Maria Gonzalez arrived in the United States from Colombia at age 20 without speaking English. With a background in competitive swimming, water polo experience and accounting, she faced the intimidating challenge of building a life in a new country. Today, she stands as the CEO of ClubFitness Greensboro and serves on the Health & Fitness Association board, contributing her expertise internationally.

Her journey embodies determination, fearlessness, and refusal to accept limitations. While language barriers and cultural differences might have paralyzed many, Maria used her background in swimming as a foundation to communicate when words failed. This willingness to leverage her strengths became a pattern throughout her career, enabling her to convert challenges into personal and career growth opportunities.

Courage to Ask and Assert

Maria’s ascent from lifeguard to CEO wasn’t accidental—it was built on calculated courage and unwavering self-belief. She never hesitated to put herself forward when opportunities appeared, even when doubt crept in. “At times people may think that I’m just fearless and maybe I am,” she reflects, highlighting her daring approach to career advancement.

This fearlessness extends to professional networking.  Maria does not wait for connections to happen, she creates them.  “At conferences, I identify the people I want to connect with, introduce myself, and ask questions and I stay connected,” she explains. Her proactive approach to relationship-building opened doors that might have remained closed to someone less proactive.

Perhaps most remarkable is her resilience when facing rejection. She initially succumbed to disappointment after an unsuccessful first application to the prestigious Health & Fitness Association board. Yet something called her back, compelling her to try again, which ultimately secured her a position that has allowed her to represent the association in Latin America and speak at international fitness conferences in China, Mexico and Brazil.

From Poolside Observer to Industry Leader

Maria’s professional journey in NC began at a Greensboro country club and ClubFitness, where she worked as a lifeguard. Even then, her expertise was evident as she watched swimmers and thought, “I can fix that stroke. I can help you.” Her proactive work ethic quickly set her apart as she never waited to be told what to do; instead, she completed tasks, sought additional responsibilities, and always gave 110%.

A few years into her tenure, an opportunity arose to lead the aquatics program. Despite her apprehensions about directing people from a different culture in a language she was still mastering, Maria prepared thoroughly, creating a presentation with help from a colleague. This experience taught her a valuable lesson: there’s nothing that we accomplish by ourselves. Someone always comes in our path with a purpose to help us grow and change, whether we realize it at the time or not. 

The trajectory continued as she joined the management team two years later and eventually became general manager while still running the aquatics department. This growth occurred despite moments of self-doubt. “At times it’s funny because I’m like, I have no clue. I’m like, are you sure?” she admits. Yet she accepted the challenge each time and figured out how to succeed.

Final Thoughts

The true power of Maria’s story lies in her approach to opportunity rather than her titles. She embraces a philosophy that opportunity doesn’t discriminate by position: “Never underestimate what level you’re at. You can be at the front desk, you can be a swimming instructor, you can be a trainer, you can be the cleaning person—whatever that is—just do it, do it well, and do it with heart.”

This perspective illuminates the often-overlooked truth that career foundations matter deeply. The excellence we bring to our early roles builds the character and reputation that create future opportunities. Maria didn’t start with dreams of board positions or international speaking engagements, she simply committed to excellence at every stage, allowing her journey to unfold organically through consistent quality and authentic passion.

About Elisa Edelstein
Elisa is a curious and versatile writer, carving her niche in the health and wellness industry since 2015. Her lens is rooted in real world experience as a personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder and extended out of the gym and on to the page as a writer where she is able to combine her passions for empowering others, promoting wellness, and the power of the written word.