Meet Kymberlee Helmuth

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kymberlee Helmuth. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kymberlee below.

Hi Kymberlee, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

My work ethic comes from a deep belief that nobody is coming to save you—you build the life you want. I learned early on that passion means nothing without discipline, consistency, and follow-through.

I started Big Shot Marketing almost 30 years ago because I wanted freedom and impact. I started Fly Girl because I wanted community. Neither survive on talent alone. They survive because I show up every single day, whether I feel like it or not.

That’s my work ethic: show up, solve problems, lift people higher, repeat.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m lucky enough to have two careers I absolutely love. I’ve owned Big Shot Marketing for almost 30 years, helping businesses find their identity and feel confident showing up in front of their audiences. I love the creative process, the problem-solving, and the magic that happens when a brand suddenly “clicks” for someone.

And then there’s Fly Girl Dance & Fitness, the heart of my world for the last 11 years. I created Fly Girl because I wanted a space for women to move, laugh, sweat, and feel lifted up. Our studio is full of moms, friends, daughters, teachers, nurses, neighbors — all different women with one thing in common: they show up for each other. That’s the special part. It’s never been just about fitness. It’s community, confidence, and belonging.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding our kids’ dance programs, collaborating with local schools, and doing more community-impact work, especially around the holidays. On the marketing side, I’m continuing to take on clients who want real, authentic growth and aren’t afraid to have fun with their voice and brand.

I feel honored to do work that inspires, connects, and makes people feel a little stronger — inside and out.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Grit & Follow-Through
Across both fitness and marketing, the ability to show up — again and again — has been the backbone of my journey. I’ve been in the fitness industry for over 30 years, and even before owning a studio, I was teaching, leading, and pushing myself to stay committed. Whether it was leading teams in Chicago for 15 years or later building Fly Girl, grit is what kept me moving forward.
Advice: Build grit in small ways. Keep promises to yourself, even tiny ones. The consistency compounds and becomes confidence. Your success won’t come from one big moment — it comes from thousands of small, steady ones.

2. Creativity & Adaptability
Between running Big Shot Marketing for almost 30 years and spending decades in the fitness world, I’ve had to reinvent myself more times than I can count. Industries shift, trends come and go, and what worked yesterday may not work tomorrow. Staying creative and adaptable has kept me not only relevant, but energized.
Advice: Stay curious. Learn new skills, try new things, and don’t be afraid to pivot. Creativity grows when you let yourself experiment and adapt instead of clinging to the “old way.”

3. Heart-Led Community Building
One of the most impactful parts of my journey has been building community — both inside the studio and through my work in service. In 2019, I was chosen as a Random Acts of Kindness Brand Ambassador, selected from thousands of applicants worldwide and named one of the top 30 ambassadors globally. Bringing kindness, connection, and service into everything I do has shaped the culture of Fly Girl and every business I touch.
Advice: Lead with heart. People remember how you make them feel. Build relationships, be generous, share credit, and look for ways to uplift the people around you. Kindness will take your career farther than any title ever could.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced recently is transitioning from Chicago — the city where I was born, raised, and built my entire network — to the small town of Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Chicago gave me endless energy, diversity, and opportunity, and moving to a quieter community required a huge mindset shift.

To overcome this, I’ve leaned into what I do best: building relationships and creating community. I’ve gotten involved in local organizations, partnered with schools, volunteered with nonprofits, and poured into the people around me. I had to stop comparing the two worlds and instead embrace the new one I’m in. And now, this “small town” has become home in the most unexpected and beautiful ways.

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