Melanie Whelan: Growth and Scaling

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If you want to know why SoulCycle has been named one of the world’s most innovative companies in 2018 by Fast Company magazine, and why it’s expanding by the day, all you need to do is dive into this podcast with the company’s CEO, Melanie Whelan.

I came away understanding it’s about fitness — but way more than about fitness. It’s about connection, but way more than the tribal connections people make there. The success of this company is rooted in the aura of hospitality that can be traced to curiosity and highly focused listening.

When I give workshops on connection, I do a segment on listening. I ask individuals in groups to rate themselves as a listener between 1-10. Nobody has ever rated themselves a 10. Some people are honest enough to give themselves a 3 or a 4.

As an interviewer, I’ve always prided myself in being an active listener. Some people have joked that my ears are like gigantic satellite dishes. And I would rate myself somewhere between a 9 and a 10.

By the end of this interview, Melanie opened my ears to a whole new level. There’s a lot to be learned about scaling a company and personal growth here.

Cheers,

Cal