Lauren Hanan
Lauren Hanan is a marketing strategist, wellness entrepreneur, and coach dedicated to helping individuals and brands reach their full potential. Based in the Greater Tampa Bay area, she combines her expertise in communications, branding, and fitness to empower people to feel better, look better, and achieve meaningful personal and professional growth. Through her work, Lauren focuses on creating practical, sustainable solutions that support long-term success and well-being.
Lauren is the founder of Forever FIT, a wellness program that provides personalized fitness and nutrition coaching designed to help busy women build healthier lifestyles through attainable, consistent habits. She also co-founded Elite Holistic Wellness, which takes a collaborative approach to health by integrating mental wellness, physical movement, and nutrition guidance. Her mission is centered on helping women prioritize their health, build confidence, and create lasting transformation through supportive coaching and community.
In addition to her work in wellness, Lauren is the founder of RiseUp Strategies, a marketing and communications firm specializing in branding, website development, and strategic communications for small and mid-sized businesses. With more than two decades of experience in marketing, public relations, and content strategy, she has helped entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and organizations grow their visibility and achieve measurable results. Through both her wellness and marketing work, Lauren is passionate about empowering others to take action, embrace change, and build fulfilling, purpose-driven lives.
• Certified Nutrition Coach
• STRONG by Zumba Instructor
• Advanced Group Fitness & Bootcamp Instructor
• Spinning Instructor
• Zumba Instructor
• La Salle University- M.A.
• Temple University- B.A.
• Fox School of Business at Temple University
• BMG Executive Leadership Development Program
• Society for Marketing Professional Services
• SuncoastHR
• Healthy St. Pete/ Get Fit St. Pete
• PhillyAdClub
• Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus
• Philadelphia Public Relations Association
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to never taking no for an answer, especially when it comes from myself. If I'm telling myself no, you can't do it, I flip that and say yes, you can. I believe in not giving up, persevering, and knowing that when I try hard and challenge myself, it's going to come out even better on the other side. I tell my fitness clients the same thing: you may not be able to lift that 15-pound or 20-pound weight right now, but you keep trying, you keep showing up every day, and you will be able to do it. That mindset of pushing through doubt and self-imposed limitations has been key to everything I've accomplished.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from my husband Mike, though it wasn't advice in the traditional sense. I had always said I wanted to be a fitness instructor, but I wasn't doing anything about it. It took someone who I knew loved me but who I also knew tells me the truth to ask me directly: why aren't you doing this? His belief in me and his support, that push to stop talking about it and actually do it, changed everything. Sometimes you need that person who believes in you to give you that extra push to go for it, even when you have doubts.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My number one value is appreciation and gratitude. Gratitude for the life I live, gratitude for the body I have, gratitude for the family that I have, for my husband, for the work that I have, for the fact that I have the ability to touch so many people and continue to stay in contact with so many people for the past 6 years through a company that I built. Beyond gratitude, I also value trying to always have a positive outlook. These values guide everything I do, both in my fitness business where I empower women and in my personal life where I appreciate the simple joys like going to the beach, spending time with my husband, and enjoying what we have.