AILIS GARCIA is making major strides in the world.
A former competitive dancer, Red Carpet Correspondent for Latina Magazine, and current host at Dodger Stadium, the Southern California native is also the founder of The Strong Movement™ — a fitness, lifestyle, and activewear brand that is dedicated to promoting an active, healthy life and encouraging women everywhere to build strong bodies and strong minds. Garcia also spreads the good word by speaking to female college students about fitness, nutrition, and healthy living, as well as to middle and high school students on the importance of motivation and setting goals.
Lady Clever spoke with Garcia about her views on fitness, entrepreneurship, and finding solutions to problems.
What has your hosting journey been like?
Being a host is very similar to being an entrepreneur. You have to create your own content and shows and wear many hats — everything from writing your own scripts and copy to filming yourself and editing together all of the footage — all without getting paid. When I first started out, that’s exactly what I did to create my first reel. I would go to every USC home football game with my two best friends, my mom’s video camera and a Radio Shack mic and interview crazy fans. It was the most organic way of generating content and getting real practice — all while tailgating!
From there, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to host and report for Dodgers Nation, the largest fan site for the Dodgers. In 2014, I traveled to Spring Training in Arizona on my own dime to get interviews with players and fans for the Dodgers Nation website and YouTube Channel. It’s important to get out there and hit the pavement with whatever you are doing. The best connections always come from meeting people face-to-face — in person! There is only so much you can do from behind the computer, no matter what industry you’re in or business concept you have. That being said, I had the chance to meet some of the front office staff of the Dodgers while I was out in Arizona.
Tell us about your role as a host for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
At the beginning of 2015, I reached back out to the Dodgers staff I had met a year before and was offered the opportunity to audition as one of the hosts for the season. It was a goal I had set for myself and to finally be playing in the “big leagues” was so rewarding after two years of hard work and no pay!
As a host, I co-host a live pre-game show on the two Jumbotrons (or, as we call it at the stadium, DodgerVision) and interview celebrities, guests and fans attending the game. I also host the fan giveaways and contests in between innings. Dodgers games are very entertaining and interactive with fans, so it’s fun to be a part of the fan experience at the stadium. They are also the most-attended games in the Major League, so it’s pretty exhilarating hosting a live show in front of sold out-crowds of 56,000 fans!
What is The Strong Movement™?
The Strong Movement™ is a women’s fitness and lifestyle brand that inspires women to become their best and build a strong body and strong mind through fitness, nutrition, healthy living, personal growth and development, and activewear!
I have an eBook Program Series, The Complete Guide to Unleashing Your Strong, that includes 7 different eBooks. The Program Series covers everything you need to know about working out, whether you are new to fitness or a seasoned athlete. It’s a source of motivation and inspiration, as well as a resource for women on the best foods to eat and custom meal plans depending on your personal goals.
Our Strong Girl Journal is really something special — it’s an 8-Week Journey to a Stronger and More Confident You. Not only is it a fitness and nutrition journal, it’s also a personal growth and development guide to help women set goals in all the different areas of their life, to really get in tune with their inner self and develop an action plan to reach their goals and create a life of purpose and a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.
We also have launched our own activewear line to help women look and feel good and be more confident whether they are working out or on-the-go. The Strong Movement™ goes beyond the products we offer. We are a community of women with the same goals — to be healthy, happy and fit!
What inspired The Strong Movement™?
I’ve always known I wanted to help others and motivate people to be their best. But, the idea for The Strong Movement™ came to me in 2011 — the summer before my senior year at USC when I was interning for Kim Lyons, former celebrity trainer on NBC’s Biggest Loser. She encouraged me to start a fitness and nutrition blog for my friends and college peers. By the time senior year was in full force, friends were asking me to train them and help them plan their meals in between classes, so I started creating custom workout and nutrition plans. I realized I was on to something and wanted to create the resource and, more importantly, be the resource girls could come to for real training and nutrition advice. I become a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Nutrition Specialist to learn more and grow The Strong Movement™ concept.
What are your goals for The Strong Movement™?
I see The Strong Movement™ as a national lifestyle brand that really inspires women and gives them the tools they need to live a healthy lifestyle, become their best, most confident self, and succeed at whatever goals they may have. This year, I’m excited to embark on a college speaking tour and speak to college girls and sororities on the topics of fitness, nutrition, and goal setting. When I was in college, there wasn’t a peer or recent grad that was in the space offering advice or even basic info on how to work out and what to eat. So, I’m honored I can be that girl for college girls today!
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced with The Strong Movement™? Biggest accomplishments?
The idea around being an entrepreneur is very glamorous, especially in this day in age with social media and Instagram. But, in reality, it’s very different. There are a lot of sacrifices you have to make when starting your own company. Things don’t get done unless you do them, and certainly people don’t come knocking on your door unless you’re out there hustling and moving the ball forward everyday. There are a lot of late nights and a lot of social events with friends you have to skip out on in order to make things happen.
As I mentioned before about hosting, as an entrepreneur, when you work for yourself, you wear every hat possible. So, I had to learn how to build my own website, and learn the ins and outs of every aspect associated with The Strong Movement™. The most challenging thing has been learning to be patient and not letting my perfectionism get in the way. There is no “perfect,” and everything is always a work in progress. As long as you make progress everyday, you are winning! And even if you don’t and stumble and fall behind, there are still lessons to be learned and different ways to approach things next time.
In the beginning, I was always getting disappointed because things didn’t turn out the way I had wanted them or was expecting them to. So, I had to learn to change my attitude and anticipate challenges and issues that come up instead of getting bent out of shape and wasting precious energy on getting upset every time something didn’t meet my expectations, which started happening more and more. By taking on the mentality that I am a “problem solver” and “solution finder,” I’m able to get many more things done and not get caught up on things that used to hold me back days at a time. There’s also a fine line you have to learn to walk when it comes to being invested and caring, but also not to the point where it becomes counter-productive to the business.
My biggest accomplishments have been finishing the eBooks and holding physical copies in my hand. Creating and designing an activewear line that I love has been a dream come true. But, ultimately, helping other women and hearing their stories of how I positively impacted them and helped them reach their goals is this most rewarding and it’s what The Strong Movement™ is all about!
The Strong Movement™’s homepage.
Any advice for future entrepreneurs?
When you have a goal or idea go after it head-on with grit, determination, and perseverance. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do something. Find the back door or another way around — be persistent. Be kind to others and always follow through on your word. Take a bet on yourself because if you don’t, no one else will. Whatever you do — don’t give up. You’re a Strong Girl and Strong Girls are doers and make things happen for themselves! You’ve got this!
For more information about The Strong Movement™, check out its website. You can use the special code: LADYCLEVER for $50 OFF The Strong Movement™ eBook Program Series Bundle (valued at $147), and LADYACTIVE for FREE Shipping on orders of $75 or more of new activewear!
