SoulCycle and the culture of “yes”

In this episode of the Tony Robbins Podcast, we are bringing you front and center to Business Mastery, where Tony led a panel discussion with the business leaders behind some of today’s fastest-growing companies – companies that are on fire. Companies like SoulCycle.

What makes SoulCycle such a powerhouse? How did they create so many raving fans? And how have they managed to consistently maintain their revolutionary customer experience while scaling at such a massive rate?

These are just some of the questions that are answered in this episode, as Tony and SoulCycle’s then-CEO Melanie Whelan delve into the company’s innovative workout culture, their unique hiring process and the customer experience they’ve built so consciously, it has created fans in every location.

What is SoulCycle?

SoulCycle is a fitness company with spinning and cycling classes that also incorporate principles of HIIT and strength training. Classes are known for their ambiance: mood lighting, trendy music and a palpable enthusiasm. More than that, SoulCycle is known for its incredible sense of community and customer service.

With nearly a hundred locations, chances are you’ve either been to SoulCycle or have heard someone gushing about their experience. The company took the fitness world by storm. And while the industry was hard-hit by the pandemic, SoulCycle remains a shining example of what can be accomplished when a business is laser-focused on exceptional customer service.

Who is Melanie Whelan?

One of the key players behind this fitness phenomenon is Melanie Whelan, who served as SoulCycle’s CEO from 2015 to 2020. In just this short time, she helped take the company from seven operating locations to 70+ jam-packed studios across the nation serving millions of people a year. Melanie is now a managing director at investment firm Summit Partners.

A culture of “yes”

So how did Melanie build such an exceptional and consistent company culture during this period of skyrocketing growth? She says, “We’re a culture of yes. We believe that there is a yes in every interaction.” And she knows that and empowering them to take action is the key to making that yes happen.