# Jazzercise: Judi Sheppard Missett

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2021-01-18
- Length: 1h 16m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-01-18-jazzercise-judi-sheppard-missett

## Summary

Judi Sheppard Missett, founder of Jazzercise, explains how she pivoted from professional jazz dance to creating a fitness program for women in 1969 after her students expressed a desire to look like dancers rather than perform professionally. She details the evolution of the business from local classes to a franchising model, leveraging home video technology to train instructors and expand nationally before the era of big-box gyms. Missett discusses the strategic decision to incorporate, the low-cost franchise structure that allowed rapid scaling, and the company's adaptation to modern challenges through digital apps and live-streaming.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-01-18-jazzercise-judi-sheppard-missett#t=0) Introduction: Judi Sheppard Missett and Jazzercise
- [4:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-01-18-jazzercise-judi-sheppard-missett#t=288) Early Life and Professional Dance Career
- [15:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-01-18-jazzercise-judi-sheppard-missett#t=922) Creating Jazzercise: The Pivot from Dance to Fitness
- [42:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-01-18-jazzercise-judi-sheppard-missett#t=2525) Scaling Operations: Voice Nodules and Training Instructors
- [48:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-01-18-jazzercise-judi-sheppard-missett#t=2911) Franchising Model and Video Distribution
- [59:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-01-18-jazzercise-judi-sheppard-missett#t=3543) Brand Building: Apparel, Books, and Media
- [1:09:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-01-18-jazzercise-judi-sheppard-missett#t=4162) Modern Challenges: Pandemic Pivot and Legacy

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Jazzercise (product)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Banom Books (company)
- Westinghouse (company)
- Dominoes Pizza (company)
- Soul Cycle (company)
- Peloton (company)
- Jane Fonda (other)
- Richard Simmons (other)
- Olivia Newton-John (other)

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- [Founder Feature: Jesrina Arshad of PurelyB](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-08-08-founder-feature-jesrina-arshad-of-purelyb) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [044: Turning customizable jackets into a multi-million dollar business, Elyse Daniels of Exodus Wear](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-14-044-turning-customizable-jackets-into-a-multi-million-dollar-business-elyse-dani) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Becca Wright of Piedmont Pennies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-01-17-founder-feature-becca-wright-of-piedmont-pennies) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [T-24-005 : Kaleen Canevari - Mechanical Engineer to Connected Fitness CEO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2024-12-11-t-24-005-kaleen-canevari-mechanical-engineer-to-connected-fitness-ceo) (TRADEOFFS)

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