Member Spotlight: Ingrid Knight-Cohee

Being named the 2024 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year has been an honor and a powerful opportunity to expand my impact in the evolving health and wellness landscape. I’m fortunate to be part of a world that increasingly recognizes wellness not only as a personal pursuit but as a collective, societal imperative. In today’s climate, fitness and wellbeing leadership must move beyond traditional program delivery to embrace purpose-driven strategy, inclusive innovation, and meaningful community empowerment. My journey in this industry has been rooted in these values—anchored in service, guided by data, and sustained by collaboration.

From the Studio to Strategy: Leading with Vision

At the heart of effective leadership lies clarity of purpose. My purpose, motivated by rising inactivity rates, healthcare burdens, and personal experiences with chronic disease, crystallized around one central goal: to get more people moving, more often. This mission has shaped every stage of my career, from directing fitness initiatives at YWCA Vancouver to leading as Director of Fitness Classes at Fitness World Canada and founding MSINGI®, a functional movement practice designed to break down barriers and serve diverse, often marginalized, communities.

MSINGI® is more than just a fitness modality—it’s a platform for connection, empowerment, and sustainable change. Watching it grow across North America and positively impact lives has been among the most rewarding parts of my leadership journey.

Strategic foresight is another pillar of strong leadership. At Fitness World Canada, which serves over 100,000 members across 17 clubs, I’ve seen how a shared, coordinated vision can ignite innovation. Developing new formats, mentoring over 150 instructors, and helping achieve key goals in attendance, revenue, and retention has underscored one core truth: health strategies must address the whole person—mind, body, and community.

One example of this integrative approach is the launch of the DEKA Strong Race for our members. By developing a preparatory class, DEKA Ready, and pairing the event with support for the charity SPARKLE for Mental Health, we combined fitness, philanthropy, and engagement, proving that impact grows when we lead with both head and heart.

Collaboration as a Cornerstone

No leadership journey is successful in isolation. Cross-functional collaboration has been a constant throughout my career—whether planning events with the BCFit committee, mentoring through the newly established IDEA Mentorship Network, or co-creating wellness retreats with business partners. These partnerships have been invaluable in amplifying reach, diversifying perspectives, and enhancing impact.

Working with nonprofits, educational institutions, and small businesses has deepened my understanding of systemic wellness challenges. These collaborations have refined my leadership approach to be more empathetic, informed, and solutions-oriented. A standout moment was delivering a fitness class in a hair salon—a creative effort to reduce “gymtimidation” and meet people where they are. This initiative not only attracted a new segment of the community but also reaffirmed the importance of flexibility and inclusivity in programming.

Measuring Impact, Elevating Others

Purpose-driven leadership must also be accountable. Using data to evaluate programs and member engagement is essential to ensuring that our vision translates into real-world outcomes. In group fitness, we often underestimate our impact, but when we track the effect on member retention, sales, and staff satisfaction, the results speak volumes.

This data-driven mindset has shaped how I lead and also how I mentor. Whether I’m contributing articles to industry publications or presenting at conferences like HFA, canfitpro, and IDEA, I’m committed to sharing insights that help others grow. Leadership, to me, includes uplifting peers, expanding access to knowledge, and encouraging innovation across the industry.

The Future of Wellness Leadership

Ultimately, I’ve come to see leadership not as a role, but as a daily practice: choosing service over self-interest, listening before acting, and focusing on long-term impact over short-term gains. True wellness leadership involves creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels empowered to pursue health. It also means preparing the next generation of leaders by embedding purpose and values into our systems and strategies.

As we look to the future, the call for integrative, equity-centered, and community-rooted leadership has never been more urgent. My mission remains clear: to build holistic programs, forge cross-sector partnerships, and lead with both compassion and clarity. In doing so, I aim to help shape a more inclusive, sustainable, and impactful future for health and wellness.