As a proud mum of two and Chartered Exercise Physiologist, Alex Gleeson is deeply passionate about ensuring all pregnant women have access to safe and affordable exercise options. With a deep understanding of the unique needs of pregnant women, she has developed an online training program that is tailored to each stage of pregnancy, to match individual pace and fitness level. She enjoys supporting and guiding her clients through a happy pregnancy and recovery. Here she talks to The Natural Parent magazine about the inspiration behind it Strong by Alexthe challenges she has overcome along the way and her hopes and dreams for her business for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to create your business?
The inspiration behind the establishment Strong by Alex it comes from a mixture of my family’s influence and personal experiences.
Growing up with a mum who is a GP with a special interest in women’s health and obstetrics laid the foundation for my early interest in the field. Her dedication to supporting women’s health journeys left a lasting impression on me and fueled my passion to contribute to this space.
Also, my academic journey, marked by an honors degree in Exercise Physiology and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Sydney, deepened my understanding of the unique needs of women during pregnancy. Becoming a mother myself highlighted the lack of accessible and personalized exercise guidelines for mums-to-be. This realization became the catalyst for his creation Strong by Alexdriven by the belief that every woman deserves a comprehensive and accessible exercise program tailored to the transformative phases of motherhood.
The launch: How did you get started in the first place?
His launch Strong by Alex it marks a personal and pivotal moment in my life. The idea for this business idea came about during my second pregnancy when I recognized a gap in the exercise resources available for mums-to-be in Australia and globally.
Determined to bridge this gap, I jumped at the chance to film workouts tailored to the unique needs of pregnancy throughout pregnancy. This decision not only turned my vision into a tangible reality, but also became the catalyst for the comprehensive exercise programs that Strong by Alex offers today – both prenatal and postnatal.
To begin the journey, I entered the world of social media. Recognizing the power of online platforms, I created dedicated pages to share my expertise, ideas and training content. Through consistent engagement, valuable content, and genuine connection with my audience, the platform evolved, laying the foundation for Strong by Alex it’s TODAY
Innovation: What has been the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The turning point in my entrepreneurial journey came when I assembled a trusted Digital Marketing team that I could trust to navigate the technical and marketing aspects of running my business. Let me tell you, there have been a few false starts and some great people along the way, but finding an experienced and knowledgeable Digital Marketing team has reduced many of the challenges I faced in managing various areas of the business, creating a more streamlined and efficient operation.
I use Cyrius Media Group based in Sydney who are a senior digital marketing and creative team that I love working with! With Cyrius as my dedicated team, the synergy between our skills and expertise became the catalyst for continued growth and success, marking an important milestone in the evolution of Strong by Alex.
Working with a trusted marketing team not only brought expertise in areas where I needed support, but also allowed me to focus on my core strengths and business values. Some of the areas we have focused on are:
- Prenatal programs.
- Start a postnatal program.
- Meditation programs (very soon).
- Meals & nutrition.
- Bonus content for subscribers.
- A Facebook group where my clients can exchange notes and connect as a group.
- Bigger and better FAQ.
- New blogs for even more information for subscribers.
- Socials – lots and lots of social media posts – both paid and organic.
- Getting out there and doing a lot of interviews, events and promotions.
- Trying lots of online marketing like digital media planning and marketing as well as SEO, SEM, SMO, SMM to get the views and get found online.
This pivotal moment underscored the importance of collaboration and reinforced the idea that a cohesive and capable team is critical to overcoming obstacles and moving the business forward.
