Blood, Sweat, and Barre: Beth Anne and Ellen on Building Novo and Nurturing Community

Episode 7: Riskier Not to Try: Hudson Terrell on Entrepreneurship, Food, & Finding His Path

Episode Summary:

When sisters BethAnn Kennedy and Ellen Cobb opened Novo Fitness Studio in 2014, they had no business background—just a shared love of movement, a few borrowed ideas, and a one-year lease they could break if no one showed up. Eleven years later, Novo has become a Columbus favorite and a thriving community that stretches far beyond workouts.

In this episode, BethAnn and Ellen share what it’s like to build a business with family, create a culture that keeps people coming back, and stay grounded through seasons of change, risk, and growth. From early days of teaching every class themselves to navigating COVID shutdowns and building an on-demand platform in 48 hours, their story is packed with lessons on perseverance, purpose, and people-first leadership.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Novo started with a one-year lease and a prayer.
• How they turned $30,000 in family startup funds into a thriving studio in under a year.
• What makes Novo’s “warm, welcoming, inclusive” culture so magnetic—and intentional.
• How they grew from 12 classes a week to 70 without losing their personal touch.
• The role family plays—from child care to business mentorship.
• What they learned traveling to fitness studios around the country.
• How they handled the pandemic, launching a full on-demand platform overnight.
• Why their mission shifted from “get fit fast” to “help people feel strong and supported.”
• The story behind their six-month apprenticeship model and employee code of conduct.
• How faith, family, and hard work shaped every step of their journey.

Memorable Quotes:

• “If you would’ve told us we’d grow up and do fitness, we’d have said—what?”
• “When we opened, we just hoped people would show up. Now we have waitlists.”
• “The community built Novo. We just created a space where people felt seen.”
• “We didn’t know what we were doing, but we were willing to work for free until it worked.”
• “You can’t be successful without people. You have to have people.”
• “Novo means change—and it’s changed us just as much as it’s changed our clients.”

Key Takeaways:

• Start small, think big. Their first lease was one year—with an exit clause. Now Novo is a recognized name across Columbus.

• Community beats marketing. To this day, they’ve never paid for traditional advertising—growth came from referrals and relationships.

• Culture comes from intention. Every team member goes through culture training and mentorship before stepping into class.

• Adversity can be a launchpad. The pandemic forced them to pivot fast—and led to new digital opportunities.

• Balance is a myth, teamwork isn’t. Working as sisters means carrying the load together, through both business and family life.

Connect with Novo Fitness Studio:

Visit: novofitnessstudio.com
Follow on Instagram: @novofitnessstudio
Find Novo merch around town—or join a class yourself in Columbus, GA.

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