Anne Mahlum

Mahlum is originally from Bismarck, North Dakota. Her school’s alumni biography records her graduation from Bismarck High School in 1999.⁠[1]

She earned a master’s degree in political communication at American University in Washington. Her early career included directing outreach and marketing at Philadelphia civic watchdog Committee of Seventy and operating her own communications consultancy.⁠[1]

After encountering shelter residents on her Philadelphia morning runs, she organized a running club that became the nonprofit Back on My Feet. It uses group exercise and sustained participation to build relationships and support pathways toward employment and independent living.⁠[2]

CNN recognized her work building running communities for people experiencing homelessness among its ten annual heroes. She emphasized respect, encouragement and second chances in her speech. Liz McCartney received the overall Hero of the Year award.⁠[2]

Mahlum opened the first solidcore studio in Washington with $175,000 of her savings. Inspired by Pilates, the brand developed a strength-training business built around machines, slow controlled movements and studio classes.⁠[3][4]

She established an incentive pool to share part of a later equity sale with her team. The company’s 2023 announcement specified full-time employees with at least one year of service before the transaction as eligible recipients.⁠[4]

The Washington Business Journal reported that some workers accused Mahlum of mistreatment, harassment and obstructing organizing, and some coaches sought her removal. She disputed the allegations, said she was not forced out as CEO, and described a third-party complaints hotline.⁠[5]

Washingtonian reported that shutdowns and capacity restrictions disrupted solidcore, which laid off about 98% of its staff in March and subsequently rebuilt its team.⁠[6][5]

When Washington suspended indoor group fitness classes, solidcore initially said it would remain open because it believed it could operate safely. It temporarily closed its local studios after a visit by regulators.⁠[6]

Bryan Myers became CEO and Mahlum moved to executive chair. The company said the long-planned transition had been delayed by the pandemic. She remained involved in strategy while Myers led operations and expansion; the brand then had 71 studios.⁠[7]

With siblings Jessica and Joel, she unveiled the $210,000 Mark Mahlum Wellness Center at Heartview Foundation. Named for their father, it provided exercise space for people receiving recovery support.⁠[8]

Mahlum announced $5 million in funding for Ambition and signed its first lease for approximately 5,800 square feet in New York. The plan combined several exercise formats and wellness events within one venue.⁠[9]

The company announced that she was selling all her shares to Kohlberg & Company for an undisclosed amount and would distribute millions through the employee incentive pool. Myers remained CEO; the chain then had 99 studios across 24 states.⁠[4]

Ambition announced that Mahlum invested $265,000 in cold-plunge equipment company Ice Barrel and separately extended a $1.5 million line of credit. These were distinct forms of financial support.⁠[10]

She announced a $500,000 investment in Apothékary, the botanical-products company founded by Shizu Okusa, identifying support for women entrepreneurs as part of her investment approach.⁠[11]

School of Hard Knocks released an approximately 41-minute interview about committing her savings, building solidcore and her personal experiences. Its $110 million wealth framing was promotional rather than an independently verified net-worth assessment.⁠[12]

A federal court consolidated related disputes: landlords sought to enforce her personal guarantees, while Ambition entities alleged premises defects and landlord breaches forced closure. The order concerned consolidation and did not decide liability.⁠[13]

The public docket records a letter from landlords’ counsel reporting settlement of all related litigation and withdrawal of a pending motion. Subsequent dismissal filings were marked deficient and ordered refiled, so those filings alone do not establish completion of every formal closing step.⁠[14]

Moneywise published an interview whose description covers Ambition’s closure, post-exit investment choices and how motherhood changed her priorities. It adds context to her move from operating fitness studios toward personal investing and other uses of her time.⁠[15]

Her website describes investment, advisory and public-speaking activities. It is https://www.annemahlum.com/ (opens in a new window). Public accounts include Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/annemahlum/ (opens in a new window); Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/anne.mahlum (opens in a new window); and LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry, https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-mahlum/ (opens in a new window).⁠[3]