After 30 years as a member of 24 Hour Fitness, and now as CEO, Karl Sanft has seen the club grow and change a lot over time. Fast forward to 2023, and Sanft is now looking back at all the lessons learned during his first full year as CEO of the company.
Sanft recently sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Zabonick-Chonko for a conversation on the brand’s 40-year anniversary and what’s been key to the longevity of the company. They also discuss industry trends and topics such as mental health, recovery and much more.
Listen to the full conversation below.
Show Notes
- At 0:41 Sanft discusses his experience at the 2023 Club Solutions Leadership Summit.
- Sanft details what he believes has been key to the longevity of 24 Hour Fitness at 1:23.
- At 3:03 learn how Sanft first thought about his future at the club in his early days of being a 23-year-old member.
- Hear how 24 Hour Fitness celebrated its 40th anniversary with an organization named Playworks at 3:56.
- At 6:41 Sanft describes the biggest highlights from his first full year as CEO of 24 Hour Fitness.
- Learn how Sanft has been realistic with his team and prepared company leadership to work through the past year at 10:08..
- At 11:29 hear about the exciting developments that are on the horizon for 24 Hour Fitness.
- Sanft describes the major changes and learning curves seen at the brand over the last 365 days at 14:37.
- At 16:01 learn what changes in demographics Sanft is seeing at his clubs in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Hear what trends and expansion plans Sanft’s brand is focusing on in the coming months at 18:07.
- At 20:26 Sanft closes with his own leadership advice for seasoned veterans throughout the industry.
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