The Realities Of Being a Gen Z Founder In The Wellness Industry

I really struggled academically at school. I never felt like I was good at anything, which massively affected my confidence. That also meant I had no desire to carry on with sixth form or university. Instead, I went straight into work, but I quickly realised a 9–5 wasn’t going to fulfil me.  That’s when I decided to take the leap and start my own business at 20, and line here on how it has been successful (either sales stats, how it has fulfilled you emotionally or anything that can convey why this leap of faith paid off).

For me, movement has always been that one thing I come back to. When I was younger, it was tennis, dance, even diving, and now it’s the gym and Pilates. No matter what stage of life I’ve been in: exams, lockdown, or starting my first job, it’s the thing that’s kept me steady and motivated. So it simply felt natural that my business would revolve around it. When you work within something you genuinely enjoy and can lean on through the highs and lows, that’s what will actually keep you going. So if you’re looking to take your own leap of faith, my advice would be to find your version of that. 

I also felt (and still feel) that wellness was shifting away from being this huge trend, and more towards something personal and realistic. People my age aren’t just chasing quick fixes anymore. We care about practices that actually support us day-to-day, whether that’s movement, meditation, or just slowing down. Pilates has become such a big part of that because it’s gentle but still really effective, and it’s something you can actually keep up with long term. 

So I, alongside my business partner and pilates instructor Emma Mahama, launched Hausformer, a folding reformer you can use at home. The aim was to take something that’s often seen as quite exclusive and make it possible for people to do at home in a really simple, stylish, space-friendly way.  Another line or two here please about meeting this aim - did you have great sales in the first week, have you had great customer feedback that has made it all worth it, any other highs so we can really show off how brill this brand is? 

We wanted to create a product that could easily be built into any routine (even those who never feel like they have enough time) while also challenging the misconceptions about Pilates. A big one is that Pilates is only for a certain type of person, often women, or people who are already really flexible: in reality, it’s for everyone, and it can be adapted to any level or ability. Another is that Pilates isn't a quick fix — lots of people expect instant results, but the real benefits come from consistency over time, building strength, balance, and resilience in a way that actually lasts. And a third is that Pilates (and wellness in general) isn’t just physical — people often see it as a workout, but it’s just as much about your mind and nervous system. Pilates teaches you to slow down, connect with your body, and that side of it can be just as transformative as the physical results. So, if we can help people realise this in the comfort of their own home, then I’m very happy (something similar to this please about how you’ve been able to challenge these misconceptions with Hausformer). 

But really, line here about the benefit of starting out so long, did you take risks you might not have taken if you were older etc?And line here about a few lessons you’ve learnt along the way. The biggest? The importance of being what I call a “spogue”. (can you explain this, is it a blend of sponge and another word?) To me, that means having the ability to absorb information quickly and learn on the go. As a young female business owner, you get a lot of advice from older people, some of it really valuable, some not so much. The key is knowing how to take it all in, filter it, and learn from it in a way that works for you. inal line here pushing people to take their leap of faith at a young age too.