A HIIT Pilates certification transformed the author's approach to leadership and communication. Discover how teaching fitness classes revealed profound lessons about connecting with people, building confidence, and leading authentically beyond the studio.
Her Story
About Katy
Katy Sandlin, MBA, is a retail, beauty, and wellness operations leader with more than 15 years of experience driving business growth, operational excellence, and customer experience. She currently serves as Store Director for Bluemercury in Carmel, California, where she leads a luxury beauty retail location, consistently exceeding sales goals, improving key performance metrics, and developing high-performing teams. Katy began her career with as a retail sales associate and quickly advanced into management and overseeing multiple stores before expanding her expertise across finance, operations, retail strategy, and organizational leadership. Throughout her career, Katy has held leadership roles spanning retail, finance, entrepreneurship, and business operations. She earned both her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration while building a diverse career that includes serving as Director of Finance and Payroll for a national startup, supporting a local investor and entrepreneur in business acquisitions and operations, and leading the growth of a women-founded retail and manufacturing company in Charleston, South Carolina. Her experience managing financial performance, operational strategy, merchandising, marketing, sales, and team development has given her a comprehensive understanding of how to build sustainable businesses and create exceptional customer experiences. In addition to her corporate leadership, Katy is a certified HIIT Pilates, MAT Pilates, and Weight Pilates instructor who teaches throughout Monterey County. She is passionate about helping individuals improve their physical and mental well-being while fostering supportive communities through wellness. Whether leading business operations or coaching clients, Katy is guided by the principles of authenticity, resilience, gratitude, and continuous growth. She believes the strongest leaders empower others, embrace challenges as opportunities, and create lasting impact through purpose-driven leadership.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Katy
01What do you attribute your success to?
Success, to me, comes from staying curious, embracing change, and always investing in people. Every stage of my career—from retail leadership and finance to entrepreneurship, team leadership, and fitness—has challenged me to learn, adapt, and grow. I've never been afraid to step outside my comfort zone, and I believe those experiences have made me a stronger, more versatile leader. I also attribute my success to building genuine relationships and leading with both empathy and accountability. Whether I'm developing high-performing teams, mentoring others, or coaching clients through HIIT Pilates, my goal is always to help people recognize their potential and achieve more than they thought possible. When you combine continuous learning with resilience and a passion for helping others succeed, meaningful opportunities naturally follow.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received has come from the mentors who have challenged, supported, and inspired me throughout my journey. From my longtime mentor, I learned the importance of resilience, integrity, and leading with grace. My HIIT Pilates mentor taught me how to build a business rooted in authenticity and community, while an investor and former employer pushed me to think strategically, embrace difficult decisions, and grow through discomfort. Those experiences reinforced my belief that success is built through strong mentorship, and they continue to shape how I lead, teach, and empower others.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It doesn't matter where you find yourself, you're always going to make it out on the other side. You really just have to dig down and believe in yourself, no matter what. Whether that's a place in retail or big business, tech, pharma- the world's your canvas. What picture do you want to paint? You set your mind on your goals, you keep your head down, and you go. It's just you versus you. Whatever lights your soul up, do it again and again. Share it with others, teach it to others, never stop talking about it and doing it. Do what you love with determination and focus and it all falls into place.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field is leading with authenticity in a world that often values perfection over genuine connection. I've found that embracing who I am builds stronger relationships, fosters trust, and creates more engaged teams. At the same time, the pace of change across business, retail, and wellness requires resilience and adaptability coupled with continuous curiosity and self education. I believe the professionals who are willing to face challenges head-on, continue learning, and lead with grit will be the ones who make the greatest impact.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Gratitude is so huge. Authenticity is really huge to me. I found the more that I just show up as myself, the easier and better things are. Grit and determination. You pull your big girl panties on and you get up and you do whatever you need to, regardless of what situation you're in.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Katy
What HIIT Pilates Taught Me About Leadership
How a HIIT Pilates Certification Transformed My Leadership and Communication Skills
More Than a Fitness Certification
When I decided to become certified in HIIT Pilates, I thought I was simply adding another credential to my résumé. What I didn't expect was how profoundly it would change the way I lead, communicate, and show up in every area of my career.
Standing in front of a room full of people multiple times a week teaches you something no textbook or boardroom ever could: people don't just follow instruction—they follow energy. They remember how you make them feel. Every class requires confidence, adaptability, and the ability to connect with people from different backgrounds, abilities, and goals.
As I've taught throughout the Monterey Peninsula, I've realized that leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about creating an environment where people believe they can accomplish something they never thought possible.
Whether I'm coaching someone through their first plank or leading a retail team through a challenging business goal, the approach is remarkably similar: meet people where they are, challenge them with purpose, celebrate their progress, and lead by example.
HIIT Pilates has made me a stronger communicator, a more resilient leader, and someone who embraces discomfort instead of avoiding it. It has reinforced that growth happens when we're willing to step outside our comfort zones—and when we're willing to help others do the same.
The most valuable certification I earned wasn't just in fitness. It was the confidence to lead with authenticity, encourage others to believe in themselves, and recognize that leadership isn't defined by a title. It's built one interaction, one challenge, and one person at a time.
What began as a fitness certification ultimately became a leadership lesson. And that lesson has followed me far beyond the studio, shaping not only how I teach, but how I lead every day.
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