We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bianca Vesco a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bianca, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I’ve had two HUGE defining moments in my career that stand out to me most because they were 100% make or break situations. Two situations where I could’ve accepted defeat and crumbled back into nothing. But I didn’t. I rose, I grew stronger, I gained confidence and was able to fully understand my worth and my passion to bring that feeling to others.

As a young trainer I was hired at a very high profile gym and it became an incredibly unhealthy work environment almost immediately. But I was eager, excited to be part of something new and against my better judgement, I stayed until my light was almost snuffed out. I lost tons of weight, never saw my friends or family and was in a very volatile relationship. I felt like such a shell of a human being. When the day came to stand up for myself, I sat down with management and they heard me (or so I thought), agreed with everything I said and offered to find solutions. However, their solution was to fire me the next day. I was angry, I was sad, I was lost.. until I wasn’t. I started my independent training business a week later with 20 clients, most of which I still have today 6 years later. Grateful for that lesson for it taught me my light is too bright to ever be dimmed and I will NEVER make myself smaller to make someone else more comfortable. Know your worth and never settle. It is such a disservice to everything you are.

I found myself in a similar situation last Spring. Post covid, I was still navigating what it meant to be an independent trainer and I moved to a new city with my boyfriend, SO incredibly unsure if in person fitness would ever come back. Would we stay digital forever? How would I get new clients in a city where no one knew my name? Still running my NYC/LA training business virtually from Nashville, I was missing my teaching income (and being in person) and something had to give. The universe presented me with a dream job to reach hundreds of thousands of people in a new app headed and created by Oprah and her team. I worked side by side with the most LIFE changing coaches from all over the world and I really felt in my soul that we were making a difference coaching through content and our LIVE sessions. We soon fell victim to the mass corporate lay offs and our entire program was wiped like we weren’t even there. Another situation that completely knocked the wind out of me, except this time for months. I was fortunate to have income to fall back on but I really felt like I had lost a piece of me and REALLY had no idea what the hell I would do next.

Another lesson in patience. Another lesson in growth. Another lesson in commitment to myself to never settle and to always want more. You cannot control what you cannot control and both of these situations were completely out of my control. I allowed myself to grieve and mourn and feel all the feels. Then I got back on the F*$%ing horse and reminded myself that I am a boss and I will not accept defeat. I am so much more than both of these situations and my business is stronger because of it.

Time has passed. I am absolutely delighted to share my training business is thriving both virtually and in person in Nashville, I have multiple side hustles supporting my sneaker habit and I am so proud to be me and to continue to create a life I am so proud of that going forward, no one will be able to take from me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am relentless in my passion to make this world a better place. I pride myself in my ability to teach people from every walk of life strength, confidence and self efficacy. I was always an athlete growing up but I also really enjoyed singing and knew I had a talent and passion for both. Being torn between sports and music as a kid, it was tough to understand my true passion. It wasn’t until many many years later and multiple careers did I actually figure it out.

I moved to NYC for college when I was 18 and studied music. I was a music therapist at United Cerebral Palsy of New York City for a few years until working in the non profit sector drained all the bright, bubbly joy I had in me at 22 years old out. I was bartending on the side and got a job working retail with Lululemon. Lulu introduced me to the boutique fitness scene and I was addicted immediately. The energy from packed classes, the excellence coming from the instructors on the microphones, the community. It was unlike anything I’d ever known.

The next few years following that, I made it my mission to take every class, be friends with every instructor, know every manager in every gym by name. I had to BEG for my first audition at a fancy boutique gym and at first I was told no. “We can’t hire anyone without at least 3 years of group fitness experience.” I begged, just give me the mic. 5 minutes. Please.

I worked my ass off and went on to teach multiple modalities in multiple high profile boutique gyms all over NYC. It was my mission to make everyone feel welcome anywhere, no matter their background or fitness level. I could teach to a professional athlete or a senior in the same class and that’s what made me feel special. I wanted to create a community that felt warm and welcome to anyone who needed it inside and out of the gym.

I always tell my clients I don’t want them to need me forever and I mean it (as much as it breaks my heart HA). A great coach gives you all the tools you need and should be able to set you free and watch you fly on your own with pride. Those are my favorite moments. And that’s why I am here.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Be teachable, you are not always right.

I have always operated pretty independently and I know that my biggest opportunity as a leader is being open to feedback, and being more trusting of others. As someone who has relied solely on myself for a long time, I’ve been in many situations where I think I am right (and I’m not) OR I take over a task that has been given to my team or someone else because I am so used to doing things MY way.

Me saying “well I have always done it this way” is a fixed mindset and does not allow for feedback or growth. Relearning to think “hm I’ve never tried it this way but I am open to it” brings so much more opportunity for something new to blossom.

Same for feedback. I am hard headed and sometimes a little spicy. My directness can absolutely come off as abrasive or rude until I had a manager finally call me out on it and I realized just how simple it was to add a “hey how are you” to an email and completely change the tone and my delivery.

always be open to feedback.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Rooting yourself in your why. If you’re going to tackle anything independently, you have to be rooted so deep down into your why that nothing else can shake you.

What is your passion? What gets you out of bed in the morning when nothing else can? Fitness and modeling are so incredibly cut throat that if I didn’t wake up every single morning and remind myself how much I love this and teaching others, some days I wouldn’t get out of bed. I certainly wouldn’t have a successful and sustainable business if I doubted why I do this for even a second.

The hustle is hard. People will knock you down. You’ll hear no so much more than you hear yes when you start. You have to know your worth and accept nothing less than what you truly want. and remind yourself why.. every single day.

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bianca Vesco a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bianca, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I’ve had two HUGE defining moments in my career that stand out to me most because they were 100% make or break situations. Two situations where I could’ve accepted defeat and crumbled back into nothing. But I didn’t. I rose, I grew stronger, I gained confidence and was able to fully understand my worth and my passion to bring that feeling to others.

As a young trainer I was hired at a very high profile gym and it became an incredibly unhealthy work environment almost immediately. But I was eager, excited to be part of something new and against my better judgement, I stayed until my light was almost snuffed out. I lost tons of weight, never saw my friends or family and was in a very volatile relationship. I felt like such a shell of a human being. When the day came to stand up for myself, I sat down with management and they heard me (or so I thought), agreed with everything I said and offered to find solutions. However, their solution was to fire me the next day. I was angry, I was sad, I was lost.. until I wasn’t. I started my independent training business a week later with 20 clients, most of which I still have today 6 years later. Grateful for that lesson for it taught me my light is too bright to ever be dimmed and I will NEVER make myself smaller to make someone else more comfortable. Know your worth and never settle. It is such a disservice to everything you are.

I found myself in a similar situation last Spring. Post covid, I was still navigating what it meant to be an independent trainer and I moved to a new city with my boyfriend, SO incredibly unsure if in person fitness would ever come back. Would we stay digital forever? How would I get new clients in a city where no one knew my name? Still running my NYC/LA training business virtually from Nashville, I was missing my teaching income (and being in person) and something had to give. The universe presented me with a dream job to reach hundreds of thousands of people in a new app headed and created by Oprah and her team. I worked side by side with the most LIFE changing coaches from all over the world and I really felt in my soul that we were making a difference coaching through content and our LIVE sessions. We soon fell victim to the mass corporate lay offs and our entire program was wiped like we weren’t even there. Another situation that completely knocked the wind out of me, except this time for months. I was fortunate to have income to fall back on but I really felt like I had lost a piece of me and REALLY had no idea what the hell I would do next.

Another lesson in patience. Another lesson in growth. Another lesson in commitment to myself to never settle and to always want more. You cannot control what you cannot control and both of these situations were completely out of my control. I allowed myself to grieve and mourn and feel all the feels. Then I got back on the F*$%ing horse and reminded myself that I am a boss and I will not accept defeat. I am so much more than both of these situations and my business is stronger because of it.

Time has passed. I am absolutely delighted to share my training business is thriving both virtually and in person in Nashville, I have multiple side hustles supporting my sneaker habit and I am so proud to be me and to continue to create a life I am so proud of that going forward, no one will be able to take from me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am relentless in my passion to make this world a better place. I pride myself in my ability to teach people from every walk of life strength, confidence and self efficacy. I was always an athlete growing up but I also really enjoyed singing and knew I had a talent and passion for both. Being torn between sports and music as a kid, it was tough to understand my true passion. It wasn’t until many many years later and multiple careers did I actually figure it out.

I moved to NYC for college when I was 18 and studied music. I was a music therapist at United Cerebral Palsy of New York City for a few years until working in the non profit sector drained all the bright, bubbly joy I had in me at 22 years old out. I was bartending on the side and got a job working retail with Lululemon. Lulu introduced me to the boutique fitness scene and I was addicted immediately. The energy from packed classes, the excellence coming from the instructors on the microphones, the community. It was unlike anything I’d ever known.

The next few years following that, I made it my mission to take every class, be friends with every instructor, know every manager in every gym by name. I had to BEG for my first audition at a fancy boutique gym and at first I was told no. “We can’t hire anyone without at least 3 years of group fitness experience.” I begged, just give me the mic. 5 minutes. Please.

I worked my ass off and went on to teach multiple modalities in multiple high profile boutique gyms all over NYC. It was my mission to make everyone feel welcome anywhere, no matter their background or fitness level. I could teach to a professional athlete or a senior in the same class and that’s what made me feel special. I wanted to create a community that felt warm and welcome to anyone who needed it inside and out of the gym.

I always tell my clients I don’t want them to need me forever and I mean it (as much as it breaks my heart HA). A great coach gives you all the tools you need and should be able to set you free and watch you fly on your own with pride. Those are my favorite moments. And that’s why I am here.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Be teachable, you are not always right.

I have always operated pretty independently and I know that my biggest opportunity as a leader is being open to feedback, and being more trusting of others. As someone who has relied solely on myself for a long time, I’ve been in many situations where I think I am right (and I’m not) OR I take over a task that has been given to my team or someone else because I am so used to doing things MY way.

Me saying “well I have always done it this way” is a fixed mindset and does not allow for feedback or growth. Relearning to think “hm I’ve never tried it this way but I am open to it” brings so much more opportunity for something new to blossom.

Same for feedback. I am hard headed and sometimes a little spicy. My directness can absolutely come off as abrasive or rude until I had a manager finally call me out on it and I realized just how simple it was to add a “hey how are you” to an email and completely change the tone and my delivery.

always be open to feedback.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Rooting yourself in your why. If you’re going to tackle anything independently, you have to be rooted so deep down into your why that nothing else can shake you.

What is your passion? What gets you out of bed in the morning when nothing else can? Fitness and modeling are so incredibly cut throat that if I didn’t wake up every single morning and remind myself how much I love this and teaching others, some days I wouldn’t get out of bed. I certainly wouldn’t have a successful and sustainable business if I doubted why I do this for even a second.

The hustle is hard. People will knock you down. You’ll hear no so much more than you hear yes when you start. You have to know your worth and accept nothing less than what you truly want. and remind yourself why.. every single day.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.biancapaigefit.com
• Instagram: @Biancapaigefit
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-vesco-5a1932a3/

Image Credits
Nina Long

www.biancapaigefit.com

• Instagram: @Biancapaigefit
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-vesco-5a1932a3/

Image Credits
Nina Long