Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Yacoub.
Hi Nadia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started PersonalHour in 2021, but the journey began much earlier—in our garage in Dublin, Ohio. My father and I built the first few reformers by hand, sourcing materials from Home Depot and learning as we went. My mom, Janet, was our first tester, giving us real feedback on comfort and function. That’s why we named our first model the Janet, in her honor.
With a background in tech and logistics—including time leading operations at Amazon Middle East—I applied that experience to grow the business. As demand increased, we scaled up manufacturing overseas while maintaining full design, testing, and operations here in Dublin, Ohio.
Since then, we’ve sold over $10 million in equipment, opened a showroom, and built a passionate community of Pilates users across the U.S. We’re also expanding into digital wellness with our own Pilates training app, offering free access to our customers.
What started as a family project is now a growing brand grounded in quality, innovation, and accessibility—and we’re still designing and testing every step of the way right here in Ohio.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all—it’s definitely been a challenging road, but a fun kind of challenge.
One of the biggest struggles has been hiring the right people. Finding skilled, passionate individuals who align with our values and can keep up with the pace of a growing business is tough—especially in a niche space like Pilates equipment. We’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) how critical the right team is to delivering consistent quality and a great customer experience.
There were also the usual startup hurdles—managing cash flow, scaling production, handling shipping delays—but every challenge taught us something and pushed us to build stronger systems. The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been incredibly rewarding
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve always believed that resilience, passion, and a willingness to keep learning can take you further than talent alone. My journey started when I was 19, a first-year science student trying to secure a spot in a competitive computer science program. I wasn’t the fastest learner—but I was determined. That determination paid off when I earned my place, and it became my first real milestone.
As I moved through college, I realized that traditional academics weren’t my strength. Instead of getting discouraged, I taught myself programming, took on small freelance projects, and started building practical skills that mattered in the real world. After graduation, I faced my share of setbacks—including layoffs from early jobs—but I used each one as a stepping stone.
Over the years, I kept learning, evolving, and refining my craft. After 31 interviews and 8 years of hard work, I received a lucrative offer from Google—a dream for many. But I turned it down. By then, I had found something I was even more passionate about: building my own business.
That’s how PersonalHour was born. I took everything I’d learned—about logistics, tech, customer experience, and resilience—and poured it into creating a brand focused on accessible wellness. Today, we’ve passed $10 million in sales, and I’m proud to say I’ve built something that not only supports others but also reflects who I am.
I didn’t wake up a millionaire after a nap—but I did build something real after years of showing up, learning, failing forward, and staying true to what matters most to me.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something that often surprises people is that I made my first million in sales as a solo empolyee, with no full-time employees—just me and a few freelancers. I managed everything myself: product design, customer service, logistics, marketing, and even the website.
Behind the scenes, I was juggling a thousand details every day, working late nights, and learning as I went. From responding to customer emails to coordinating international shipments, I was deeply involved in every aspect of the business. It wasn’t always easy, but that hands-on experience shaped how I lead today and gave me a deep understanding of every part of the brand.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://personalhour.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/personalhour/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/personalhour/
