Published on CanvasRebel

We were lucky to catch up with Maureen Hagan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maureen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

As early as I can remember I had an intention of carving out a career that did not exist and in my high school graduation yearbook I wrote “Anything to do with fitness where I could travel the world, teach and lead people to live fit and healthy lives”. My guidance counsellor advised that I pursue a career teaching physical education and so I did just that even though I knew I was meant for something more. On the day following my graduation from university I embarked on a journey to fulfill my dream of becoming a world renown fitness professional by applying for a fulltime management job in a popular downtown Toronto fitness club for women. I walked into the interview with a one-page resume and absolutely no experience working in fitness let alone management. I was terrified but excited at the possibility. I knew that to live my passion it would require stepping out of my comfort zone. The interview lasted less than 30 minutes due to my lack of skillset however two things I possessed were passion and boldness and I believe that someone in that interview saw something in me to ask if I taught aerobic dance classes. While I had never officially taught a class before I loved to dance and exercise and believed that with all the classes I participated in at university, I had enough experience, so I confidently said “Yes, I do”. And with that, I was offered a fulltime job teaching aerobic dance classes starting the following day. My training consisted of studying television’s popular ’20 Minute Workout’ and celebrity dance videos, choregraphing dance routines to music tapes which I would make myself. This first job sparked my interest in learning even more about health and wellness so that I could stand out in the health and fitness profession as a leader and agent of change. I returned to the same university a year later to pursue a degree in physical therapy.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My journey into the fitness industry began as an aerobic dance instructor between my time at university where I ultimately discovered GoodLife Fitness, having the experience of teaching classes back in Toronto prior to returning to London for school. Little did I know, this serendipitous encounter would ignite a passion that would fuel my entrepreneurial spirit and leadership prowess. Under the guidance of the owner, David Patchell-Evans, fondly referred to as “Patch”, I advanced my part time teaching career while pursuing a career in physiotherapy. I honed my skills teaching in the evenings, on weekends, and my vacations were dedicated to teaching fitness classes, both locally and abroad,
Despite diligently pursuing my aspiration of becoming a physiotherapist at a prestigious teaching hospital, fate unveiled a different path for me. The irresistible allure of the fitness industry captivated me, leading me to depart from a coveted position at University Hospital at Western University, despite its security and reputation in healthcare. After embarking on a transformative voyage through the South Pacific, I returned to Canada with renewed vigor and purpose, I joined forces with GoodLife Fitness as the Director of Group Fitness. In this pivotal role, I spearheaded innovative initiatives and propelled the growth of group fitness programs nationwide. My visionary leadership style helped to catapult GoodLife Fitness into the forefront of the industry, solidifying its status as a trailblazer in Canada.
Throughout my illustrious career, I garnered international acclaim for my outstanding contributions to the fitness community. From receiving prestigious awards internationally, to revolutionizing fitness programming with the introduction of Les Mills in Canada, my impact reverberated far and wide.
As GoodLife expanded, I ascended to the role of Vice President of Program Innovation and Fitness Development, where she continued to push the boundaries of innovation and collaboration. I continued to be recognized in the global fitness industry, receiving industry recognitions such as the International Woman Leader Award, the Canadian Fitness Industry Leader of the Year Award, and the Top 10 Power Women: Making a Better Canada Award.
In 2019, I embarked on a new chapter as the Chief Operating Officer of canfitpro, a seminal institution in fitness events and education, certification training, and advocacy. Co-founded alongside Patch in 1993, canfitpro became a beacon of excellence within the fitness industry nationally and globally under the stewardship of myself and my team, empowering fitness professionals worldwide to pursue their passions, begin a career in fitness, and elevate their craft. In 2024 amidst canfitpro’s 30th anniversary celebrations, I was honored with the esteemed canfitpro Lifetime Achievement Award. This recognition solidified my position as not only a leader but also a trailblazer whose visionary leadership has shaped the trajectory of the fitness industry, inspiring a generation of professionals to embrace possibility and pursue excellence. However, beyond accolades and achievements, my vision extends far beyond the boardroom—it embodies a commitment to fostering a healthier society, one where fitness transcends physicality to encompass holistic well-being. With an indomitable spirit and unyielding determination, I continue to propel individuals and businesses forward with the work that I do both at canfitpro and GoodLife Fitness and with my writing and speaking.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2020, when the world went into lock-down with the onset of COVID-19 myself and my team at canfitpro had to find ways to pivot the majority of our business operations for canfitpro quickly. With virtually all of the fitness clubs and recreational facilities shut down in Canada fitness professionals were out of work indefinitely, there would be no way to maintain their credentials and their clients would have no support to stay active. We were able to salvage our annual global conference by converting it to a four-part virtual (live-online) series in the first year, which meant canfitpro could keep many of its sponsors and education partners, employ many of its presenters, and keep fitness professionals engaged and connected. At very same time, canfitpro had to find a new way to deliver all of its certification courses which up to that time were held in person. It took many months, long days and nights but ultimately the shift online lowered costs, boosted profits and opened a new digital training channel for canfitpro to reach and serve its members and still bring in revenue throughout the pandemic. Since that time canfitpro has permanently added live-online events throughout the year in addition to bringing back our annual global conference (both in-person and online) and has further advanced its online certification training platform making fitness instruction and personal training certification available to people throughout Canada and all the world. Our brand and reputation strengthened as a result and will be a proud part of our company’s legacy. Having to pivot our business during the pandemic taught me that we are all capable of more. Everyone possesses a super-power within and when faced with adversity this super-power gives us the ability to be more courageous and focused on what matters the most and the confidence to challenge the status quo.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

To live your greatest life and succeed in any field you must have a relentless belief in your inner fire. This is your inspired vision that becomes your torch to light your path especially during those dark times when those around you attempt to douse your flame. I always thought that to succeed I had to confirm to what others were doing and wanted from me. Working with a performance coach I had the opportunity to explore more about the deeper reason for being and through this process I found the courage to challenge the status quo and carve my own path, recognizing that my differences are not flaws but strengths to be celebrated. My field craves authenticity, and every person serves as a unique lesson rather than a comparison or competition. Navigating life as a twin, I realized the importance of forging my own path, crafting my own narrative and story distinct from my sister’s. My inclination towards physical activity over traditional studies initially caused stress as a young girl trying to find my way forward but with ongoing personal development and working with a coach, I discovered that by following my passion transformed my stress into energy propelling me forward with momentum.

Read the full article here.