Baylor MBA Alum Promotes Healthy Lifestyle Through Education

Jana Pickett, a graduate of the Baylor University – Hankamer School of Business, has used her MBA education to turn her passion for fitness into a business.

Pickett graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2009 before earning her MBA in the Executive MBA Program at Baylor in 2016. Currently, Pickett owns two locations of OrangeTheory Fitness in Austin.

Founded in 2007, OrangeTheory Fitness is a fitness studio franchise that spans throughout all fifty states and over 17 countries. The studio is based around group fitness, offering a one-hour full body workout which is half based in cardio and half in strength/weight-training.

According to Pickett, fitness was a key element in helping her stay focused and healthy while pursuing an education. It was during this time that she discovered a passion for providing others with the same chance—an environment that offers those with busy schedules the chance to take a break and stay healthy.

“What really sets us apart is the heart rate based interval training,” Pickett said of the company. “The workout is backed by the science of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, and by maintaining a target heart rate zone that stimulates metabolism and increases energy.” At OrangeTheory, every class is taught by a nationally certified coach who is committed to motivating each member and helping them to reach their personal goals.

Through her work at OrangeTheory, Pickett has found a way to use her MBA education for something she is passionate about and in a way that helps others. “Since we’ve opened, I’ve found that it is even more rewarding than I initially expected,” she said, “there is something so special about watching our members develop and see the results that they have worked so hard to achieve.”

regions: Dallas

About the Author