members to have access to all this information so that we can help improve their lives holistically. If we all start small in our own communities, where we live and work, the impact ripples to something bigger.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing?

1. Explore Different Workouts: Trying new modalities, like boxing, can be transformative. Don’t fear the unknown; variety prevents stagnation.
2. Avoid Fad Diets: Forgive occasional lapses in healthy eating. Fad diets aren’t sustainable. Make gradual tweaks for lasting changes.
3. Prioritize “Me” Time: Amid busy schedules, carve out time for personal enjoyment. Whether a massage or solo movie night, it centers you amidst life’s chaos.
4. Eliminate Toxic Influences: Let go of toxic relationships, even if long-standing. Surround yourself with those who uplift you; mental well-being is paramount.
5. Connect with Your Younger Self: There are a lot of things that we bring into adulthood that stem from issues of childhood. That’s why it’s crucial to address unresolved childhood issues to better understand yourself and why you may do the things that you do. This deep introspection fosters personal growth and healthier relationships.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Encourage minor lifestyle tweaks that are easy to implement instead of trying to force drastic changes onto yourself or others. I find this approach is less of a shock to the system and is easier to maintain over the long term. After you’ve adapted to those small changes, you can change more.

That leads me to a kindness movement. We should all focus on periodic acts of kindness, no matter how large or small. It could be a daily, weekly or even a monthly act as long as it benefits both individuals and the collective well-being. This not only makes a positive change for others but for yourself as well. Doing something unselfishly for someone that you wouldn’t typically do makes more change than you think, and if we all did this, the world would be a happier place.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

1. Embrace That You Can’t Do It All: It’s okay not to know everything. Success lies in understanding your strengths, acknowledging weaknesses and seeking help.
2. Encourage Failure: Failure is a stepping stone to success. Embrace it, as it teaches valuable lessons. Encourage your staff to think outside the box to help them grow and experience more, even if they fail.
3. Trust Freely: Give your trust to those who join you in your ventures, but keep in mind that trust will not always be reciprocated. Identify those who don’t trust you, try to understand why and move on from them. But don’t carry this into new relationships. Treat it as a learning experience and feel confident in those around who do deserve your trust and reciprocate it.
4. Believe in Your Worth: Imposter syndrome is common and we often question ourselves on whether we are in the right place. Reduce or get rid of the question marks about yourself and know you belong where you are. Self-doubt hinders growth.
5. Eliminate “Can’t”: Plan your path; every obstacle can be overcome. The only obstacle is yourself and the only way to overcome is to be thoughtful with planning. It’s easy to say “I can do anything,” but how do you do it? Create that plan for yourself and create steps to get to that point.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Mental health holds special importance to me. Rumble contributes to physical and mental well-being, offering resources and tools to our members to combat the struggles stemming from today’s fast-paced lifestyle and social media pressures. Helping people find a better place mentally is crucial in creating happier, healthier individuals.

What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?

Portfolio: www.irinakapetanakis.com

Instagram: @irina.kapetanakis

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/irina-kapetanakis-0662134/

Rumble Boxing Facebook: www.facebook.com/rumbleboxinghoboken

Rumble Boxing Instagram: www.instagram.com/rumbleboxinghoboken

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com .