Hey all -
This latest post is the shift I was promising; removing the discussion from myself to those who are out in
the world, making a difference. I had the honor of sitting down with one such person, one of the owners
of CrossFit Iron Flag, Kelly McGriff-Culver. In the article below, she explained how she has overcome,
and continues to overcome female stereotypes in the world of business and has been extremely
successful in changing people's lives for the better. Enjoy.
the world, making a difference. I had the honor of sitting down with one such person, one of the owners
of CrossFit Iron Flag, Kelly McGriff-Culver. In the article below, she explained how she has overcome,
and continues to overcome female stereotypes in the world of business and has been extremely
successful in changing people's lives for the better. Enjoy.
Walk in to CrossFit Iron Flag around 11:30 am on any weekday, and you will see her. Regardless of the
crowd of athletes that surround the whiteboard, a wall of humanity that would make it impossible to see
through, you know she's there. In an instant, her voice, equal parts enthusiastic, inviting, but
unquestionably authoritative, rises above the cacophony of all the other voices. And just like that,
she is as clear to see as if the bodies in front of her were windows. Her name is Kelly McGriff-Culver,
and she is an owner of Crossfit Iron Flag, and the reluctant face of the gym and coaching staff. I say
reluctant because she doesn't enjoy the spotlight or the attention. She would prefer to spend her time
providing the best experience possible to everyone who walks through the door, creating new programs
for members, giving words of encouragement to all on the floor, and being a beacon of hope for all females
in that space. She is more than coach, owner, mother, wife, athlete. She is a trailblazer, providing those
who follow a roadmap for success in a world that is still male dominated.
crowd of athletes that surround the whiteboard, a wall of humanity that would make it impossible to see
through, you know she's there. In an instant, her voice, equal parts enthusiastic, inviting, but
unquestionably authoritative, rises above the cacophony of all the other voices. And just like that,
she is as clear to see as if the bodies in front of her were windows. Her name is Kelly McGriff-Culver,
and she is an owner of Crossfit Iron Flag, and the reluctant face of the gym and coaching staff. I say
reluctant because she doesn't enjoy the spotlight or the attention. She would prefer to spend her time
providing the best experience possible to everyone who walks through the door, creating new programs
for members, giving words of encouragement to all on the floor, and being a beacon of hope for all females
in that space. She is more than coach, owner, mother, wife, athlete. She is a trailblazer, providing those
who follow a roadmap for success in a world that is still male dominated.
Kelly grew up in Quincy, IL a small town in the southern part of the state. An impressive athlete in her
own right, she was a varsity Volleyball and Basketball player for 2 years of high school. She was
fascinated with fitness, and more specifically, exercise science and kinesiology, which she studied while
at Marquette. She transferred to ISU to be closer to home when her oldest son was born. Now a single
mother, wanting to finish college while still pursuing her dream of working with professional sports teams
as an athletic trainer, she made the necessary sacrifices to do both - study and raise her son. This was
not an easy task, especially when she was fulfilling an internship requirement in college that had her
shadowing the Chicago Bulls strength and conditioning coach.
own right, she was a varsity Volleyball and Basketball player for 2 years of high school. She was
fascinated with fitness, and more specifically, exercise science and kinesiology, which she studied while
at Marquette. She transferred to ISU to be closer to home when her oldest son was born. Now a single
mother, wanting to finish college while still pursuing her dream of working with professional sports teams
as an athletic trainer, she made the necessary sacrifices to do both - study and raise her son. This was
not an easy task, especially when she was fulfilling an internship requirement in college that had her
shadowing the Chicago Bulls strength and conditioning coach.
Kelly recalls, "The male athletes, they didn't respond well to a female being in that setting. Obviously,
the locker room was off limits to me, and I could tell there was a lack of respect by the players and other
staff members." She continued, "It was a male dominated world, and everyone made it pretty clear that
women, regardless of how far people thought we had come, were not welcome in that setting."
Undeterred, she knew staying in the Chicagoland area would provide her the best opportunity to hone
her craft. It was at this time that she shifted her focus from rehabilitation to a proactive style of training.
She recognized that making athletes globally strong would help their sport-specific fitness and increase
their shelf life in the pros.
the locker room was off limits to me, and I could tell there was a lack of respect by the players and other
staff members." She continued, "It was a male dominated world, and everyone made it pretty clear that
women, regardless of how far people thought we had come, were not welcome in that setting."
Undeterred, she knew staying in the Chicagoland area would provide her the best opportunity to hone
her craft. It was at this time that she shifted her focus from rehabilitation to a proactive style of training.
She recognized that making athletes globally strong would help their sport-specific fitness and increase
their shelf life in the pros.
At this time, she took a position at a sport performance facility in the western suburbs of Chicago called
Get Fast. Again, she was the only female trainer, working with high level high school and college athletes
. She found herself working at least 10 times harder to gain the respect of the athletes before they would
take her seriously. "When I was assigned an athlete, the look I got was, 'Great, I got the female trainer.
She's not going to work me very hard.'" That was a mistake on their part, as it became clear that Kelly
not only knew how to work them, hard and smart, but she knew her stuff. Better than the others. She
quickly got a reputation for being the toughest coach in the program. Still, with all her success, she was
repeatedly overlooked for promotions, regardless of her seniority. She was putting in more time, and
more effort, than her male counterparts, yet the work she did went unnoticed. "There were no females
in a supervisory role. No matter what I did, I wasn't getting close to the respect of the guys I worked with."
Get Fast. Again, she was the only female trainer, working with high level high school and college athletes
. She found herself working at least 10 times harder to gain the respect of the athletes before they would
take her seriously. "When I was assigned an athlete, the look I got was, 'Great, I got the female trainer.
She's not going to work me very hard.'" That was a mistake on their part, as it became clear that Kelly
not only knew how to work them, hard and smart, but she knew her stuff. Better than the others. She
quickly got a reputation for being the toughest coach in the program. Still, with all her success, she was
repeatedly overlooked for promotions, regardless of her seniority. She was putting in more time, and
more effort, than her male counterparts, yet the work she did went unnoticed. "There were no females
in a supervisory role. No matter what I did, I wasn't getting close to the respect of the guys I worked with."
Things would take another turn for her when her second child was born, now finding herself a single
mom of 2, and in need of a job with more stable hours. Although she enjoyed working with athletes, the
hours at Get Fast were chaotic and didn't provide her the kind of stability that a 9 to 5 gig would. So she
took her talents to corporate wellness, where she once again realized the disparity in pay between
herself and her male peers. She was the manager of the corporate wellness center at LifeStart, yet she
was not making the same as others with the same experience and seniority. However, while at this
position, she met her former partner, Joe, with whom she shared similar passions. Both saw more
opportunity in the world of health and fitness. Both were looking for an opportunity to do more to help
people regain health they had lost. At this time, Kelly was coaching a Saturday speed class at CrossFit
Rise in Schaumburg. She was fascinated by what she saw - people of all shapes and sizes, coming
together to do a workout, cheering one another on, supportive and happy. A stark contrast to corporate
wellness, where people went to walk on a treadmill for 30 minutes to kill time.
mom of 2, and in need of a job with more stable hours. Although she enjoyed working with athletes, the
hours at Get Fast were chaotic and didn't provide her the kind of stability that a 9 to 5 gig would. So she
took her talents to corporate wellness, where she once again realized the disparity in pay between
herself and her male peers. She was the manager of the corporate wellness center at LifeStart, yet she
was not making the same as others with the same experience and seniority. However, while at this
position, she met her former partner, Joe, with whom she shared similar passions. Both saw more
opportunity in the world of health and fitness. Both were looking for an opportunity to do more to help
people regain health they had lost. At this time, Kelly was coaching a Saturday speed class at CrossFit
Rise in Schaumburg. She was fascinated by what she saw - people of all shapes and sizes, coming
together to do a workout, cheering one another on, supportive and happy. A stark contrast to corporate
wellness, where people went to walk on a treadmill for 30 minutes to kill time.
So in 2013, Kelly and Joe bet on themselves and opened CrossFit Iron Flag in Westmont, IL. Initially,
the athlete in Kelly was looking to capture more of the athletic types from the area, either former or
current athletes; the kind of individuals she was used to seeing while at Get Fast. But she quickly
realized that CrossFit had a much broader scope, brought in people of all backgrounds and fitness levels
, and she possessed the tools to help them. Her mindset and her heart went from "let’s get a cool, high
end athlete vibe" to "let's help this community be the best it can be." And at that moment, her talents and
passion became clear and on display for all who came to the gym.
the athlete in Kelly was looking to capture more of the athletic types from the area, either former or
current athletes; the kind of individuals she was used to seeing while at Get Fast. But she quickly
realized that CrossFit had a much broader scope, brought in people of all backgrounds and fitness levels
, and she possessed the tools to help them. Her mindset and her heart went from "let’s get a cool, high
end athlete vibe" to "let's help this community be the best it can be." And at that moment, her talents and
passion became clear and on display for all who came to the gym.
Realizing that the gym was an opportunity to do more than just provide a place for people to work out,
she split with Joe, and forged ahead. Her goal became to be the "neighborhood gym, where all are
welcome, where all are equal." She was working towards this, even if she was not receiving the same in
turn. "Being a mom, and a business owner, the societal expectations are pretty rough." She explained,
"Society expects women to be able to do it all, be a mom, be a wife, and then be a professional. Men
can put their career first, and no one blinks an eye. But a female does the same, and she's made to
feel like she's a bad mom."
she split with Joe, and forged ahead. Her goal became to be the "neighborhood gym, where all are
welcome, where all are equal." She was working towards this, even if she was not receiving the same in
turn. "Being a mom, and a business owner, the societal expectations are pretty rough." She explained,
"Society expects women to be able to do it all, be a mom, be a wife, and then be a professional. Men
can put their career first, and no one blinks an eye. But a female does the same, and she's made to
feel like she's a bad mom."
Overcoming those obstacles wasn’t and isn't easy. She still struggles with a balance between owner,
mom, wife, athlete. But she hasn't backed down from her dreams. Rather, she sees herself as a
trailblazer, someone who can show women they don't have to put a limit on their dreams. "Women have
this constant feeling of, 'am I good enough.' Am I a good enough Mom? Wife? The pull of those things
can make women feel guilty for wanting more in life. But that's an outdated mindset. We can have more
, we can follow dreams and passions. We should never be limited by what society thinks, what our neighbors
think. At the end of the day I know I'm a good mom, a good wife and a good boss."
Those who know her would agree; she is not only loved and respected by the members, she has
become a role model for women in the gym and the community as a whole.
mom, wife, athlete. But she hasn't backed down from her dreams. Rather, she sees herself as a
trailblazer, someone who can show women they don't have to put a limit on their dreams. "Women have
this constant feeling of, 'am I good enough.' Am I a good enough Mom? Wife? The pull of those things
can make women feel guilty for wanting more in life. But that's an outdated mindset. We can have more
, we can follow dreams and passions. We should never be limited by what society thinks, what our neighbors
think. At the end of the day I know I'm a good mom, a good wife and a good boss."
Those who know her would agree; she is not only loved and respected by the members, she has
become a role model for women in the gym and the community as a whole.
"I want women to realize that being strong is beautiful, on every level. That there is not a
perfect 'shape,' that muscles and are feminine, that lifting heavy weight is feminine, that women
sacrifice none of their femininity by doing what the guys are doing. I want to help women gain
confidence by taking the focus away from looks, to what they can do in the gym. The weights they can
lift, the gymnastics movements, the long metcons. That takes grit. That builds confidence."
perfect 'shape,' that muscles and are feminine, that lifting heavy weight is feminine, that women
sacrifice none of their femininity by doing what the guys are doing. I want to help women gain
confidence by taking the focus away from looks, to what they can do in the gym. The weights they can
lift, the gymnastics movements, the long metcons. That takes grit. That builds confidence."
As CrossFit has gained more popularity, the acceptance of females with muscles has grown, but there
are still several hurdles. Regardless, she knows that every day she is reaching a wide and constantly
growing membership that is seeing the change in themselves, and how the internal changes are
making positive effects on how they view life outside the gym. "I want our members to leave the daily
grind in the parking lot. I want them to feel welcomed, appreciated, understood, important. Because
I take their health and fitness very seriously. I don't ever want them to doubt that."
are still several hurdles. Regardless, she knows that every day she is reaching a wide and constantly
growing membership that is seeing the change in themselves, and how the internal changes are
making positive effects on how they view life outside the gym. "I want our members to leave the daily
grind in the parking lot. I want them to feel welcomed, appreciated, understood, important. Because
I take their health and fitness very seriously. I don't ever want them to doubt that."
So where does she go from here? Well, when I asked her, she stated, "In 5 years, my husband and I
would like to have two more locations, one with athletic performance as the focus. I also want to grow
our masters program, reaching the 50 plus crowd, who need exercise to improve their quality of life."
Clearly, she is not allowing the social pressures to rein in her dreams. And that's a good thing. What
she is doing daily is helping people fight diabetes, autoimmune diseases, combat arthritis, decrease
heart disease, and give people back the things they have given away with age and responsibilities.
More importantly though, she's breaking the stereotypes of what professional women can and can't
have, all with a smile on her face.
would like to have two more locations, one with athletic performance as the focus. I also want to grow
our masters program, reaching the 50 plus crowd, who need exercise to improve their quality of life."
Clearly, she is not allowing the social pressures to rein in her dreams. And that's a good thing. What
she is doing daily is helping people fight diabetes, autoimmune diseases, combat arthritis, decrease
heart disease, and give people back the things they have given away with age and responsibilities.
More importantly though, she's breaking the stereotypes of what professional women can and can't
have, all with a smile on her face.
