Rhesa L.A. Weatherspoon
Rhesa Weatherspoon Founder and CEO of RAW Compound LLC is a highly dedicated fitness and wellness professional with nearly 19 years of experience empowering individuals of all ages to achieve sustainable health and lifestyle transformation. Her introduction to the fitness world began through her participation in a women’s running group, an experience that quickly evolved from a personal interest into a lifelong passion and professional calling. With a bachelor’s degree in finance and a strong background in corporate environments, she made a purposeful transition away from traditional finance roles to fully embrace her mission of helping others improve their physical health, mental resilience, and overall quality of life through accessible and consistent movement practices such as running, walking, and power walking.
Over the course of her career, Rhesa has developed a comprehensive and deeply personalized approach to wellness that reflects both her professional expertise and her natural ability to connect with people. She works with clients across all stages of life, including children, working adults, and seniors, with a particular emphasis on supporting older adults in maintaining mobility, independence, and vitality. Her programs are designed not only to improve physical fitness but also to build confidence, discipline, and long-term lifestyle habits. She believes that true transformation occurs when individuals feel seen, supported, and encouraged to progress at their own pace while being challenged to grow beyond perceived limitations.
Rhesa’s philosophy is grounded in a holistic understanding of wellness that integrates the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of health. She approaches her work with empathy, intention, and consistency, creating an environment where clients feel both motivated and understood. Beyond exercise, she emphasizes mindset development, self-worth, and emotional well-being as essential components of a healthy life. Through RAW Compound LLC, she continues to expand her impact by fostering a culture of wellness that is both inclusive and transformative, helping individuals not only reach fitness goals but also rediscover their sense of purpose, strength, and balance in everyday life.
• Licensed Massage Therapist
• Licensed Physical Therapist
• Certified Stretch Therapist
• Certified Dietitian Nutrition
• Certified Powerlifting Coach
• Bachelor's Degree in Finance
• Mentoring high school students in fitness and wellness career paths
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to keep doing what I do. Everybody always sees a passion in me, and they tell me whatever I do, don't stop continue to grow. When I got into this career, I was only a trainer, and someone told me that if I decide to become a trainer, I should do something else in this field too. So now I'm more than just a trainer - I'm a group fitness instructor, licensed massage therapist, licensed physical therapist, certified stretch therapist, dietitian nutrition specialist, and certified powerlifting coach. The key thing is, when you become an entrepreneur or work in any field, you should have more than one position, because if something has a tendency to fail, you have something else to follow up on. My mother was an entrepreneur, and she used to tell us that when I was coming up as a girl, so I ended up holding that to myself for a long time. Always have a backup plan - that's very true.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First, I would ask what you want to do and where you see yourself going. If you know this is what you want to do, then you go for it. I mentor some high school students who want to specialize in this field and make it their career, and I tell them to start with the basics and expand from there. But you have to have an open mind about it, because everything that you feel will work may not always work, and those are just certain reasons, but don't fail the process. You need to continue, because there are going to be avenues that may not work, but because you want to pursue this, continue to stay positive, motivating, and determined. Always continue to have an open mind, because everything else will come into place. I think it's great that they offer fitness and wellness programs in school systems now, which is a wonderful opportunity that we didn't have when I was in school.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field are working with individuals who are defeating themselves when it comes to feeling better, looking better, and sounding better physically, mentally, and spiritually. It's about really gravitating to those who are having a tough time accepting and understanding that health is not just about the physical aspect, but also the mental and spiritual aspects. Some people understand this, but then you have some that just don't they are okay with staying set in their own way and taking the easy things in life versus trying to accomplish the greater things in life. As for opportunities, because of what I do, I get people, companies, and nonprofit organizations who reach out saying they've heard about me, seen me, or follow me, and they ask me to come speak, teach a class, or be part of their organization because they're trying to level up. I also work with schools and our younger generation, which can be challenging because of all the devices and what's going on in our world. But I love being able to be part of those opportunities, because those opportunities help grow my level as an entrepreneur and in my career.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My name, my work ethic and my leadership.