I recently went one-on-one with Jamie Weeks, founder of SweatHouz and Founders Row.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you.
Jamie: I’m your normal 50-year-old dad of 2 amazing girls and a wife of 23 years, based in Atlanta, GA. I was the largest OTF franchisee in the world. I sold to Private Equity in 2017 and scaled the business to 142 studios before the pandemic hit the business hard. I then started SweatHouz (swthz) in 2019 and actually saw more people coming in through the pandemic and scaled it as well to a majority sale to Private Equity in 2022. The last 3 years with the PE firm has been very tough as we had very different opinions on how the business should be run. With them owning the majority, their philosophy on the biz wins, and I ultimately left in April of 2025 to start Founders Row, a hybrid investment and operating platform that is as founder-friendly a firm to ever existed. In our first 6 months of operation, we will have closed 6 deals across all sectors and are looking to continue the momentum into 2026. We see a very clear problem in the PE world, and we think we are solving that problem for founders that have never had the experience with PE that I have.
Adam: In your experience, what are the key steps to growing and scaling your businesses?
Jamie: A shared vision amongst the leadership of the company. When you have 5-10 people that believe in a vision that’s being laid out by the founder/owner/CEO, and each person understands their respective roles in that vision, anything is possible.
Adam: What are your best tips on the topics of marketing and branding?
Jamie: Very business specific, but organic, ugc, testimonials. Less influencers and more real clients talking about their actual experience. A founder telling the story of why this product or service matters. At the end of the day, your product or service has to solve a problem or a missing segment of business. The marketing should expose the answer to the problem
Adam: What do you believe are the defining qualities of an effective leader?
Jamie: Communication of the clear vision. Understanding what you don’t do well, and hiring for the holes in the organization. Fast mistakes, fast fixes. Be nimble and ready to pivot at a moment’s notice. No committees, decide and go.
Adam: How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Jamie: Get a mentor of someone who has done it before and ask them to take time to teach you through real-life scenarios. Nothing replaces experience, and when you don’t have any, find someone who has had the experiences and beg them to mentor you.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Jamie: Be the best communicator in every room you go in. Be the first to make decisions, good and bad. Never ever give up.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Jamie: 2 ears, 1 mouth, use accordingly.
Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Jamie: Being the most passionate and effective communicator will move mountains faster than anyone else. The faster you go, the faster you get experience, the faster you get experience, the sooner you can make less mistakes… that’s when you win. Speed always wins.
