We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gina D’Andrea-Penna a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Gina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
As I’ve been wrapping up my Ph.D. in neuroscience while simultaneously starting a fitness coaching business, giving a presentation to fellow neuroscience graduate students last year was particularly significant for me. The past few years, my fascination with the brain temporarily took a backseat to my interest in the body – and within this last year, I’ve finally come to integrate the two as I’ve pored over research regarding the mind-brain-body connection. As a result of this research, I developed a tentative theory surrounding the effects of modern lifestyle and the brain – a perfect mesh of my old and newfound interests.
Accordingly, I gave a presentation precisely on this topic, which was seemingly unrelated to my prior presentations and lab research. Usually graduate students present on their own data, but I was compelled to present my theory instead. So I discussed the impact of the Western diet, sedentary living, and chronic stress on the human brain and capacity for self-regulation. And I proposed a science-backed strategy through which we can salvage our brains, minds, and bodies.
Standing in front of the class – as I’d done years before – was familiar yet so incredibly different. My interests had changed. My knowledge had changed. And I had changed. I was anxious to see how my talk would be received; and pleasantly surprised to find that many students were quite intrigued. I was asked many questions and even sent follow-up emails afterwards.
This presentation marked the reality of my transition from a neuroscientist who’d originally planned to stay in academia to a neuroscientist and business owner – an entrepreneur seeking to apply the research for the betterment of society and humanity. Speaking for the neuroscience graduate program felt like my official “coming out” as the “new me” who was venturing into waters I’d never before stepped foot in.
And although I’d felt awkward and anxious to disclose my shift in interest, I’m so incredibly glad that I did. Because, ultimately, I need to follow my passion and pursue what I find most fulfilling. Perhaps that passion may change with time and experience, but it’s nonetheless authentic. This moment helped me recognize that there’s no shame in changing direction, and that sincerity will always be received with open arms.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I’m a co-founder of Nexus Fitness, a fitness and health coaching business that takes an innovative, integrated approach. In particular, we address each individual holistically, providing strategies to improve their physical and mental health through resistance training, nutrition coaching, sleep and stress optimization, and a mindset intervention.
I come from a background in academia, as I’m currently wrapping up my Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCSD. However, a surprising series of events led me to entrepreneurship.
I met my co-founder, Gil Acevedo, at the local gym. After a couple chats at the squat rack, we met up outside of the gym and eventually became partners (in life, at the gym, and in business). I had initially planned on becoming a part-time personal trainer at the gym, earning my NASM certified personal training certification – but I ultimately decided to make the leap and start my own business. My review of the neuroscientific literature further inspired me to start Nexus Fitness, as I learned the critical role of physical health in brain and mental health (and vice versa).
As we’ve progressed with our business, we offer 3 main avenues of services and products. Firstly, we offer one-on-one coaching, in which we provide customized exercise routines, nutrition recommendations, a mindset intervention, and sleep and stress strategies. Secondly, we’ve recently launched an online DIY program that empowers customers to coach themselves: our 50+ page blueprint offers a 3-phase exercise routine, nutrition recommendations, our mindset program, and comprehensive education about these topics and more (i.e., sleep, stress, time management, and our neuroscientific framework). Lastly, we’re partnering with San Diego Social Leagues, a local non-profit organization, to start an integrated wellness program and group exercise classes.
It’s been incredibly fulfilling to work with clients, each of whom have their own goals and wins. While we’ve seen several amazing physical transformations, I think I’m proudest of the mindset tranformations. Nothing beats seeing clients ridden with anxiety and self-doubt develop the confidence, tools, and awareness to excel in life.
How’d you meet your business partner?
The story of meeting my business partner is a rare but heartwarming “gym love story.”
I first met Gil Acevedo while working out at the local gym. He struck up a conversation with me at the squat racks, and one conversation eventually become many…We met up outside of the gym and bonded over our experiences and interests. It was almost uncanny how similar our fitness histories were: we had both been runners, injured ourselves running, and ultimately fell in love with resistance training. We both loved fitness and health, meditated regularly, and favored a mind-body perspective of wellness.
As Gil and I began to work out together at the gym, many fellow gym-goers approached us to chat and ask for advice. We started helping people for free, giving exercise form checks and occasionally writing up exercise programs for free. Then, after earning my personal training certification, I remember casually tossing out the idea: “Maybe we should just start our own fitness business.” That seed grew to fruition as Nexus Fitness, and here we are today.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
To succeed in this field – and in any field – it’s essential to have resilience. Because both business and life will always bring challenges, and the only way to progress is by overcoming them. We’ve incorporated this realization into the Nexus Fitness framework, since progress in the body and mind similarly derives from resilience.
However, alongside resilience, it’s also important to understand your values and purpose. When you identify the “why” behind the “what,” you’ll be able to persist despite whatever difficulties life throws at you.
Contact Info:
- Website: nxsfit.com
- Instagram: gdpenna
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gina.dandreapenna
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nexusfitness
Image Credits
Holly Dong