No money. No connections. How 4 women built their own success

By Jaime Catmull @ Under30CEO

Dr. Desi Bartlett’s career started with an injury she never expected.

Bartlett says she left home at 16 after growing up in a household affected by addiction. She made her way to Arizona State University, where she was studying dance when she injured her knee. A chance encounter with Miss Olympia Jackie Paisley introduced her to strength training.

“Strength training saved my body,” Bartlett told me.

It also changed the direction of her life.

Bartlett went on to earn her master’s degree while supporting herself through personal training and group fitness. From there, she began building a career around helping others through movement.

More than 30 years later, Bartlett has become a leading women’s health and wellness expert, working with major brands and high-profile clients. She has written three books, including Total Body Beautiful, with a foreword by Kate Hudson, and expanded her work into international women’s wellness retreats.

Her own experience with perimenopause eventually gave her a new problem to solve. Decades into her career, Bartlett went back to school for her doctorate and ultimately created The BodyMind Workout, her signature method and digital platform for women navigating perimenopause and menopause. She was named the 2025 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year and a 2026 MSN Top Health Voice.

Through all those chapters, Bartlett says the message that has guided her is simple: “Share your gifts.”