Anne M. Mahlum

Program Titles

• Perseverance
• Eliminating excuses

Anne M. Mahlum, an entrepreneur who knows how to create and build with purpose, the CEO of a fast-growing boutique fitness company she founded. Mahlum is an outspoken female entrepreneur, marathoner, and former advocate for the homeless.

In just a few years, Anne has grown her company to more than 70 locations across 19 different states (entirely corporately owned) with more than 100,000 clients, including Michelle Obama.

Anne has raised more than $70M in private equity and took an investment from  major contributor.

She has received notable media attention for her success as a woman entrepreneur and business acumen, including features in The Washington Post, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Business Journal and Runner’s World.

Anne was the CEO of, an organization she founded, that uses the power of running to change the way those experiencing homelessness see themselves so they can make real change in their lives, which includes employment and independent housing.

Anne led BoMF to become a $6.5M privately-funded organization with staff of 48, thousands of volunteers and hundreds of members. Anne’s vision for Back on My Feet is simple, yet bold – to help as many people as possible, in the most efficient way as possible, redefine themselves so they can redefine their life and, just as important – to change the perception of homelessness on a global scale.

Anne’s work with Back on My Feet has been featured in countless times in both local and national media. Anne hosted a documentary for MTV called The Break on youth homelessness and she was recently featured in a book, called 50 Everyday Heroes.

Anne has been named ABC world News Person of the Week, a CNN Hero, New Yorker of the Week, a top 40 under 40 individual by Business Journal, as well as Crain publication.

Anne is also a motivational speaker and regularly speaks at corporate events, academic institutions and conferences on numerous topics: leadership, being bold, finding your happiness, the business behind starting a nonprofit, and social change.

“Companies that identify and address pervasive mind-sets at the outset of the change initiative are four times more likely to succeed in organizational change efforts than are companies that overlook this stage.”

Anne shows us that we all need the same things in life to grow and succeed… to be noticed, to be appreciated, to be valued and to be cared for.

Anne changes the way we see ourselves and our circumstances, the core of change and that only then can we begin to move out of our comfort zones and create real and lasting change in our lives.

With raw vulnerability, grace and lots of humor, Anne takes audiences on an emotional journey that will leave them feeling motivated, purposeful, and empowered to both manage and create real change in their lives.

Her story is a powerful example of how change happens, and she inspires people to create real and lasting change in both their personal and professional lives.

Recognition Anne has received from her work around homelessness and social change:

• Women Who Mean Business, Washington Business Journal
• New York Road Runners Inspiration Award
• Good Heart Award
• New Yorker of the Week
• Brava Award, CEO Magazine
• Circle of Excellence, CEO Magazine
• Washington, DC top 40 under 40
• Alliance Inspiration Award, Philadelphia Alliance
• Power 30 under 30, Apex Society
• Top 10 Fitness Heroes, Fitness Magazine
• State Farm Community Hero Award
• Bismarck High School Hall of Fame
• Philadelphia’s top 40 under 40
• Heroes Among Us, Boston Celtics
• Penjerdel’s Citizen of the Year
• Champion of Health, Women’s Health Magazine
• Young Professional of the Year, Young Variety Club
• Hometown Hero, Philadelphia 76ers
• Next Generation of Leaders, Philadelphia City Council
• Honorary Degree, Manhattanville College
• ABC World News Person of the Week
• CNN Hero
• 101 Top Philadelphia Young Leaders

Anne Mahlum an innovative thought leader who has a remarkable impact on countless. She has given talks about finding your passion, letting go of your complacency, and helping others.

Anne successfully raised funds, expanded programming, and scaled the organization to a $6.5M budget in 14 cities within 6.5 years.

She founded a pilates-inspired fitness concept favored by Michelle Obama and Mel Robbins. Anne successfully exited after growing to 100 locations and a thousand employees in 9.5 years.

Anne has been honored many times for her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Recognized by ‘Women Who Mean Business’ and was named an ABC World News Person of the Week and a CNN Hero for her work at Back on My Feet.

Anne Mahlum is an American entrepreneur, motivational, experienced CEO, investor, advisor, philanthropist, and athlete. She is extremely passionate about empowering people to live on their terms.

She engaged the shelter to start a running club, which she quickly formed into a national non-profit called Back on My Feet. The organization, now with an $8M annual budget, uses running to help those experiencing homelessness become empowered to change their lives. Under Anne’s leadership as CEO, she grew the organization to 14 cities. Since its inception, Back on My Feet has helped thousands of individuals achieve employment and more self-sufficient living.

She created success again when she founded pilates-inspired [solidcore]. As its founder and CEO, she grew it into one of the country’s most successful fitness companies in less than a decade by raising more than $210M through private equity to scale it to more than 120 locations across the US. The company has over 2,000 employees and hundreds of thousands of clients, including former First Lady Michelle Obama. Anne successfully exited [solidcore] in April 2023 and shared millions with her employees after the sale.

A proper self-made success story, Anne’s entrepreneurial ventures have resulted in a personal net worth of over $100M. She is investing, advising, speaking, writing her book, playing beach volleyball, and supporting work aimed at helping those struggling with addiction.

She regularly speaks at corporate events, academic institutions, and conferences on numerous topics, including leadership, entrepreneurship, being bold, finding your happiness, and social change.

Anne has been honored many times for her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Most recently, she was featured by CNBC for her continued success over the years.

She has also been recognized by the Washington Business Journal as a ‘Women Who Mean Business’ winner and was named an ABC World News Person of the Week and a CNN Hero for her work at Back on My Feet.

She has given talks about finding your passion, letting go of your complacency, and helping others.

She has also received notable media attention, highlighting her talent, including articles in CNBC, The Washington Post, The Washington Business Journal, and Runner’s World.

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Change – Risk Management – Self