Tell us a little about yourself?

I’m Georgia and I am an Exercise Physiologist turned Pilates Instructor and Yoga Teacher. I’m also the founder of Sunny Side Up. I started my career working in the corporate health sector. During this time, I worked in operational and facilitation roles delivering wellbeing, health promotion programs and services to heavy industry. This included mining and construction and the white-collar corporate sector across the country.

More excitingly though, I took a bit of a life and career pivot several years ago and moved to the UK, I ditched the corporate gig and went 100% in on my first love, fitness and more specifically Pilates. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to run some of London’s best Pilates studios and work with some truly amazing clients and public figures all over the world.

I’m a big dreamer, adventurer, traveller, and lover of nature, people and the benefits of movement in all its glorious shapes and forms. Founding Sunny Side Up Wellbeing has allowed me to bring my passion, purpose and experience together to improve the health and happiness of the people around me.

At Sunny Side Up I am driven to create two things; forward thinking solution-based wellbeing programs and services that teach simple highly effective and impactful lessons transform the lives of people, but also to deliver programs and services with a heartfelt human to human experience one filled with positivity, compassion and genuine connection.

Who are the women who have inspired you the most in your life?

Since moving into the fitness industry, I’ve been fortunate to work with some incredible self-made businesswomen. They have inspired me to no end in many ways. Two key things have inspired me the most. First has been a genuine heart centered passion and purpose that drives them and their business to provide for their customers before their profits; also their tenacity and strength in managing the demands of both a thriving business and a busy family regardless of the challenges they are facing along the way.

Why do you think it’s important to increase the number of women in business, particularly in leadership roles?

It’s essential to create equality within business and make a shift away from traditional male driven opinion and perspective. We need to bring more balance to the conversations and decisions made at the top. Women bring a different perspective, often a more compassionate one which the world desperately needs right now. I also believe having more women in leadership opens the door to our younger generations and shows them what is possible for them. It starts to create a shift in the viewpoint of young men towards equality and away from sexist views.

What more can be done to support women in male-dominated industries?

Having worked as a female contractor in construction and mining, from my personal experience, I can say that having the right type of men in positions of power is essential, the ones that have values that align with supporting equality and feminism.These leaders are able to impact the views of an entire organisation and impact the culture of the business. I have seen both versions of this play out in different companies and it was incredibly eye opening. I believe a top down approach is needed and the right men need to be at the top.

What further steps can be implemented to encourage women supporting women?

I feel that there is a real ground swell in the number of women’s support groups and networks business. I feel like these groups are shifting the narrative away from competition and moving it more towards compassion and comradery. It’s really exciting and encouraging. I believe the growth of these types of groups and networks is a powerful step forward to addressing this old narrative.

How would you motivate women to “lean in”?

Being bold, brave and not afraid to fail. I know like myself; many women hesitate to take action or go after business and promotion opportunities until they feel they have all the skills and experience to ensure they do a good job or don’t fail. Failure is essential to learn bigger lessons, to grow and progress both in business and as a person.

Men are often bold enough to try and fail forward and in turn this builds their confidence and moves them forward in their careers. Women need to take more risks like this to “Lean-in”

How would you describe your current thinking about?

I feel a lot has been done to gain a foothold in changing out dated thoughts and promoting diversity and inclusion. However, we need to continue to drive progress forward to gain momentum and ultimately achieve equality for everyone. Regardless of race, gender, social standing or religion.