We recently met Marc Dinardo, a visionary entrepreneur who has masterfully woven together the realms of tech innovation and health and wellbeing. Marc’s journey began in 2012 when he immersed himself in the fitness arena, starting as a sports coach and personal trainer at David Lloyd Clubs. A true trailblazer, he later ventured into self-employment, crafting fitness bootcamps that garnered him the prestigious ‘Fitness Studio of the Year 2019 – Glasgow’ award. However, his story isn’t confined to the world of physical fitness alone; his insatiable curiosity led him to delve into the intricacies of massage therapy, earning qualifications as a Sports and Remedial Massage Therapist and further specializing in Osteopathic Articulation & Spinal Manipulation. This multifaceted individual, armed with a BSc (hons), MBA, DSM, DRSM, and Dip.OA, stands as a beacon of achievement at the crossroads of tech and health, embodying the fusion of passion and profession.
1. Your journey encompasses personal training, physical therapy, and tech entrepreneurship. How did your passion for health and fitness lead you to venture into these diverse fields?
Growing up in my early teens, I wasn’t particularly the fittest kid, and I often wondered why other kids seemed to excel more than I did. This ignited a curiosity within me about health and fitness. Surprisingly, though, I wasn’t initially drawn to fitness; in fact, I might have even hated it first. Being thrown around the rugby pitch wasn’t really my idea of fun!
It wasn’t until later, when I was introduced to hockey and circuit training, that I started to realise I could make progress if I pushed myself. Even then, I still struggled with it, but having trainers who kept me motivated made a significant difference.
This ultimately led me on the journey towards taking my sport and fitness more seriously, competing in swimming and hockey at Uni and securing my place in British Uni Championship swimming finals. Since then, I’ve always wanted to maintain a high level of physical fitness and stay in shape.
As for venturing into the tech entrepreneurship realm, it wasn’t a straightforward path for me. In school, I didn’t receive much support for pursuing sports as an academic career, so I ended up leaning towards software engineering, which seemed like a more promising career path. It wasn’t necessarily my first choice, but I wanted a career that offered stability and growth opportunities.
After graduating in 2010, I entered the tech industry, primarily focusing on sectors like banking, education, and travel. Over the years, I worked diligently and eventually advanced to a managerial position by 2015, showcasing excellence in software development.
Despite the seemingly divergent paths of fitness and IT, they’ve both been driven by a common thread: my desire to challenge myself and grow personally and professionally. This journey has taught me the importance of resilience and adaptability, as well as the value of pursuing multiple passions simultaneously.
2. Balancing parallel careers in tech and fitness can be challenging. What motivated you to pursue both paths, and how do you manage to find a balance between these distinct domains?
Balancing a parallel career in IT and fitness has been quite a journey, filled with challenges and rewards. What motivated me to pursue both paths was my unwavering passion for fitness alongside my career in IT. Even while deeply immersed in the IT world, I always made sure to keep fitness a priority, continuously seeking to learn about anatomy, physiology, and their relationship to human performance.
My main mantra has always been centred around maximising an individual’s potential. I firmly believe that maintaining physical fitness not only enhances overall wellbeing but also boosts productivity and maximises one’s capabilities in all aspects of life.
However, finding a balance between these distinct domains hasn’t always been easy. There were times, especially during my tenure in banking, when the demands of my IT career overshadowed my commitment to fitness. I found myself neglecting my heath routine, and it eventually took a toll on both my physical and mental wellbeing. It was during this period that I realised the importance of having a balance and decided to take a sabbatical to focus on rejuvenating my fitness and mental health.
During this hiatus, I took on the role of Activities Manager for English summer school, leading their activities program for over 200 non-native English speakers. This allowed me to reset and recharge. It was during this time that I also discovered my passion for teaching, particularly in the realm of technology. This led me to join a startup in the edtech sector, where I taught a 16-week coding program, combining my tech expertise with my newfound passion for education.
This experience marked a pivotal moment where I began to take personal training more seriously, no longer just a passion but as a legitimate career path. Instead, I embraced the challenge of balancing these two worlds, recognizing that they both contribute significantly to my personal and professional growth.
3. You’re transitioning from full-time tech employment to refocus on coaching and personal training. What inspired this shift, and what are your goals for establishing yourself as a Health and Wellbeing Success Coach?
Transitioning from a full-time career in IT to refocus on coaching and personal training has been a decision fuelled by a culmination of experiences and aspirations. Working in a gym environment exposed me to a myriad of nuances, from training athletes to guiding complete beginners. Through these experiences, I encountered various challenges that extended beyond physical wellbeing, encompassing aspects like diet, stress and motivation.
Driven by a desire to be more helpful and resourceful, I delved deeper into understanding anatomy and physiology. This quest for knowledge led me to realise the potential for a more holistic approach to health and fitness—one that addresses not just physical training but also overall wellbeing.
The final shift towards establishing myself as a Health and Wellbeing Success Coach came from recognizing the diverse experiences I had accumulated over the years. I felt motivated to create my own brand, offering an all-inclusive solution for individuals seeking to enhance their fitness journey.
My goals for establishing myself in this new role are clear: I aim to scale the level of support I can provide globally, making fitness more accessible to all, regardless of their experience or knowledge. I want to leverage my expertise in massage therapy, remedial and sports therapy, injury rehabilitation as well as spine and joint manipulation therapies, to offer comprehensive and personalised services to my clients.
4. Your approach involves the integration of the 4 pillars of wellbeing: Mindset, Movement, Fuel, and Recovery. How do these shape your coaching philosophy?
For me, the integration of the four pillars of wellbeing—Mindset, Movement, Fuel, and Recovery—is the cornerstone of my coaching philosophy. When these pillars are in sync, they create a solid foundation for overall wellbeing and success. However, if even one pillar is neglected, it can hinder an individual’s ability to reach their full potential, whether it’s in productivity, relationships, or personal fulfilment.
My primary focus always revolves around mindset because I firmly believe that it sets the tone for everything else. By helping clients cultivate a positive and resilient mindset, we lay the groundwork for achieving their goals and aspirations.
In coaching sessions, I emphasise setting goals that align with all four pillars. This holistic approach ensures that we address not only physical fitness but also mental and emotional wellbeing, as well as nutrition and recovery strategies. It’s about creating a comprehensive roadmap for each client’s journey towards optimal health and performance.
I often tell my clients, “The main focus is mindset, and setting goals that align with the other three pillars.” This mindset-centric approach forms the basis of our coaching journey together. By nurturing a growth mindset and aligning it with movement, fuel, and recovery strategies, we empower individuals to overcome obstacles and unlock their full potential.
Ultimately, my coaching philosophy is rooted in the understanding that true wellness encompasses all aspects of life. By integrating the four pillars of wellbeing, we pave the way for holistic growth and fulfilment.
5. How do you plan to leverage technology to build an online fitness community while maintaining a solid reputation with clients visiting the clinic?
To leverage technology for building an online fitness community while maintaining a solid reputation with clients visiting the clinic, I plan to prioritise enhancing the client experience and staying at the forefront of fitness technology. With my background in software development and years of experience in IT, I understand the importance of incorporating user-friendly technology to support both online and offline aspects of my fitness coaching.
My focus lies in continually refining and innovating within this space. I aim to develop and implement cutting-edge tools and platforms that enhance the client experience. These tools such as our MD Rehab app, will enable clients to seamlessly track their progress, access guided workouts and recovery exercises, and receive personalised recommendations tailored to their needs.
Within this fittech ecosystem, I’m exploring features such as goal setting, activity challenges, nutrition tracking, and progress monitoring—all designed to create a supportive environment where members can connect, share experiences, and motivate each other.
Moreover, I’m committed to utilising technology as an educational platform, providing valuable resources for individuals looking to expand their knowledge about fitness and wellbeing.
In parallel, I’m exploring opportunities for collaboration with related fitness brands, leveraging the digital space to promote products and services that align with the community’s interests and goals. By embracing fittech and integrating it seamlessly into my coaching approach, I am trying to create a holistic fitness ecosystem that empowers individuals to achieve their goals, whether they’re working out at home or visiting the clinic.
6. With your plans to relocate to a larger clinic venue, what exciting developments can we expect in the expansion of your physical therapy clinic services and personal training programs?
As I plan to relocate to a larger clinic venue, there are some exciting developments in store for both our physical therapy clinic services and personal training programs. First off, we’re growing our team to include more specialised expertise. This means bringing in professionals who can offer a wider range of services and support to our clients. Our goal is to become the go-to destination for fitness support, recovery, and therapy, so having a diverse and skilled team is key.
We’re also investing in the latest equipment to support our clients’ fitness journeys. From state-of-the-art machines to cutting-edge tools, we want to ensure that our clients have access to the best resources available. But it’s not just about physical fitness; we’re also incorporating programs and classes focused on mental wellbeing. We understand that true wellness encompasses both physical and mental health, so we’re dedicated to providing holistic support to our clients.
Additionally, with the expansion, we’re looking to upscale our online fitness community. We want to create a space where clients can connect, share experiences, and find motivation, regardless of where they are on their fitness journey. Ultimately, our aim is to become Glasgow’s leading sports injury clinic and body transformation centre. We want to offer our services to people of all levels, whether they’re just starting out or looking to take their fitness to the next level.
With these developments, we’re excited to continue serving our clients and helping them achieve their fitness and wellness goals in new and improved ways.
As we got into the conversation with him, we delved into the layers of Marc’s experiences, exploring the delicate balance of career in tech with his fervor for health and fitness. His narrative is one of resilience, where challenges become lessons, and every twist and turn paves the way for growth. Along with his endeavors as a clinic manager, he is also a level 5 sports therapist and a visionary whose journey reflects the profound impact of a holistic approach to life and work.
