Franchisee Spotlight: Maya Ghaneh of GYMGUYZ

Maya Ghaneh spent her entire childhood growing up in Iran and in Kuwait until she decided to go the the United States to earn her college degree. She focused her studies on chiropractic and eventually made her way from Oklahoma State University to Los Angeles, and then eventually the Bay Area and San Francisco where she's called home ever since.

By becoming a female entrepreneur, Ghaneh is striving to make her 7-year-old daughter proud and GYMGUYZ was the perfect fit for her. Ghaneh will be able to pursue her lifelong goals of helping her neighbors, friends, family, and now her clients, achieve their health-related dreams.

Can you tell me a little more about your background?

I'm originally from Iran and was born and raised in Kuwait, but came to the United States after high school. I went to Oklahoma State University for my undergrad studies and moved to Los Angeles after college where I earned my Doctorate of Chiropractic degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College of L.A.

After I got that degree, I moved to the San Francisco Bay area; this was in 1999. I've lived here ever since. Before I invested in GYMGUYZ, I worked in real estate sales and investments for several years. I'm a cancer survivor and I recently went through a divorce, and I realized that I needed to follow my passion in life: helping people get in shape.

How did you hear about GYMGUYZ and why did you want to get involved?

I'm very passionate about fitness and I just want to help people get in shape and keep healthy. I heard about GYMGUYZ through a franchise coach and felt that it was the right avenue to pursue my goals. I felt like GYMGUYZ would be a good fit in my community, too. The San Francisco area is filled with tech-y people who don't have the time to do traditional workouts and are constantly seeking alternatives. Residents in my community are fit and very health-conscious and I think there's a demand for this sort of fitness concept.

I'm also doing this for my 7-year-old daughter. I hope to be a good role model for her, both in fitness and in becoming a female business owner.