Debra Strougo

Founder of Row House (acquired by Xponential Fitness), longtime industry operator, strategic advisor, and growth catalyst helping shape the evolving wellness, fitness, and longevity ecosystem.Over the past 20+ years, I have operated across multiple sides of the industry simultaneously — entrepreneur, operator, advisor, strategist, ecosystem builder, and industry advocate — giving me a uniquely cross-functional perspective on where the market is headed and how companies can strategically position themselves within it.Today, through Fitizens Co-Pilot, I work with leading wellness, fitness, hospitality, franchising, and technology brands on strategic growth initiatives spanning:• Business development & monetization strategy• Enterprise partnerships & relationship cultivation• Market positioning & ecosystem strategy• Brand amplification & industry influence• Franchise & operator growth• Wellness innovation & strategic advisory• Industry connectivity & partnership developmentI am known for helping connect the dots across operators, brands, platforms, investors, founders, and strategic opportunities in ways that create long-tail enterprise value and meaningful industry momentum.My background includes:• Founder & scaling operator of Row House, later acquired by Xponential Fitness• Leadership roles spanning partnerships, sponsorships, tourism (The creation of Broadway Week!), publishing, wellness, franchising, and fitness innovation• Strategic advisory work across boutique fitness, recovery, longevity, wellness technology, and consumer wellness brands• Industry-wide relationship building across operators, platforms, founders, investors, franchisors, and enterprise groups• Board service with IHRSA/HFA since 2021I continue to serve as an advisor, speaker, moderator, and contributor across major industry events and conversations, frequently speaking on:• Wellness & fitness innovation• Women’s health & consumer wellness trends• Boutique fitness & franchising evolution• Recovery & longevity trends• Technology’s role in wellness experiences• Community, hospitality, and consumer engagement• The future of connected wellness ecosystemsWhat excites me most is helping companies and leaders think bigger — creating strategic alignment, market excitement, industry influence, and growth beyond traditional sales or transactional partnerships alone.📍SoCal / New York🌐 Founder’s Co-Pilot @ Fitizens🎤 Speaker | Advisor | Board Member | Growth Strategist