We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mon’Tee Sorrells a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mon’Tee, thanks for joining us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

My journey into this field really started with a major life shift. At the time, I was a teenage mom in a small town, trying to pursue a nursing career. I was also navigating abuse from my daughter’s dad, and that season of my life forced me to make a hard but life-changing decision: I had to leave. I admitted to myself that I needed a fresh start, so I moved to Austin to be closer to family, to support, and honestly, to better my life and my daughters.

That was the moment I decided to focus on my own wellbeing mentally, physically, and spiritually. I found God in that process, and I found myself through health and fitness. I lost 75 pounds, and as I shared my journey online, I didn’t realize I was planting the seeds of my future career. What started as accountability and personal healing turned into people asking me for advice, encouragement, and eventually training.

That’s when I decided to take a leap of faith: I earned my personal training certification and stepped fully into entrepreneurship. It was scary there’s no roadmap when you’re starting out but I consistently sought out mentorship, and that kept opening doors and turning into success after success.

So when I think back to my “first job” in this field, it wasn’t just about getting hired it was about stepping into purpose. At the time, my goals were simple but urgent: to rebuild myself, to help other women avoid the pain I had been through, and to prove to myself that I could create a new future for my daughter and me.

Looking back, I’m grateful for where I started, because it wasn’t a straight line, it was a leap. That leap is what shaped the foundation of everything I do today mentorship, injury prevention, performance coaching, and empowering women and athletes to reclaim their strength and confidence.

Mon’Tee, 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?

For those who may not know me yet, my name is Mon’tee Sorrells, and my path into the fitness and performance industry wasn’t a straight shot it was born out of both personal struggle and transformation. I started out in a small town as a teenage mom pursuing nursing, but after surviving an abusive relationship with my daughter’s father, I made a life-changing decision to move to Austin to be closer to family and support. That’s where my healing began mentally, physically, and spiritually. I found God, I found strength in health and fitness, and I lost 75 pounds.

What I didn’t realize then was that sharing my journey publicly would spark something much bigger. Women and athletes began asking me for advice, and eventually, I decided to take a leap of faith: I earned my personal training certification and stepped fully into entrepreneurship. From there, I committed to mentorship, continued education, and building not just a business but a brand that stands for empowerment, performance, and long-term health.

Today, I specialize in helping two groups:
•Female athletes, ages 14–22, who are navigating the pressures of training, competition, and avoiding injuries. I help them build confidence, prevent setbacks, and maximize performance so they can earn scholarships or pursue athletic careers.
•High-performing professional women, ages 35–50, who are often battling burnout, stress, and weight struggles. I guide them toward sustainable fitness, better health, and renewed confidence so they can thrive both personally and professionally.

What sets me apart is my holistic approach. I don’t just hand out workouts I integrate biomechanics, injury prevention, mindset, nutrition, and recovery into a system that is personalized and sustainable. My background includes medical-based certifications, elite athletic methodology, and years of working with volleyball athletes who went on to play professionally. But beyond the technical expertise, what truly makes my work unique is my lived experience. I’ve been the woman rebuilding her body after trauma and injury, I’ve been the athlete fighting to come back stronger, and I know how to mentor others through those challenges. Fitness has always been there for me.

I offer one-on-one and group training, online coaching programs, recovery and mobility work, mentorship for young athletes, and high-ticket performance and health packages that include training, nutrition, coaching, and accountability. My long-term vision includes digital courses, certifications, workshops, and expanding into a global community for women and athletes.

What I’m most proud of isn’t just the physical transformations it’s the confidence and mental resilience my clients gain. I’ve helped athletes earn scholarships, professionals regain their energy and identity, and women find strength they didn’t know they had. That impact is why I do this.

If there’s one thing I want potential clients and followers to know, it’s this: I’m not just here to train bodies, I’m here to mentor people into their full potential. My brand is about empowerment, transformation, and building a foundation of health and performance that lasts a lifetime. The one thing society doesn’t teach us is how to understand ourselves and cultivate a relationship with ourselves.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been honesty and authenticity. For me, it’s never just about selling a training session it’s about creating a safe place and a training ground where people feel seen, heard, and understood. Too often in this industry, clients don’t feel like they’re getting the truth. I’ve built trust by telling both sides of the story the successes and the failures.

What sets me apart is that I speak and train from lived experience: from being a mother navigating shifts in priorities and time commitments, from overcoming abuse and injury, from losing 75 pounds and rebuilding my life, and from years of continuing education and studying human movement and psychology. I understand what it feels like to be knocked down, and my power is that I can take a hit that was meant to keep me out and still get back up. That resilience is hard to beat, and it’s something my clients feel and draw strength from.

I also believe influence isn’t about how many followers you have it’s about being the first person willing to break the script, to tell the truth, and to show up authentically. That’s why people connect with me. They don’t just see a trainer, they see a person who has walked through fire and come out stronger, and who now creates space for others to do the same.

At the core, my strategy is rooted in faith. I know God has already written my story and designed my path specifically for me. My responsibility is to stay clear, still, and aware enough to listen and obey. That’s where my alignment, my discernment, and ultimately my growth come from because when you’re walking in purpose, the right people will always find you.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The Bible first and foremost. Yes, there are several resources and principles that have really shaped my management and entrepreneurial philosophy but more than anything, it’s been about the people I choose to learn from. I’ve always believed that if you want to grow, you have to ask someone who already has what you want and is operating at a higher level. Then, you humble yourself enough to work underneath them, learn their perspective, and apply it. Knowledge is power, but humility and coachability are what expedite your growth.

I’ve had pillars in my life what I call “unicorns.” These are people who are not just high-functioning, but almost delusional in their belief and execution. They don’t even entertain failure as an option, and being around that kind of energy is contagious. It keeps me accountable, motivated, and constantly thinking bigger.

I also lean into the principle that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. For me, surrounding myself with mentors, coaches, and peers who challenge me has been just as important as any book or video. That’s how I’ve sharpened my entrepreneurial mindset.

And to be honest, part of my fire came from frustration being underestimated or taken advantage of as a woman in this industry. That frustration became fuel, and when I combined it with the right resources, mentorship, and circle of influence, it turned into my strength.

So while I’ve read and watched a lot, the biggest “resource” for me has always been proximity to greatness. The right people, the right accountability, and the right perspectives have been the foundation of how I lead, manage, and build.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectposturewmontee?igsh=MXJtc3BqZXNkNXUzYQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits

Goldengroveimages on Instagram