Julia Walderzak: Business Leader Profile

H2K is very excited about owner/creator Julia Walderzak’s recent Business Leader Profile interview in the MetroWest Daily Newspaper Business Section!

Topics covered in Julia’s article with MetroWest include how Julia ended up in this line of work, what makes H2K unusual, stand out memories from her career thus far, what she likes most about her line of work, and advice for people who want to open their own business.

One reason Julia was inspired to start H2K came after a moment in her old event planning job that made her realize she did not want to continue working for someone else.  Julia worked as a corporate event planner in New York City for the past six years.  The last company she worked for had “a very difficult environment to say the least,” said Julia.  She said “during a meeting I pitched an idea to drive business.  The president of the company said to me in front of everyone, ‘What are you, stupid!?’”  She was humiliated but also took it as an enlightening moment.  It was at that moment she realized she would rather start her own business geared towards helping people better their lives through fitness.  From this experience, Julia also learned that she would never dehumanize an employee of hers.

Julia said “after a year of working on a business plan, applying for a small business loan, dealing with construction, and marketing, H2K finally had its first kids yoga class.”  As Julia noticed herself through the young, slightly overweight girl taking H2K’s first kids yoga class, she was so encouraged to see that she was “on the right path and that H2K’s purpose was being born.”  Julia said what she likes most about H2K is “seeing the kids smile when they have accomplished a fitness goal they have set out for themselves.”  For people seeking advice to start their own business, she recommends surrounding yourself with positive family and friends, doing your research, and if you’re a women, aim to break stereotypes!