We were lucky to catch up with Sheri Phillips recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sheri , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

A big risk I took was when I was 36 and my husband and I decided to move our family — our three kids included — to Hanoi, Vietnam. I had just started building my network as a stylist, so the timing felt terrible. I remember thinking, “I’ve worked so hard to get started… and now I’m walking away from all of it?” But we took the leap anyway.
Once we got there, the move was honestly way harder on me than I expected. I struggled a lot mentally. I felt anxious, disconnected, and totally out of my normal routine. That’s actually what pushed me into the gym, and I ended up finding a trainer who completely changed the way I viewed lifting. At first it felt like another risk because it was so new to me, but I stuck with it, and it became my outlet. I felt strong again, capable again — like I wasn’t stuck anymore.
When we eventually moved back home — and then COVID hit — the gym stayed my therapy. But I still avoided going back into personal styling because I was scared of failing. Over time though, I started to notice something: personal styling and personal training weren’t separate at all. When you feel good in your body, you naturally want to show up better in your clothes. And when you feel confident in what you’re wearing, you make better choices for yourself. They really go hand in hand.
So the next big risk was finally deciding to just go for it and merge both worlds. I launched Sheri Phillips Style and The Sweat Box with the goal of helping women feel better about themselves and see the strength they already have — whether that meant one client or ten.
In the end, the risk was worth it. It pushed me into growth I never would’ve experienced if I’d stayed comfortable, and it led me to the work I genuinely love doing today.

Sheri , 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 anyone who hasn’t come across my story before, I’m Sheri — a personal stylist and personal trainer who somehow found a way to merge two worlds that, for a long time, I didn’t realize were so connected. I help women feel confident in both their bodies and their clothes, because I genuinely believe the two go hand in hand.
I originally started in personal styling. I’ve always loved helping people express who they are through what they wear. But my career took an unexpected turn when my family moved to Hanoi, Vietnam. I had just started gaining momentum in my styling business, and suddenly I was starting completely over in a new country. The transition was mentally tough, and that’s actually what pushed me into strength training. I found a trainer there who changed everything for me — my mindset, my confidence, the way I carried myself. Lifting became my therapy and my anchor.
When we moved back home (and then went through COVID), I kept leaning on the gym. But it took me a while to return to styling because I was honestly afraid of failing. Over time though, I started to notice something powerful: when you feel strong and capable in your body, you show up differently. You dress differently. And when you feel good in your clothes, you naturally want to take better care of yourself. The two worlds were more connected than I ever realized.
That’s when I decided to bring them together. Today I run Sheri Phillips Style, where I offer personal styling, closet edits, outfit building, and shopping support. And I run The Sweat Box, my personal training space where I coach women in strength training and help them build confidence from the inside out.
The “problems” I solve are really about confidence and clarity. A lot of women come to me feeling stuck — in their clothes, their bodies, or their routines. Some want to feel stronger, some want to understand their personal style, and many want both. What sets me apart is that I don’t look at style or fitness as separate pieces. I look at the whole person. How you move and how you present yourself are connected, and when we work on both, the transformation is deeper and more lasting.
What I’m most proud of is that I created something out of a very vulnerable time in my life — a move across the world, uncertainty, anxiety, a complete reset. Instead of letting that break me, it pushed me into the work I’m doing now, and it’s work that actually helps women feel better about themselves in a very real way.
What I want potential clients and followers to know is this: you don’t need to be perfect to start. You don’t need to have everything figured out. My goal is to meet you exactly where you are — whether that’s in your fitness journey, your personal style, or both — and help you feel strong, capable, and confident every step of the way. My brands were built on real life, real challenges, and real growth, and I bring that same energy into how I work with every client.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me has definitely been word-of-mouth and personal connections. Most of the women I work with come to me because someone they trust had a great experience and shared their results, or because we connected naturally in everyday life — at the gym, through friends, at community events, even school activities with my kids. When people see real progress and feel genuinely supported, they talk about it. And honestly, it means a lot because it lets me know I’m actually helping women feel better about themselves.

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

I think what’s helped build my reputation the most is being genuinely invested in the women I work with. I’m not just handing out workouts or outfits — I’m paying attention to how they feel, what they’re struggling with, and what actually builds their confidence. I show up consistently, I’m honest, and I don’t try to make everything look perfect.
People connect with that. They can tell I really care, and I think that trust is what’s built my reputation more than anything else. When someone feels seen and supported, they remember it — and they tell their friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sheriphillipsstyle.com
• Instagram: @sheriphillipsstyle

Image Credits

all images are my own, Sheri Phillips