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

Kay, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Yes, I’m genuinely happier as a business owner. Although it definitely comes with its share of stress. That said, the stress feels purposeful. I get to work from home alongside my foster kittens, which brings me a lot of joy, and I help people make meaningful changes in their health and fitness. It’s a life I intentionally built, and even on hard days, I know I’m in alignment with what matters to me.

I created a program called Get Fit & Give Back, which combines my two passions: fitness coaching and animal rescue. That kind of purpose driven approach isn’t something I could have achieved in a traditional 9–5. It’s uniquely mine, and I don’t take that for granted.

Of course, I’ve had moments where I’ve wondered what it would be like to have a more “regular” job….usually when everything feels like it’s piling up. I remember one day in particular: I was completely drained from trying to find new leads while also caring for two sick foster kittens. I had spent the whole day cleaning up kitten throw up and poop, barely caught a break between client sessions, and felt like I was running on fumes. For a moment, I thought, “Wouldn’t it be easier to just have a steady paycheck and clock out at 5 PM?”

But then I walked into my fitness studio to train my next client and saw one of the foster kittens sleeping soundly, right where they could still hear my client’s voice over Zoom. That’s when it hit me….I built this. It’s not always easy, but it’s meaningful. I get to create positive change in people’s lives while giving these animals a safe space to grow and be loved. That’s something I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Kay, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi! I’m Kay Pollard, the founder of Iron Bombshell Fitness & Nutrition. I’m an online personal trainer and diet coach who specializes in helping women build strength, confidence, and healthy habits without extreme dieting or all or nothing thinking. I work virtually, so my clients can train with me from anywhere, and I tailor programs to fit their goals, lifestyle, and available equipment.

My journey into this field started over a decade ago when I was working in a big box gym and noticed how many women felt out of place or overwhelmed in fitness spaces. I became obsessed with helping them feel empowered and educated, not just about fitness, but about how to create sustainable change. Over the years, I’ve expanded my work to include nutrition coaching, competition prep, and even post-show recovery programs for female athletes.

What sets my brand apart is Get Fit & Give Back. It’s a program that allows clients to directly support animal rescue efforts through their coaching packages. I foster kittens while running my business, and a portion of my profits helps fund supplies, food, and medical care for them. My foster kittens even hang out in my fitness studio, where they’re slowly socialized by hearing the voices of my clients and being around calm movement and energy. Clients love that their fitness journey contributes to something bigger and it makes everything I do more fulfilling.

I primarily offer:
• One on one personal training via Zoom
• Diet coaching with a focus on sustainable eating habits
• Hybrid app based programs for flexibility and affordability
• Bikini competition prep, including peak week and posing support

What I’m most proud of is that this business is completely mine. I built it from scratch, and it reflects who I am on every level. It’s smart, real, compassionate, and fiercely dedicated to growth for my clients and the animals I foster.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about my brand, it’s that it’s not just about fitness. It’s about transformation, confidence, and giving back in ways that matter. Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned lifter, or someone who just wants to feel strong again, I’ll meet you where you are and help you grow.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the most defining moments in my journey and a true test of resilience was when I first started my business during the COVID shutdown. At the time, I was going through a divorce, had just moved out on my own, and was running my business out of the basement of a rented house outside of Washington, DC. It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked and it gave me a sense of purpose and stability in the middle of major life changes.

Then, out of nowhere, my roommate filed a complaint with our landlord about me operating a business on the property. I was given 30 days to find a new space or shut everything down. I was devastated but didn’t let myself stay stuck there. I hustled hard, called around, and eventually landed a small private room to train clients at Nova Family Practice in Alexandria. It was tiny, basically the size of a typical doctor’s exam room….but I fit a squat rack and a 6 foot Olympic barbell in there and made it work. My clients stayed with me, and we kept the momentum going.

A year later, I made another huge leap: I moved to West Virginia to be with my now husband and had to start over again. I left all my in person clients behind and fully transitioned to training clients virtually over Zoom. At the time, only one or two clients followed me online, so I rebuilt my business completely from scratch. It was terrifying but it turned out to be the best thing I could have done.

Now, I train from home with my foster kittens beside me, and I get to run a business that’s truly aligned with my values. It’s not just fitness. It’s purpose, connection, and giving back.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I started my business without any outside funding, capital, or investors. It was truly built from the ground up with grit, creativity, and consistency. I didn’t have a financial cushion, a loan, or a network of people handing me opportunities. It was just me, figuring it out as I went.

In the early days, I relied entirely on word-of-mouth referrals. I poured everything I had into giving my clients a great experience, and they told their friends. That momentum helped me get started, and eventually, I began using platforms like Thumbtack to connect with more people and expand my reach. Each client I gained helped fund the next step of my business.

Over time, I took the necessary steps to make it official….filing for my LLC, opening a business bank account, and slowly building business credit. It wasn’t flashy or fast, but it was sustainable. And I think it’s important to share that, because you don’t always need investors or a massive launch budget to start something meaningful. You don’t need to “know somebody.” You just need to care deeply, serve well, and stay consistent.

My business grew with a lot of heart, a little hustle, and the belief that even a small start can lead to something powerful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ironbombshellfitnessandnutrition.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironbombshell_fitnessnutrition