The fitness industry runs on passion, but it thrives on real connection. That’s why it was so meaningful when hundreds of coaches, trainers, and industry professionals gathered in Santa Monica on January 17th for Career Lab LIVE by Coach360. They showed up ready to learn, share, and support each other, and they didn’t disappoint.

Sponsored by brands like Sudor, NASM, Linear Bar, Aletha, Recovery Experience, Hyperice, Divvy Health, WOLFpak, TONA leggings, and FloWater, the event showcased some of the brightest minds in health and wellness, alongside a packed agenda of education and meaningful exchanges that left attendees energized and equipped for their next chapter.

What Went Down

The day kicked off with an outdoor TRX workout to get everyone moving, followed by a healthy breakfast and a Root to Rise Cacao and meditation ceremony facilitated by Hannah Ritchie and Kait Tomkosky. This intentional opening gave attendees space to center themselves and approach the day with clarity and purpose. Kathleen Ferguson followed with welcoming remarks that set the tone for what was ahead. Attendees were greeted with WOLFpak goodie bags, water jugs from Divvy Health, and clean, fresh water from FloWater. 

Panels and sessions throughout the day featured industry leaders, including Luke Milton, Marc Rodriguez, Jessica Maurer, Kim Lyons, Shawn Ray, Ashley Kaltwasser, David Van Daff, Christine Koth, Efonda Sproles, David Sherman-Presser, Dorin Heid, and Michael Henderson. Wendy Fortino closed out the event with a keynote that brought everything full circle. Topics ranged from scaling a business and standing out in a crowded market to finding authenticity and daring to dream bigger. The midday movement break led by Maricris Lapaix added levity and laughter, reminding everyone that joy matters just as much as strategy.

White Rabbit kept the energy alive all day, while California Ice Protein handed out their protein ice cream bars for a pick-me-up, and Colour Addicts made the space feel welcoming and polished, and all those who joined spent the day munching on Linear Bars. Attendees tested Aletha tools, relaxed in (and some fell asleep in) massage chairs, tried out Hyperice recovery equipment, and a few lucky winners brought home some Hyperice gear of their own. At the end of the night, Sudor drew the names of two winners who were ready to level up their businesses by building their own app through Sudor. NASM also awarded the winner of its giveaway a free course on Physique and Bodybuilding Coaching, helping level up careers. 

The Real Takeaway

Attendees flew in from Hawaii, Cape Town, Canada, and Chicago. They drove across state lines and showed up ready to engage. Notebooks filled with scribbled insights, excited glances exchanged between neighbors during panels, and the hum of conversation during breaks painted a picture of a group hungry to elevate their careers and their communities.

The room buzzed with professionals offering advice, swapping ideas, and forming relationships that will carry them forward into their next ventures. Career Lab LIVE created a space where ambition and encouragement were plentiful, seasoned veterans sat alongside newcomers, and where everyone walked away with something they didn’t have before—whether that was a new contact, a fresh perspective, or simply the reminder that they’re part of something bigger.

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who made Career Lab LIVE what it was. The coaches who showed up eager to learn, the sponsors who believed in this vision, the speakers who generously shared their wisdom, and the attendees who brought their full energy to every moment—you made this day exceptional. Watching this community come together with such enthusiasm and openness fills us with pride. Serving a group of professionals this talented and committed is an honor we don’t take lightly.

Final Thoughts

Every person who traveled across the country or booked a last-minute flight to Santa Monica made a decision that their growth mattered enough to prioritize. That kind of commitment ripples outward—into the clients they train, the studios they build, and the communities they serve.

Kathleen, Al, and I saw that commitment reflected back in every conversation, every question asked during panels, and every connection made between sessions. The gratitude runs deep for a community that shows up this fiercely. Events like this are built by people willing to invest in themselves and each other, and the ideas sparked in that room will shape careers and businesses for years to come.

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.