In this episode, Alex speaks with Jeff Zwiefel, former President & COO of Life Time, about scaling the business from $139M to $2.3B in revenue and navigating multiple private equity exits and IPOs. Jeff shares how a people-first culture and rigorous training enabled long-term, sustainable growth in a competitive industry. Jeff discusses why private equity firms often miss the mark by focusing only on KPIs and financials, instead of investing in leadership, culture, and succession. He explains Life Time’s unique "casting" approach to hiring, their internal university for training, and the importance of empowering GMs as mini-CEOs of their locations. The conversation also covers trends in the health and wellness sector, the rise of personalized longevity services, and how private equity can unlock new value in this rapidly evolving space. 🕰️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Jeff Zwiefel’s background & journey at Life Time 01:53 – The biggest mistake PE firms make 03:21 – Why people, culture, and purpose drive success 06:15 – How to assess leadership in health and fitness businesses 08:13 – “Casting,” not hiring: Building the right team 09:38 – Lifetime University & Navy SEAL-style GM training 11:34 – Accountability, culture, and performance awards 13:29 – The GM certification process & promotion pipeline 17:20 – Investing in employees for long-term loyalty 19:18 – Dashboards & career growth planning 20:48 – Leadership by example: From towel folding to training 22:43 – Core traits Jeff looks for in leaders 24:09 – The 8 leadership attributes at Life Time 25:36 – How ownership mindset and equity drives behavior 28:29 – Interview strategies for soft skills and leadership potential 32:18 – Measuring success through team development and turnover 34:15 – Auditing the customer experience as a PE firm 35:14 – Lessons from COVID: Digital experience & pricing 39:07 – PE deal activity in health & fitness 41:06 – Jeff’s new venture: Miura Performance & Longevity 43:55 – Practical health advice for busy professionals 46:20 – Supplements, red light, cold plunge, and more 47:50 – Opportunity for PE in bundling wellness services 48:17 – How to contact Jeff 📌 Key Takeaways: PE must look beyond financials to people and leadership. High performance culture starts with casting, training, and accountability. Wellness and longevity are emerging as investable and scalable PE categories. Personalized health solutions offer huge market potential. 📨 Connect with Jeff Zwiefel: 🔗 LinkedIn 🌐 jzweifel.com Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success. 🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/ 🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires. Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.
