We’re looking forward to introducing you to Michael Shipper. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Michael , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
About five months ago, I closed my business — Empowered Sports and Fitness — after ten incredible years in New York City. While it was bittersweet to leave my hometown and the many families who shaped my journey, I’m filled with gratitude for all that we accomplished together.
Today, my wife and I are living in Pittsburgh, where I’ve partnered with Fitness 4 Focus to open the organization’s fourth location in the Wexford area. I’m extremely proud of everything achieved over the past decade in NYC and equally excited for the next chapter — growing Fitness 4 Focus North Hills and continuing to make a positive impact in the community.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Michael Shipper, and I’m the owner and director of Fitness 4 Focus North Hills, located in Wexford, PA. For over a decade, I’ve specialized in designing personalized sports and fitness programs for individuals of all abilities — helping athletes not only build physical strength but also confidence, independence, and a lifelong love for movement.
Before moving to Pittsburgh, I ran Empowered Sports and Fitness in New York City for ten years, where I had the privilege of working with hundreds of incredible families and athletes. What makes our work special is the individualized approach — every athlete is seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are. We focus on functional movement, social and emotional growth, and creating a truly supportive community.
Now in partnership with Fitness 4 Focus, I’m thrilled to bring that same energy, creativity, and mission to Western Pennsylvania. Our new North Hills facility is designed to be more than just a gym — it’s a place where athletes, families, coaches, and therapists can come together to learn, move, and grow. We’re currently expanding our programs, developing staff training systems, and connecting with local schools and community partners to make fitness accessible and empowering for everyone.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Being diagnosed with a learning disability at the age of five changed the course of my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined at the time. Leaving a mainstream program and attending Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, Connecticut was the turning point. It was there that I began to understand that learning differently didn’t mean learning less — it meant finding new ways to succeed.
Throughout my life, I’ve been judged, underestimated, and often told what I wouldn’t be able to accomplish. But thanks to the unwavering support of my family and teachers, I learned to see obstacles as opportunities. Every challenge became a lesson in perseverance, creativity, and empathy.
Those experiences shaped my mission today. I’ve dedicated my career to helping others — particularly children and adults who face their own unique challenges — discover their strengths through movement. Fitness has become the gateway for building confidence, setting goals, and realizing potential. My purpose is to provide families with the same opportunities and belief in possibility that I was fortunate to have growing up.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
For much of my life, my greatest fear was that I would never be enough — not smart enough, not capable enough, not accomplished enough. Growing up with a learning disability, I often felt like I was living in a world that wasn’t built for how I learned or how I thought. That fear — of being less than — stayed with me for a long time, and truthfully, there are still moments when that little voice creeps back in.
But over time, I realized that my greatest fear was actually the foundation of my greatest strength. My learning disability gave me perspective. It forced me to understand who I am and to become comfortable with being different — in the best possible way. My uniqueness has become my power. It’s where my empathy, kindness, and drive come from.
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. That truth guides everything I do — whether I’m working with an athlete, a family, or a coach. It’s what keeps me motivated every day: to make a genuine difference in the lives of the people I work with.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
The people closest to me would probably say that what matters most to me is making a difference — helping others see their own potential, especially when they’ve been told their possibilities are limited. They’d tell you that I care deeply about people — about creating meaningful connections, building confidence, and giving others the same opportunities that changed my life.
Growing up with a learning disability taught me empathy, patience, and resilience. Those experiences shaped not just how I see the world, but how I treat others. My family and friends know that I value kindness over perfection, progress over comparison, and purpose over recognition.
Whether through fitness, mentorship, or community, I want every person I work with to feel seen, supported, and capable of achieving more than they ever thought possible. That’s what truly matters to me — empowering others to believe in themselves the way my teachers, coaches, and family once believed in me.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I made others feel seen and believed in — that I helped them recognize their own strength, even when they couldn’t see it themselves. I hope they remember me as someone who cared deeply, who led with empathy, and who made every person feel that they truly mattered.
Growing up with a learning disability, I spent much of my life being told what I wouldn’t achieve. But instead of letting those words define me, I used them as fuel. I learned that being different isn’t a weakness — it’s a gift. It gave me compassion, creativity, and the ability to connect with people on a deeper level.
If my story continues after I’m gone, I want it to be told through the athletes, families, and communities whose lives were touched by what we built together. I hope they say that I turned struggle into purpose — that I showed what’s possible when you lead with heart, and that my legacy lives on in every person who discovered their confidence, their voice, and their power through fitness.
Contact Info:
- Other: All social media platforms for the North Hills Location will be coming soon. Stay Tuned!
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Michael Shipper
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