Her Story
About Jillian
Jillian Miller is a fitness instructor in Auburn, Alabama, who has been working in the health and wellness industry for three and a half years. She currently teaches two or three classes daily at two studios, offering yoga, barre, sculpt, Build and Burn, and Legree formats. Miller is completing her final semester as a business management major with an entrepreneurship minor and plans to pursue studio ownership in the future. Her fitness journey began during college when she started taking group classes to offset membership costs and quickly developed a passion for teaching. She earned her yoga certification through a four-week teacher training program in Greece, followed by barre certification upon returning to Auburn, where she taught barre classes for two and a half years. She later obtained sculpt and Build and Burn certifications at a heated studio and completed a Legree certification in the summer. Miller values maintaining a positive attitude in her work and personal life, and she volunteers with her church. She advises pursuing careers one truly enjoys and encourages young women entering the field to go for it and try new things.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jillian
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I would definitely say pursuing a career that you truly enjoy and love, because there's different routes I could have gone down that, you know, maybe would secure a paycheck a little bit more or whatever, but this is something that I'm truly so passionate about, and it doesn't feel like work when it's something that you love.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think I would say to just go for it. I've talked to so many people that will say, like, I want to do this so bad, and they don't feel like they're equipped for it, but there's I think, you know, you don't know what you know until you just jump in and start it. So, I would say to go for it, pursue your dreams, and just try something new.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think I could answer the same way for both. It's a challenge, and it's a good opportunity, is the scheduling of everything, because I can kind of make my own schedule, so in some ways, it can be hard, because I'm running around different places, it's not a set 9 to 5, but then at the same time, it's awesome that it's not a set 9 to 5, because, again, I have the flexibility to make my own schedule.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think showing up with a positive attitude at all times. Of course, there's days where I show up and I'm not in the mood to teach, but as soon as class starts, it's like game face on. I think how you go about your life with a positive attitude can change everything, like, just waking up and focusing on what you're grateful for, rather than, you know, anything that you could complain about. I think being positive is one of my highest values.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.