Philly Club Builds Sweat Equity with SLT’s Amanda Freeman

A dozen intrepid alumni from the HBS Club of Philadelphia recently worked up quite a sweat to learn more about the fitness industry from wellness entrepreneur and HBS alumna Amanda Freeman (MBA 2003).

The workout was part of the club’s June networking event, which included a fireside chat with Freeman, founder and CEO of boutique fitness studio SLT (Strengthen, Lengthen & Tone). SLT combines cardio, Pilates, and strength training on individual sled-type fitness platforms called megaformers for a total-body workout.

Amanda Freeman (MBA 2003) at SLT

Amanda Freeman (MBA 2003) at SLT

A self-described “serial fitness entrepreneur,” Freeman has taken the New York-based SLT from a start-up to a private equity–funded fitness brand with 24 locations in six states. The SLT studio in the Center City District of Philadelphia played host the club’s workout and discussion, and Freeman herself led the workout.

“It was a very hard workout,” says Max de la Bruyere (MBA 2018), who organized the event. Already a devotee to SLT Philadelphia, Bruyere reached out to Freeman about a fireside chat after he discovered she was an HBS grad.

“I love SLT,“ he says, “and I just thought Amanda’s experience in the fitness industry, and how she took on private equity to expand her business, would make an interesting discussion.”

In addition to SLT, Freeman is the cofounder of Stretch*d, a new studio in New York City focusing exclusively on stretching.

After the 50-minute workout, guests enjoyed a brief cool-down with healthy refreshments, followed by an hour-long discussion.

“Teaching this group was a lot of fun,” says Freeman. “It was a whole new experience for most of them, but they all got through it. A few of them joined the Philly studio that night.”

Freeman enjoyed the chance to talk with fellow alumni and show them what she’s been building.

“We shared a lot about what makes you pursue an idea, what makes it worthy and what the biggest challenges might be,” she says. “I’m nine years in, and so the focus now is different than it was in the beginning.”

Oregon Alumni Take a Westward Whiskey Flight

It was all about the spirits at the June networking event of the HBS Association of Oregon (HBSAO). That’s when 30 alumni gathered at the Westward Whiskey distillery in Portland for a Westward Whiskey Night, featuring a tour, tastings of its signature Westward American Single Malt Whiskey, and a chance to connect.

Tom Mooney (MBA 2001), co-owner and CEO of Westward Whiskey and a board member of the HBS Association of Southern California (HBSASC), offered his distillery as a place for Portland alumni to gather because “it was a no-cost opportunity for the club to do something a little different,” he says. “Having been in club leadership, I’m aware that the clubs are always looking for ideas for events.”

Thomas Mooney at Westward Whiskey

Thomas Mooney at Westward Whiskey

Though he lives in California, Mooney has had a strong connection to the Oregon club ever since he approached its members a few years ago to get advice about starting the distillery in Portland.

After Oregon club leaders spoke about the benefits of club involvement, Mooney shared his story of establishing House Spirits Distillery—“What’s amazing and what’s challenging,” he says. “We’re proud of what we’ve built, so to be able to show it to other alumni was really fun.”

Mooney gave the group an introduction to the spirits industry and talked about whiskey culture. He then gave tours of the distillery and offered a cocktail menu featuring Westward Whiskey and other spirits in their tasting room.

The turnout was larger than expected and very enthusiastic—the evening concluded an hour later than planned. “We saw a nice mix of younger and older alumni, and folks from lots of different industries.”

In all, Mooney says the evening was a success, in part, he believes, because it wasn’t just another luncheon in a boardroom.

“There are craft distilleries in every major city. So this idea is transferable to other clubs,” he says. “And it’s nice to offer more casual opportunities to connect, especially for more recent grads.”

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