Female Founder Feature: Chloe de Winter – Go Chlo Pilates

Chloe de Winter is the founder of Go Chlo Pilates, a premium Pilates platform offering classes for every ‘body’ that can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime. With a long-standing passion for movement and a Masters of Physiotherapy under her wing, Chloe’s Pilates classes are technique based and put the ‘fun’ in functional practice.

After unexpectedly becoming stuck in Australia in 2020, Chloe realised how much everyone was craving movement and connection, and as a result started teaching live classes. The positive response from the lives led to the organic establishment of Go Chlo Pilates – a global on demand Pilates platform.

Today, Chloe is on a mission to inspire people to change their relationship and perception of the role exercise plays in their lives, and use it as a way to celebrate your body, not punish it.

We spoke to Chloe about overcoming doubt and adjusting your career plans in a pandemic.

How did you come to start your business? Was there a particular spark or a significant turning point?

I started my business out of necessity! When COVID happened, after living in New York for three years, I found myself stuck in Australia and without work. I really had no other option other than to take my teachings online and try to build an online community. My first zoom class had 60 people register and that was the spark I needed to realise that I could do this full time!

When you initially started your business, what hurdles did you face?

My own inner doubts. Enter imposter syndrome! After working as a physiotherapist and Pilates instructor in a physical studio for many years, I felt nervous and vulnerable about teaching online. There is nowhere to hide, and my videos could be seen by anyone – it was scary.

Who or what was integral to you overcoming these hurdles?

As soon as I launched Go Chlo Pilates, a community of movers around the world came together. This community is what helped me overcome my own self doubts. Some of these people I had never met, but their kindness and support (shown through DMs, emails and comments) made a huge impact on my personal confidence.

What makes your business unique?

While there are other Pilates platforms out there, what sets Go Chlo Pilates apart is my experience working as a Physiotherapist. All the classes have been designed with clinical expertise and anatomical accuracy to ensure that they make my clients build strength and stability, safely.

I also add 5 new classes every week to Go Chlo on Demand, which is a lot more than most of the other platforms in the market.

Also, I think Pilates should be fun and not taken too seriously and you’ll feel that too!

What is a piece of advice you wish you had been told before starting your entrepreneurial journey?

That even though it’s your own business and you have more freedom, you will work harder than you ever have. But, you will find it so much more rewarding.

What is your favourite aspect of being an entrepreneur?

The sense of pride I feel with each step and each success, no matter how small. I genuinely smile and “woo” with each new subscriber that signs up to Go Chlo On Demand!

What do you believe was the best decision you made in business?

On Instagram, I DM’d a journalist and podcast host that I have admired for years, and offered a free Pilates class to her and her team as a way of saying thank you for keeping me sane during lockdown. I never expected anything from it. I taught them the Pilates class, and from that have now fostered my most important professional relationship with Mamamia, the leading women’s media agency in Australia.

Outsource the skill or learn the skill?

While my first instinct is always to learn it, I have learnt (the hard way) that it is often better to outsource. If you can afford to, outsourcing to someone who can achieve the goal quicker and better is smart. Your time is so valuable so value it!

Do you have a business app you can’t live without?

Canva! I create everything in Canva from Instagram stories, email creative, logos and branding assets.

Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?

JS Health – as a longtime lover and fan of this business (and female founder), it’s been inspiring to watch it grow from strength to strength.