Entrepreneurship is taking root across Grounds. From classroom settings to real-world ventures, an increasing number of University of Virginia students are expressing interest in this dynamic side of business.
UVA’s Founder’s Forum, a full-day event set for Wednesday, will bring entrepreneurs, executives and community members to Rouss Robertson Hall. Showcasing 12 different startups and established companies, the nearly sold-out event will allow students to learn from speakers, network and explore their entrepreneurial interests.
One of those speakers is Bryan Myers, a Class of 2009 graduate of UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce and the president and CEO of the boutique fitness chain Solidcore.
After joining the Solidcore team in 2018, Myers, a winner of the 2023 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Mid-Atlantic Award and the Washington Business Journal’s Growth Award, has committed to implementing strategy development, inclusivity and strength across the company, even serving as a Solidcore coach himself.
Myers says Solidcore’s large reach and impact on customers is the most rewarding aspect of his tenure as the company’s leader. (Contributed photo)
While tickets to Myers’ session at the Founder’s Forum are sold out, UVA Today spoke with the fitness leader to learn more about his entrepreneurial advice, leadership experience and overall journey from the classroom to the C-suite.
Q. How do you see the Founder’s Forum making an impact on the community?
A. I’m excited about two things related to the Founder’s Forum. The first is the opportunity to introduce students to alternative career paths in business that aren’t the traditional finance, accounting or large company path. And whether they opt to explore it now, later or never, it at least opens their eyes to new options that they may not have considered.
The second is the opportunity to connect with other leaders and opportunities, and I really appreciate that (McIntire assistant professor Charles W. Ransler IV) is carving out space to ensure that we all, as leaders, have the opportunity to engage, create community and share insights and learnings among ourselves.
Q. How did your time at the McIntire School of Commerce shape your experiences in leadership and entrepreneurship?
A. McIntire gave me the confidence – rooted in “knowing enough to be dangerous” across all of the disciplines of business – to walk into an entrepreneurial environment, where it’s important that you have the ability to chip in and support across all areas of the business. It also provided me with an incredible network of my peers, but also other alums who have been invaluable as I’ve navigated my career in this nontraditional world of entrepreneurship.
Q. What has been the most rewarding moment in your role as CEO at Solidcore?
A. I’m really fortunate to lead an organization that has such a profoundly impactful role in the lives of our clients. When our clients talk about the role of Solidcore in their lives, they talk about physical transformation, mental transformation and personal transformation. So for me, the most rewarding moment was crossing the threshold of having served more than a million clients over the company’s lifetime. Because stepping back, it was a reminder that although we’re building a great business, at our core (pun intended), we’re really here to transform communities through changing and impacting lives.
