Michele Wong on nurturing teams, partnerships and wellness.
Serving as a caregiver at a young age, Michele Wong decided to pursue an education in fitness and wellness, driven by her passion for health promotion and prevention. After obtaining her master’s degree in kinesiology, she joined Club One, a commercial health club company with a corporate fitness management division.
“I began my career at Club One working with Fortune 500 companies in Silicon Valley where I developed and managed employee health promotion and fitness programs,” said Wong. “As our management contracts expanded to include community, medical and commercial facilities, I embraced progressively more complex roles, gaining valuable experience in business development, commercial operations management and strategic planning. I never let fear stop me from putting myself in situations that were new and uncharted territory.”
For Wong, networking and mentorship were instrumental in her growth, enabling her to learn from seasoned professionals. Her ability to drive results and willingness to step up and lead during challenging and transitional periods ultimately positioned her perfectly for her current role, the COO of Active Wellness.
As a fitness and wellness management company, Active Wellness stands out uniquely in the industry. They operate across multiple business models, particularly in situations where fitness is not its partner’s core business. What distinguishes them as a management company is its deep industry connections and over 30 years of experience in commercial sales and marketing.
“You could categorize our company culture as close knit, where collaboration, teamwork and a familial atmosphere are paramount,” said Wong. “The culture we’ve cultivated within our teams is essential to our success. No two installations are exactly alike, and fostering strong partnerships requires significant effort to ensure employees at locations without our name on the door feel a sense of belonging and connection to the organization. This doesn’t happen by chance; it requires intentional effort every day. Consistency and alignment with our culture across the leadership team are crucial to ensuring that employees at every level feel they’re part of the Active team.”
Being a leader in this industry for over 25 years, Wong takes great pride in the people she’s developed and the teams she’s led.
Together, they’ve established a reputation for building fitness communities and operating the best clubs in their markets. The efforts have made a meaningful impact on countless individuals by creating inclusive and welcoming environments for people of all ages and fitness levels. And for Wong, the collective accomplishments of their team far outweigh any individual contributions she could make. This is a lesson she learned firsthand after not being selected for a management role at one of their key partner accounts.
“I felt disappointed, as I believed that position would provide me greater stability within the organization, helping me find flow between work and home life, at a time when my children were young and demands in all areas of my life were steadily increasing,” explained Wong. “When I shared my feelings of disappointment about not being selected with one of our executives, they told me it was for the best because my contributions to the organization could far exceed what I could contribute being in a dedicated site role. This insight resonated deeply with me and inspired me to focus on the broader impact I could make.”
Wong’s leadership journey required her to remain flexible and adaptable, continuously seeking opportunities to collaborate with leaders across the organization and contribute to overall company growth — principles she incorporates into her own leadership approach. Her personal philosophy, grounded in situational leadership, emphasizes the importance of adjusting her leadership style based on the unique needs of her team members and the specific circumstances they face.
“I believe effective leadership requires flexibility, understanding and the ability to assess the competence and commitment of each individual, while demonstrating your own,” said Wong. She also emphasized the importance of recognizing that different team members may require varying levels of support, guidance or autonomy at different times, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.
In the health and fitness industry, maintaining professionalism is key to establishing credibility, fostering accountability and ensuring effective communication. At the same time, Wong said being personable is crucial for building genuine relationships and creating a positive club environment. Her goal is to always exemplify both qualities in leadership.
“I tailor my approach based on the skill level and support needs of the team,” explained Wong. “For instance, when working with an employee who’s new to their role or facing a challenge, I adopt a more directive and hands on approach with a goal of providing clear guidance and, as needed, guardrails. Conversely, with experienced team members, I encourage autonomy and collaboration, allowing them to take greater ownership in achieving the desired results. In either case it’s important there’s trust and a clear vision of the objectives.”
Wong’s adaptive leadership style reflects her ability to navigate both professional and personal milestones with ease. Just as she customizes her approach to meet the needs of her team, she has also balanced numerous important moments in her life, demonstrating resilience and reflection.
In the past year and a half, Wong has accomplished several milestones: She completed 25 years of service with Active Wellness, turned 50, celebrated her oldest child’s college graduation, helped her youngest child move into her own place and celebrated her 30th wedding anniversary. These significant events prompted her to reflect on her journey and how she’s arrived at this point in her life.
“My role as a caregiver led me to this industry, where I’ve had the opportunity to nurture many others,” said Wong. “In turn, this industry has nurtured me, providing me with knowledge and resources to build my own capacity and resilience.”
Those who know Wong well recognize she has high expectations of herself and of those around her. She also holds this belief: if you expect a lot from others, you must be prepared to give a lot in return and show up consistently. This is where lasting partnerships are forged, and individuals grow stronger together.
“It’s fitting that I’ve spent my career in this industry managing partnerships,” said Wong. “I’ve learned the scales are never balanced in great partnerships, but authenticity, trust and commitment are high on both sides. I’m lucky to have great partners in my life both professionally and personally. I’ve worked hard to nurture those partnerships and not take for granted what luck and good fortune have brought my way.”
