Stronger Than Before: How Nastasia Liavas Is Redefining Fitness Leadership

As Vice President of Fitness Services at Fitness World, breast cancer survivor Nastasia Liavas is leading a quiet revolution in an industry often defined by aesthetics and sales. Overseeing more than 200 trainers across B.C., she’s proving that a people-first approach—rooted in wellbeing, mentorship, and connection—can drive success without sacrificing humanity. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Nastasia shares how her personal journey reshaped her leadership, why inclusive fitness spaces matter, and how empowerment, not perfection, is the ultimate goal. —Noa Nichol

Your journey through breast cancer is deeply personal—how did it reshape your outlook on fitness, leadership, and wellness?

Being diagnosed with breast cancer right after my 37th birthday was a massive shock. Having lived a healthy lifestyle for years prior, it just didn’t make sense. Before being diagnosed with cancer, much of my wellness outlook was centred around external focuses. After my illness, fitness and wellness have become a deeply personal and internal journey. Sitting in a chemotherapy “on-boarding class,” the teachers told us the single most important thing to do throughout treatment is to exercise. Treatment was brutal, but I made it through more easily having good habits, tools and knowledge of proper exercise, eating and supplementation.

Now, I see fitness as a proactive opportunity to take on anything that comes my way. It’s no longer about looking a certain way; it’s about living a certain way to build both mental and physical strength. Fitness saved me in many ways.

My leadership is greatly reflective of my experience of going through breast cancer. When I was diagnosed, I sat in front of a team of over a dozen people who did not know me, yet they cared for me and loved me in a way that made me feel safe, confident and able. I have taken that personal experience into my leadership; I care for the people I lead in that same loving way, with the goal to have my team feel both confident in their abilities and safe in their workplace. I learned that when you are up against a wall, you have a whole new gear of tenacity that you never knew you had inside. I now work to bring that out in my team. We all have grit and perseverance, and I see it as my job to help my team find that in themselves and push them to accomplish things they may not have thought possible.

You’ve been vocal about shifting the fitness industry away from aesthetics and sales and toward something more human-centered. What does a “people-first” approach actually look like in practice?

We are all human, and we all need to be served in a way that creates community, connection and confidence. When we put people first, we are making a real impact. When we can create a collaborative environment where people feel seen and heard, we can help you change your life. Not all people need the same thing, so we work as a team to find a personal approach to fitness, which is a very personal journey. I firmly believe that when we do the right thing, the right things always come back ten times more.

Leading a team of over 200 trainers across BC is no small feat. What strategies have helped you foster such strong staff retention in an industry known for high turnover?

Connecting with every team member is a huge priority for me and my team. While we manage systems and processes, we also lead people. To lead people, we must stay genuinely interested in them as humans, not just as team members. The greatest joys in my career come from watching my team members get engaged, buy their first car, attend their wedding, hold their baby, and watch them grow through life. Building genuine relationships with your team requires you to be vulnerable as a leader. I’m always willing to be the first to be open, honest and transparent. I’m happy to admit when I’m wrong, I’m open to listening to feedback, and I always lean on my team to help me grow as a leader. Dropping the ego will allow you to reach strong connections with your team that go beyond their day-to-day work. The credit is always given and never taken. I fully understand that my achievements are driven by my team, not just by myself.

I have also found that evolving as a leader to connect with each generation is vital to the success of the entire chain. I don’t take myself or my work too seriously, and I lead with a core value of fun. I strongly believe gamification at work is necessary, along with creative and consistent recognition. I love creating fun ways to keep the team engaged through competitions and games, and I prioritize recognizing people’s accomplishments. Even if they’re silly little awards or a small handwritten note, I choose to set aside time to do special things for my people because I believe they deserve to feel special and seen.

How did your own health experience impact the way you mentor and support your team at Fitness World?

Great leaders don’t just talk the talk; they walk the walk. I will never ask someone to do something I am not willing to do on my own. My health journey continues to thrive, as I believe it’s a key driver in my success in connecting with my team and our members. I love staying relevant and showing my team I am in the trenches with them. I work out four days a week, have a healthy balance with realistic nutrition habits, and I also engage in proper use of supplementation. So, anything I’m asking my team or our clients to do, I am doing it too!

What role do you believe fitness plays in not just recovery, but also in cancer prevention and long-term health resilience?

I’m not a doctor or a scientist, but I believe there is no negative effect of healthy exercise. As one of the key drivers of mental health and physical health, exercise helps us stay ready to take on anything that comes our way.

In what ways can fitness spaces be reimagined to feel more inclusive and empowering for women—especially those navigating major life stages like menopause, postpartum, or illness?

I believe fitness spaces are becoming much more gender neutral and accepting of all people, much different than decades prior. The best way for women to feel empowered in the gym is to be supported by other strong women in the gym. The more we all show up, the more we will continue to inspire each other to do the same. As professionals, it’s our job to continue learning and growing in our craft to serve women on a deeper level. With an abundance of available resources, we are becoming more curious and more educated on helping women through fitness. I can see a future where women’s clinics are integrated into fitness spaces with diverse professionals who can collaborate on servicing women with a holistic lifestyle approach.

You’ve said that fitness isn’t about perfection but about empowerment. How do you instill that belief in both clients and trainers?

Empowerment comes from building confidence. And to build confidence, we have to do hard things. If we let go of the idea of not trying until we are perfect, we will learn that we are actually much more capable than we think. Building trust is the first step in empowerment. If we can trust our leaders and coaches, we will be more willing to take the jump into the thing we don’t think we can achieve. After small, consecutive steps forward, you will eventually build the confidence to run on your own. As a coach, it’s important to never give up on others. To stand by them as they take their first steps, encouraging them to keep moving forward, and not give up.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What message would you most like to share with other women—especially those in the fitness industry—during this time?

Check yourself! I can’t say it enough. Being sick is horrible, but catching it early can save your life. Cancer does not discriminate. Many young women are being diagnosed with this disease, so it is on you, as an individual, to take your health into your own hands. Checking yourself monthly will give you a baseline of knowing and understanding your own body. If you feel any changes, don’t be scared, just go to the doctor right away. You can’t always control the things that happen to you, but you can control how you handle them. Be proactive and preventative in your health, and don’t take it for granted!

You’ve been instrumental in redefining wellness culture at Fitness World. What advice would you give to other women in leadership roles who want to lead with compassion without sacrificing performance?

Ladies, we are important! We belong! We add value! I think it’s so important for women to be represented in leadership to inspire other young women to see what is possible for them, too. When we see strong women in leadership, we see possibility, kindness, intellect, empathy, and drive. I believe we have a nurturing ability to connect on a deep level and foster meaningful and fulfilling workspaces for others. Compassion can, and does, co-exist with performance. I see so many strong women in business who have success leading through both compassion and drive. Results are just a compilation of many small behaviours that add up. Great leaders work to grow those behaviours through kindness, connection and accountability. Never second-guess yourself or act in a certain way to fit into a gender role. Just be you.

Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of fitness—both as an industry and as a tool for community, connection, and healing?

Our industry will continue to evolve in a meaningful way; our industry is resilient and brilliant. Working alongside medical professionals, the fitness industry grows and serves in ways that integrate both mental and physical health. We have shifted our focus from valuing cosmetics and superficial benefits to understanding that our industry is more about physical health, mental health, lifespan, playspan, and preventative medicine. I hope we continue to innovate unique modalities that keep people engaged, encourage balance and recovery, and offer programming that drives results.