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

Niccole , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s go back in time a bit – can you share a story of a time when you learned an important lesson during your education?

When I was in school, I had a massive amount of anxiety around writing timed essays. Anytime I was faced with the task, my perfectionist mindset would create a block and my mind would just be blank. Combined with my fear of sharing how I felt with anyone who could help, I struggled year after year — until highschool.

High school was when I met Ms. Shortman — my 5’2” English teacher with a strategic approach to managing her classroom and a mentor I connected with immediately. She had all of her students complete timed writing exercises every week, not as a way to force discipline, but to give us the freedom to connect with how we wanted to express ourselves through writing. Finally feeling comfortable enough, I shared how writing timed essays absolutely terrified me. Not only did she make me feel better because of it, she found ways to instill in me a confidence I never thought was possible.

She continued to push me throughout high school, opening my eyes to how I could express myself creatively and always providing a platform to speak my piece. And instead of only seeing an opportunity to excel in areas I considered myself to be good at, she showed me there were so many more areas to learn and grow.

Long after my time in her classroom was complete, she continued to act as my mentor — from guiding me through writing college essays to meeting me at the local Irish pub for edits; a pep talk in the process of applying to PT school, evolving my voice as a business owner, and most importantly reminding me… my strongest voice and and impact is from my heart, always lead and express from my heart.

No matter what chapter of life she’s in, she has always shown up with exactly what I need.

Niccole , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am Southern California girl who fell in love with a Colorado mountain man; with that love came a move to the Colorado Rockies. I am the daughter of a retired Col of Marines, Athletic Director, coach, teacher and a full blooded Italian mama. My mom, dad, and grandparents are an integral piece to who I am today. The combination of their grit, discipline, leadership, compassion, unconditional faith, and love are the true ingredients of what has created me. Fitness, wellness, and deep connection have been apart of my life since youth; my dad’s career in coaching, mentoring, and leading were inspiring to me from the start; my mom’s ability to be compassionate, rocksteady, and a stellar communicator were all qualities I admired and deeply desired to carry forward. The strong family values instilled in both my brother and I were guiding principles through my life as a young woman and to this day in how I show up as a professional. My life has taken many adventures to lead me to this point in time, Co-Owner of KALO Fitness. The one thing that remains consistent within me is my values and deep desire to bridge the gap between fitness-nutrition-lifestyle for driven women. It is too often we give up excelling in one area to succeed in another. My path to this point has validated the absolute need to impact the narrative for the multi-faceted driven female. This “woman” is typically a mom, wife, business owner, CEO, devoted friend, entrepreneur….. she is being pulled in several directions, demanded on, and deeply desires the tools to take care of herself, be supported, pushed, and connected with so she can show up her best self in all areas of her life. Three years ago my business partner and I joined forces to make this happen; to create a space that specializes in serving this woman in all areas of her life, specifically inward so she can confidently shine outward.

KALO Fitness is a brand that connects, supports, holds accountable, impacts, and most importantly holds space for women to go inward to harness their “WHY” and in turn leave their legacy.

I am a mother, a wife, driven business owner, entrepreneur, female leader, coffee connoisseur, and lover of the ocean!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I have always stayed 100% true to myself. When everyone else was saying to do x, y, or z, I just simply said, “That doesn’t resonate with me.” I was often dismissed because of it, but it led me to exactly where I wanted to be.

I also have established countless relationships within the industry and with my clients based on my deep commitment to fostering connection. I’m firm but approachable, always giving anyone I work with a safe space, total transparency, and the ability to imagine what’s possible while still being realistic. At the end of the day, I just want to bring people to life — and I think anyone who knows me feels that.

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

I’m a firm believer in word-of-mouth. I foster such deep, long-lasting connections with my existing clients that they are compelled to tell other people. They become a walking billboard when they are happier, healthier, and more at peace in their lives.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Be clear on the mission. It is imperative for everyone to have absolute “buy-in”, what I mean by “buy-in” is a clear understanding of the brand values, the “why” everyone needs to be in alignment. When everyone is in alignment, everyone can work to nourish the mission and lean into one another. Everyone can have their own way of “arriving”at the mission, but the common ground has to lie in the mission we are all desiring to achieve. Second, there must be a clear understanding of “team above all else”. Ego has to step aside and the everyday investment must be into one another. When you lean in, trust, and nourish one another everyone grows and has permission to make mistakes and evolve from them. Lastly, communicate! Clear and constant thorough communication is key.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kalofitness.com
• Instagram: @niccolehendrickson and @kalo_fitness

Image Credits
Elizabeth Bettis Photography