Women's History Month 2019 Profile: Michelle Wahler

Michelle Wahler, CEO & Co-Founder of Beyond Yoga

How would your peers describe your personality?

Hyper-focused and friendly but firm.

When did you consider yourself a success? How did this make you feel?

When we had our first Forbes article, it felt like, “ok, here we are, this is real!” When you are a founder your head is down in the detail so much that you often don’t stop to pause, look around and realize how far you have come. It was really a landmark moment for me.

What is the biggest challenge you have come across in your career and how did you handle this?

Because this company is my baby, it can be a challenge for me to delegate. Over time, I have brought leaders in and developed a real faith in them but in the beginning it can be a real trust fall.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work?

Our company mission is to be inclusive and make all women feel confident - everyone can sit at our lunch table. So when I see women of all walks of life in our gear, feeling proud and inspired by our message, that motivates and excites me.

What are you most proud of?

My children.

What inspired you when you were younger?

Women today are part of such an amazing movement, there are entities like The Wing that are bringing women together and fostering a sisterhood and mentoring. When I was younger, there was a void in that space. So what inspired me was my friends, everyone was out there hustling hard and saying a prayer it would all come together; it was an exciting time.

What nail color makes you feel most confident?

ORLY Mansion Lane - it's sophisticated yet still on trend. Very chic.

What is a piece of advice you would give to young women?

Be yourself - that’s something no one else can be.