Page 37 - Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women 2021

As with any entrepreneur, your experiences build you

and that’s the way to get to the top of your pyramid.

Founder and Director of ITRAIN Laying the foundations pregnancy was the motivation that Mariam required to
grow her business. She said that she realised that she was
Mariam says that her career of choice was not something
going to need support to manage her business and to meet
ariam Manack is the founder and approved upon by her community. She commented, ‘I did
the needs of a child and family. “I developed a team, which
director of ITRAIN, a movement that not have a lot of encouragement or support when I started
was very empowering for me as an individual to know that
empowers women through physical my business. I had no money and no fixed location. Other
I was not just keeping my strengths to myself but that I
Mfitness and strength. She has been than leaving South Africa, my scope was very minimal.”
had a responsibility to equip more individuals to grow in
a personal trainer since 2012 and in that time has
However, Mariam was determined to get into the industry to the space that I had filled.” At that time Mariam scaled
educated and encouraged many hundreds of women to
and started by training clients at home, without any her team to ten individuals.
improve their health and fitness.
equipment, just using her voice and her gift.
The Covid pandemic initially caused much concern for
Mariam’s success has been recognised on various platforms.
She said, “I went on this journey through my 20s and Mariam as to how the business was going to survive.
In 2017, she was recognised by the Minara Chamber of
I like to call it my journey of resilience, ambition and Fortunately, the pandemic also sparked more interest
Commerce as the youngest Muslim woman to receive a passion. I was at the bottom end of my pyramid, laying in people looking for hope and the need to experience
finalist award at the Business Recognition Awards and the foundations and digging deep into what I enjoy while empowerment. This interest in fitness has allowed Mariam
the Minara Entrepreneurship Competition. Mariam was climbing the ladder as every year went by. I had to stay in to open a second gym, with a third gym to be opened soon
listed as one of Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 in 2019. She is my own lane, carve my way and figure things out. As with in Umhlanga. A running club has also been launched as
also a brand ambassador for Puma. any entrepreneur, your experiences build you and that’s the part of the fitness offering.
way to get to the top of your pyramid.”
Feeling empowered
In addition, the emergence of the digital space has allowed
Soon her clientele grew, and she founded ITRAIN, a
Mariam’s enthusiasm for fitness and sport was present classes to be offered virtually. She says, “I believe that I
health and fitness studio for women, based in Westville,
from an early age and stemmed from her parents’ have a purpose and a role to play in empowering those
KwaZulu-Natal, which has become a hub for women’s
encouragement. She was inspired to participate in sports around me and intend to gain knowledge and enhance
empowerment and fitness. The studio is very private,
by her father who was disabled. Mariam explains, “He my systems so that I can share my knowledge further.”
and community based with a strong ethos of caring for
used fitness and sport to empower himself and to assist Currently, the online store includes vitamins, apparel, and
others. The ITRAIN approach is holistic and tailored
in disregarding his disability and to build strength. I was branded diet plans.
to each individual encompassing personal coaching,
totally motivated by his example.”
and a training and eating plan, that provide the support A one stop brand
She added that she enjoyed the euphoria that she with which people resonate. ITRAIN fitness Signature In the future Mariam’s goals are to strive to ensure that
experienced after a sports activity and celebrated every workouts follow specific body types in relation to age. This ITRAIN is recognised as a one stop brand for health and
step as a great accomplishment. accommodates for each member based on their age, fitness wellness in South Africa and in the world.
level and goals.
However, Mariam explained that as a young person In giving advice to others, Mariam says that you should,
you don’t question your thoughts. Realising that health “ITRAIN focuses on women who strive to feel valued as “Choose what you really love doing and that you are
human beings. People often suffer from low esteem and
and fitness allowed her to feel empowered and that this passionate about. As long as you love your career then it’s
lack confidence which we can help change. I always look
strength gave her purpose, took some time. She then not called work. When you enjoy what you are doing, your
forward to each day and the potential to transform people
decided that health was not negotiable and that she would joy becomes contagious and motivates other people. I intend
and their lives,” says Mariam.
love to empower other people through fitness. to keep doing what I do but will innovate and evolve.”
Developing a team
Consequently, Mariam completed a Bachelor in Sports She concluded, “I have changed many women and their
Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2010. She Initially, Mariam micro managed all aspects of the lives have changed for the better as a result. I have a goal to
was one of only three Indian girls and one of only two business but that meant being restricted to one location make a million women feel more confident and stronger
Muslims in her year. and a limited number of clients. In 2019, an unplanned through the ITRAIN platform.”

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