# Orangetheory Fitness: Ellen Latham

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-04-10
- Length: 1h 05m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-10-orangetheory-fitness-ellen-latham

## Summary

Ellen Latham, who developed the Orange Theory Fitness concept after being fired from a spa director role, explains how she transitioned from teaching Pilates to creating a high-intensity interval training program using treadmills and rowers. Alongside partners Jerome Kern and Dave Long, she scaled the brand from a single Florida studio to over 1,500 global locations by integrating heart rate monitoring technology and refining franchise operations. Latham details the initial risks of investing heavily in equipment without piloting the program, the challenges of early franchise performance, and the strategic pivot to virtual classes during the pandemic.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-10-orangetheory-fitness-ellen-latham#t=0) Introduction: Ellen Latham and Orangetheory Fitness
- [3:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-10-orangetheory-fitness-ellen-latham#t=182) Early Career: From YWCA to Spa Director
- [15:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-10-orangetheory-fitness-ellen-latham#t=958) Firing and Entrepreneurial Pivot: Pilates Studio
- [31:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-10-orangetheory-fitness-ellen-latham#t=1890) Creating the Workout: Treadmills, Rowers, and Interval Science
- [43:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-10-orangetheory-fitness-ellen-latham#t=2622) Partnership with Jerome Kern and Dave Long
- [50:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-10-orangetheory-fitness-ellen-latham#t=3053) Scaling the Franchise: Technology and Early Challenges
- [59:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-10-orangetheory-fitness-ellen-latham#t=3568) Pandemic Pivot and Post-COVID Growth

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Orangetheory Fitness (company)
- Jerome Kern (other)
- Dave Long (other)
- Polar (company)
- Peloton (company)
- Massage Envy (company)
- YWCA (company)
- Bonaventure Spa (company)
- Williams Island Spa (company)
- Kohl's (company)

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- [Succeeding in Hardware with Joshua Hsu of Introhm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-24-succeeding-in-hardware-with-joshua-hsu-of-introhm) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [#59 Welcome to the Oat Haus! Celebrity Collaboration, Sprouts Launch, and Mental Health with Ali Bonar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-08-30-59-welcome-to-the-oat-haus-celebrity-collaboration-sprouts-launch-and-mental-hea) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#054 - Kickstarter Pre-launch - a home gym challenges the "No pain No gain" crowd, with Joey Atlas of SCULPTAFIT Global, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-05-09-054-kickstarter-pre-launch-a-home-gym-challenges-the-no-pain-no-gain-crowd-with) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [#019 - Chairless chair, with Keith Gunura of noonee, Switzerland](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-03-29-019-chairless-chair-with-keith-gunura-of-noonee-switzerland) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)

## Citing this page

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