“We Do Gym”, The Visionary Behind Gymshark and The Revolution of Fitness Culture

Megan Cooper

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This article aims to uncover the interview with Gian Power and Ben Francis held at Aston University’s Student Union.

Ben Francis, CEO of Gymshark and Aston alumni was interviewed by Gian Power, a fellow businessman, who met Ben during freshers at Aston University. The interview took place at Aston University’s Student Union on Wednesday the 16th of October and I was lucky enough to attend. As someone who has participated in sports their whole life, the gym has become a big part of my life, so I was very eager to hear Ben’s insights on how his passion for fitness transformed his life and built his successful brand.

Ben joined Aston 14 years ago, enrolling on a business degree after he heard Aston’s reputation for being a business university. 3 weeks before he began, Ben started working on Gymshark and carried this on throughout his first year.

“I’m a massive advocate for doing two things at once.”

When starting up the business at the young age of 19, he never expected Gymshark to become the UK’s 3rd largest gym wear brand, nor did he expect the successful globalisation of the company. As he shared some statistics, we began to understand the vast expansion of the company. The revenue was £2,000,000 in 2020, increasing to an impressive £620,000,000 in 2023.

Despite his undeniable success, Ben opened up about several challenges he encountered along the way. I’ve selected three that I found particularly interesting to share.

1. His role evolves alongside the business, presenting the challenge of adapting quickly and learning new things every day.

2. He questions whether he has the right vision: does the current progress align with his 2-year plan and his 50-year plan?

3. He had to overcome his fear of public speaking.

   
   

“You can get anxious about something, or you can dive straight in”

When asked about his experience with imposter syndrome; a common feeling of self-doubt despite one’s accomplishments, Ben stated that he doesn’t struggle with it. However, he acknowledged that he often feels a sense of dissatisfaction and maintains exceptionally high expectations of himself.

Gian Power concluded his interview and opened the floor to audience questions, leading to a discussion on the paycheck versus purpose phenomenon that sparked a conflict for Ben. He shared his two proudest moments: the birth of his children, which he described as “infinitely more special” than any professional achievement, and the ability to allow his mother to retire - a milestone he acknowledged was made possible by his financial success.

As the talk came to an end, Ben reflected on some of the proudest and most successful moments of his career:

1. The grand opening of the Regent Street store in London

2. Pioneering seamless athleisure in the gym wear industry

3. Expanding the brand to include women's wear after initially focusing solely on men's gym apparel

As I conclude, I'd like to share some valuable advice from Ben about joining the Gymshark team. First, remember that feeling nervous is completely normal and won't detract from your genuine enthusiasm for the company. Secondly, they are eager to find candidates who have pursued creativity beyond their academic experiences, so embrace your passions and unleash that drive!