From College Football to Business Coach: Katharine’s Path to Helping Health & Wellness Pros Thrive
Interview with Katharine Sawyer - US Business Coach for health & wellness coaches - by Shannon Kate Murray, Founder & Editor of High Flying Design (august 2025)When Katharine Sawyer left a steady career in college football, she didn’t have a neatly laid-out plan - just a deep sense that she was meant for more. A decade of working behind the scenes had sharpened her organisational and people skills, but it also left her restless. She wanted a challenge, autonomy, and a way to merge her business brain with her passion for wellness.
Her path from that moment would be anything but linear: personal training, coaching, working inside an online health business, running a service agency, and eventually creating a global community for wellness entrepreneurs. What ties it all together is a refusal to settle for the safe option - and a belief that business growth should feel good.
We spoke about her most significant pivots, the role energy plays in sales, and why she’s building a “no competition” community in the wellness space.
Let’s start at the beginning. What were you doing before you launched your own business?
Katharine: I spent a decade in college football as an executive assistant. In my twenties, it was exciting - I moved around, had variety, and met incredible people. But eventually, I was just guarding a desk, doing work that felt easy but unfulfilling.
I’ve always had that entrepreneurial pull. I’d watch Shark Tank, read business books, and even start side projects like a cupcake business. Eventually, I hit a point where I couldn’t do it anymore. I left without a plan - just the certainty that I needed something different.
Your first venture was in health and fitness. How did that unfold?
Katharine: My degree was in exercise science, so it felt natural to return to that. I became a personal trainer, ran a local bootcamp, worked with clients one-on-one, and started doing online training as that space was just emerging.
Then I joined a weight-loss programme - initially to learn how they ran their online business, but I ended up coaching for them. That’s when I realised I loved the business side far more than the day-to-day coaching. I joined their team full-time, but it was a toxic, hustle-heavy environment. COVID made it easier to stay a bit longer, but I was quietly working on my own thing in the background.
When did you go all-in on your own business?
Katharine: I was laid off - ironically, just a month before I’d planned to leave. Almost immediately, a few coaches reached out for help. I started supporting them, word spread, and I realised I could build a business from it.
For a while, I ran a service-based agency alongside some health coaching. But I found I preferred strategy and leadership over “done-for-you” delivery. I didn’t want the weight of someone else’s results entirely on my shoulders - I wanted to guide, not grind.
Was that pivot straightforward?
Katharine: Not exactly… I kept my one-to-one service clients for stability while building my group coaching programme. Over time, I raised prices, refined services, and naturally phased out work that didn’t excite me.
A big part of the shift was establishing boundaries - working with clients who value my expertise, not just my output. I’m a big believer that the price someone pays determines how they treat you and how they value it. When people invest in strategy (versus execution), they tend to respect and implement it more.
I’ve also seen the flip side - the “accidental entrepreneurs” who start a business because they’ve seen a highlight reel on social media, without a real business mindset. That’s where disappointment and burnout happen. My work is about building something solid and sustainable, not chasing someone else’s Instagram version of success.
What does your business look like now?
Katharine: I run a six-month group programme for health and wellness professionals - nutritionists, personal trainers, functional medicine practitioners, even counsellors.
It’s built around a 12-step blueprint that covers everything from building solid foundations to marketing and client acquisition. My bigger vision is to create the largest collaborative community of health and wellness professionals - a place with no competition, just shared missions to make people well.
We’re in what I’d call a “trust recession.” Too many people have been burned by over-promises and under-delivery, and it makes potential clients more cautious. I’ve experienced that myself, which is why transparency and genuine connection are so important in my work.
You’re passionate about energy in sales. What do you mean by that?
Katharine: My personal energy directly impacts whether I make a sale. If I’m drained, it shows.
For example, I run webinars every Tuesday. Mondays are recharge days: light client work, movement, and things that bring me joy. On Tuesdays, I have a set routine: get outside, listen to music that lifts me, and leave an hour clear before I go live.
Sales isn’t just about scripts or hitting the right pain points. Stop selling the deliverables - people want you. Share who you are, have real conversations, and the right people will be drawn in. I’ve moved away from the “bro energy” sales scripts and high-pressure closes. Connection converts better - and it feels better for both of us.
What’s been the most challenging part of running your business?
Katharine: Two things. First, hiring - finding people who share your work ethic is tough. Second, the isolation when friends or family don’t understand business life. Even just knowing you have someone you can text or share a win - a win that other people might not get - makes such a difference.
And, more recently, I've been navigating the process of buying my first home as a solo business owner. It’s exciting, but also a crash course in the realities of self-employed finances - the extra hoops you jump through, the importance of knowing your numbers, and saving with intention.
It’s also been about permission. I’ve worked hard for this money, but I’ve had to learn, actually, to spend it - without guilt. For so long, my instinct was to keep it sitting in the bank for “safety.” Buying my house has been a reminder that it’s okay to invest in the life you’re building, not just the business.
And the most rewarding?
Katharine: Seeing my clients build businesses that give them more freedom. I’m not interested in helping someone burn out for the sake of revenue. I want them to have something that supports their life - because that’s exactly what I’ve created for myself.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Katharine: Don’t wait until you feel ready. Take imperfect action, trust your instincts, and don’t let societal norms dictate your path. You’re allowed to want more, and you’re capable of figuring it out along the way.
One of the first things I do with clients is have them complete a “five-year vision” exercise - describing in detail their ideal day, from the moment they wake up. If your vision is working one hour a day, your business model has to reflect that. Otherwise, you’ll resent it - even if you’re making money.
I also have them set non-negotiables every week that are nothing to do with business - movement, time with family, rest. If you don’t take care of yourself first, you won’t have the energy to take care of your clients or grow your business.
Katharine’s journey shows that success isn’t a straight climb - it’s built through pivots, risks, and moments of self-trust. Her belief that growth should feel good is a reminder that the real win isn’t just the business you build, but the life it allows you to live.
Want to hear more from Katharine? Follow her over on Instagram @katharinesawyer.
