She’s famous for her hot sauce burpees and avocado obsession, but Kirsty Godso is so much more than fitness’ latest It girl. The New Zealand native has motivated thousands to incorporate movement into their lives as a Nike Master Trainer but her journey there is just as inspirational. She was teaching HIIT classes at her local gym when Nike recruited her on the spot and started recording her for their app and incorporating her into their workout schedule around the world.
And if you’re one of the 178,000 people who follow her on Instagram, then you’ll know this is a girl who never hits snooze. In fact, she starts the day with a cold shower. Disciplined is an understatement. Read on to learn more about this fitness icon, how she’s cultivated a global community, and how she always comes back to her “why” when she comes up against life’s hurdles.
CREATE & CULTIVATE: You grew up in New Zealand and always dreamed of working for Nike. How did you become a Master Trainer with them in NYC? What drew you to this career path?
KIRSTY GODSO: Nike actually found me in NZ when I was teaching HIIT classes at my local gym. It was such a shock because at the time Instagram wasn't really a thing and I'd also never heard of Nike trainers. I started out looking after NZ and Australia for them then became a Master Trainer in 2014 and started to travel to the U.S. more for my role. By 2015 I was traveling basically non stop on the Nike Training Club Tour and filming for the Training app as well as being in most of their training shoots. In 2016 I made the move to the U.S. and have been based in New York for Nike and love it!
After graduating with a double business degree I was drawn to fitness because I personally loved it so much and relied on it in many ways to feel good. Fitness always gets spoken of aesthetically but it’s really the way it makes you feel that is so powerful. I wanted to be part of a movement that could change the way that people viewed and experienced training. In the early stages of my teaching career, I was working full time as a brand manager for a fitness company which was such a nice synergy to work on both sides of it. It got to a point where I was traveling so much I had to focus on training full time and everything that came with that. It's been the most wonderful journey and nothing makes me happier than seeing people showing up for themselves in the gym, in outdoor workouts, at any moment really but just with an appreciation for their body.
Through your work with Nike, you've built an impressive community that aligns with your fitness values. How do you cultivate that loyal following on social media? Why do you think people gravitate to your method and style?
I'm very true to what I believe in and I like to share that information or any findings with my followers. Ultimately I want everyone to feel better so I do my best to always offer a mix of education, motivation and obviously sneakers, haha. I'm grateful that people who follow me understand and appreciate my strange sense of humor, love of avocados, and cats. I always say that life is a team sport and I'm just so thankful we can all be in it together.
The health/wellness/fitness industry is incredibly saturated. What advice do you have for people who want to build a personal brand like you? How do you stand out in a sea of competition?
Be yourself! Don't try and be a version of someone else (even if it's someone that inspires you). You have to find your own angle. If you're always confidently coming from a place that is so true to you, your passion and authenticity will keep you going through any fatigue, challenges, and setbacks. Have a strong internal GPS so you don't get lost or overwhelmed because like anything there will always be temporary temptations that try and distract you from your vision. If you want people to believe in you, you must believe in yourself—I think that's the best starting point.
“If you want people to believe in you, you must believe in yourself.”
When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you #FindNewRoads + switch gears to find success?
I always come back to my “why.” This usually helps clear things up pretty quickly because often the problem contains the solution we just have to slow down and assess the situation without emotion involved.
Your Instagram makes your job look really glamorous but the reality is very different. What do you wish more people knew about your job? What are the biggest misconceptions?
It really does! Honestly, I'm so grateful for all the jobs and travel I get to do but it is exhausting and takes a big toll on the body. Flying and just airports, in general, are awful and happen way too frequently in my schedule so I do my best to stay healthy throughout it all. It can be lonely traveling by yourself all the time so I am good at staying connected with my friends and family through FaceTime and social media—even a quick convo with a loved one always helps.
I workout way less than people expect, haha. My workout is the last priority most of the time because there are so many other people to train, jobs to be at, etc. so that's something I've been changing recently because it was making me really sad and I was losing the connection with my “why.” Training is my happiest time of day and I always want to be my best self for others so it's actually a necessity that I prioritize my wellbeing also (please remind me of this in 2020 if you catch me slipping, haha).
It's important to talk about life beyond the filter, the good with the bad. What's a mistake you made in your career and what did you learn from it? How did you turn it into an opportunity?
I spent a lot of time looking backward at a work situation that hurt me and feeling so upset about it even though it was such a necessary event to push me forward to where I am. Once I conquered why it affected me, I started to control the emotion around it and saw everything as a blessing and rather a guide in the right direction not a turn for the worse.
What’s a piece of advice you’d give to women starting out in your field? Why?
Always keep learning—you can never know enough! The body is so fascinating and that's something to always be humbled by. Be part of something bigger than yourself—a community is so important in this industry.
“Often the problem contains the solution, we just have to slow down and assess the situation without emotion involved.”
On top of your work as a Nike Master Trainer, you also launched your own whey protein Made Of. What has your experience as an entrepreneur taught you? Was it harder/easier?
Having my own business has been my greatest joy (and challenge) over the last 18 months. I am so proud and excited by Made Of that honestly any of the business challenges that come along are greeted with different energy because it's my own business—you have to figure it out! The product stems from a need to encourage people to care more about what they put in their body so it's been so beautiful to watch it grow and see people evolve with their relationship with food and mindfulness about how they fuel themselves. We are a small business but we care a lot and I think that's what has helped us carve our way in a big market.
You're always sharing inspiring books on Instagram—What is the #1 book you always recommend
Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable by Tim Grover.
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