HerStory: Johnny Concert | EmpowHer Festival

Fitness and Wellness Founder and CEO

Tell me about yourself and how you got started on this journey.

I'm Briana Thompson, the founder of Spiked Wellness. Beyond being an entrepreneur, I also work in business strategy, supporting other growing and notable brands. Overall, I consider myself a creative entrepreneur. The focus of Spiked Wellness is to create a sanctuary where women feel seen and celebrated on their wellness journeys. In our industry, a lot of the messaging is about fixing or improving something, and it was important to me to create a space where women know they are enough exactly as they are. If they're coming to push a little harder or go a little further, we’re here to love them through the wholeness of who they are in that moment.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love the business side. I love beating the odds and challenging the standard, especially when people underestimate me. But more than that, I love encouraging other women to recognize their full potential and not limit themselves. It’s a blessing to not just live that personally, but to also help scale that mindset for other women. That’s where my heart really lies.

What got you into fitness and wellness? Was there a moment you realized this is what you wanted to do?

My background is actually in digital strategy. I worked as a strategist for over a decade. That’s where I was first exposed to boutique fitness. What I love about fitness is how the way you show up for your own well-being is often reflected in other parts of your life. It’s like a great equalizer. If you have the privilege of an able body, how you choose to care for it tells me a lot about how you show up for everything else. It wasn't just a single moment for me. It was more of a culmination: my upbringing, the person I aspire to be, and recognizing the power within wellness. I wanted to amplify that power and reframe the conversation beyond just “before and after” body results.

It’s empowerment through well-being, self-efficacy, self-confidence, and true self-care—not just the bubble bath version. It’s about recognizing the power in keeping commitments to yourself, taking care of the one vessel you have, and seeing how that care can positively impact every other area of your life.

What would you say is the mission of Spiked Wellness?

I’m certified to instruct and can teach at both of our studio locations, but I usually don't. Right now, I focus more on growing and scaling the business. We're working toward five studios in Los Angeles, but we currently have two. I also do creative strategic work for brands like Nike, so that's where a lot of my time goes these days. But yes, I am certified and able to step in when needed.

Are you a personal trainer yourself, or do you mainly oversee the business?

Tell me about your background and what inspired you to go into this field?

Have there been any major challenges starting your own business? How did you overcome them?

So many! The biggest challenge has been operating as a lean team. Spiked Wellness has been entirely bootstrapped, meaning no outside funding. It shows the power of community, creativity, and resilience, but it’s definitely tough. When you don’t have an influx of capital to lean on, you have to be extremely strategic and thoughtful. Honestly, the things that have been most difficult have also forced me to be the most creative. That’s part of being a founder: you either let obstacles stop you, or you find a way to create opportunity from them.

Two things: First, know your why and don’t be afraid to go for it. Entrepreneurship is hard, and when things get tough, you have to stay grounded in your purpose. Second, action breeds confidence. So many people get stuck in the cycle of waiting, reading, learning, when really, you don’t need more information, you need more action. Move quickly. Try things. Adjust quickly. When you're stagnant, nothing flows. When you're in motion, even failures are just lessons that get you closer to success. I just want people to know that whatever you feel called to do, you have everything inside you already to complete that task. It won't look linear, and it won't always be easy, and it’s not meant to be. Whether you choose a big life or a small life, both paths come with challenges. You might as well choose the big life.

What advice would you give to women who want to become entrepreneurs?

What inspired you to embark on your health and business journey?

Like I mentioned earlier, I’m not a fitness girly. I'm a business girly who works in fitness. What drew me in is the transformative power fitness has over both body and mind. When I'm disciplined in my fitness, I'm disciplined everywhere else. When I'm not, I see it spill into other areas too. It all connects: the goals you set, the ambitions you have, the dreams you’re chasing. If you can’t stay locked in with yourself first, it’s hard to stay locked in anywhere else. That personal commitment is the root and from there, everything grows.