Kiomi Barritt  – “Life’s too short, just do it!”

I started my career path a little later on in life. I moved to another country at 17, leaving college to go and live in Egypt, I stayed there for 8 of the best years before moving back to the UK and thinking ‘what the hell am I going to do?’

I decided to do a PT course, of which a lot of people asked me the question ‘What are you doing that for? You won’t get a career out of that!’ So I started looking at other options as well before going down the path of being an electrical apprentice.

I genuinely believe I hit the jackpot with both pathways I chose – I love the challenges both come with, for me the feeling of seeing a light switch on that I have wired in will never get old, just as helping women with their fitness goals & seeing them morph into their best & most confident selves will never get old.

I wanted to make both work, so here we are, a Female Tradies Fitness Coach.

A typical day for me… I always wake up 7 am. Not a morning person, however hard I try. Then I message my clients, go to the gym, and dive straight into work when I get back for the rest of the day. If it’s sparky work then no 2 days are ever really the same!

I chose this career because… As an online coach I love helping people, I love seeing them win & watching them transform! I want to show women that you don’t have to be miserable in order to reach your fitness goals!

As a sparky, the challenge of it enticed me. My dad and brother are sparky’s so I had an idea of what it entailed and I liked it, it’s also widely seen as a man’s job. I like to prove people wrong.

“I like to prove people wrong.”

It took me so long to figure out what I wanted to do… I had a lot of people tell me a PT isn’t a long-term career, which knocked my confidence with it for a little while and when I became an electrical apprentice, I had to move back home with my parents as an apprentice’s wage was shocking, especially as a 26-year-old! But they are the best.

I overcame those setbacks… I just kept moving forwards. One foot in front of the other. I stopped listening to other people’s opinions of what I should be doing with my life & carried on with my dreams. And here we are!

An important initiative that I feel passionate about in my career is… Educating women on health and fitness. I’ve been in their shoes.

“I stopped listening to other people’s opinions of what I should be doing with my life & carried on with my dreams.”

I have never really come up against sexism, inequality or anything in both lines of work which I know is extremely lucky! I think people are becoming more in awe of tradeswomen as opposed to against them doing it. There are more and more women getting into it which is amazing!

What drives me in my career… As an online coach, I like helping people, I genuinely want to see others succeed in their own journeys & will do what I can to help them get there!

As a sparky, I really really enjoy the work & love proving people wrong!

“I just kept moving forwards. One foot in front of the other.”

What’s great about being a female in my role is… I get to not only walk the walk of being in the trade, I get to help other females show up as their most confident selves.

My biggest achievement is… Being where I am today!

The biggest lesson I’ve learnt along the way… People are always going to judge you & tell you what they think you should be doing but it’s not their life so just carry on doing you!

“Carry on doing you!”

I’ve been very lucky especially as a sparky as I’ve only ever felt accepted & treated as one of them.

Outside of work, my favourite hobbies are… Travelling, seeing friends and spending time with my niece.

The mantra I live by… ‘Life’s too short, just do it’

The three tips I would give to young women starting their careers…

1. Find something you enjoy doing!
2. Don’t wait, just go
3. Don’t listen to anybody else’s opinions

The best bit of advice I’ve been given… ‘You never grow by staying in your comfort zone’

“Life’s too short, just do it!”

One woman who has impacted my life is… My Mama.

My key motivators are… To show people that being healthy means a better life. My family. Freedom to be wherever I want in the world and can still work.

“You never grow by staying in your comfort zone”

A key leadership lesson I’ve learned is… Outsource. I don’t have to do absolutely everything myself.

I would say to my 16-year-old self… You will find your calling. Don’t worry.

If I could do anything differently in my career, I would do… Nothing!

You can find out more about what Kiomi does on her Instagram account!