How entrepreneur Dean Stallard grew his gym business during Covid-19, expanding in Hong Kong and Los Angeles – plus his packed fitness schedule of jiu-jitsu, boxing, HIIT and yoga

Most people would exercise caution when it comes to expanding a business amid protests and a pandemic; Dean Stallard went full throttle with an exercise business instead. The entrepreneur, previously managing director in a large global corporation, first co-founded The Hybrid Group and its subsidiary business, The Hybrid Gym Group, in 2018, along with two business partners. Between late 2019 to early 2020, when many companies were employing more conservative strategies during uncertain times, they launched in Los Angeles as well. Two weeks before the first Covid-19 lockdown hit Hong Kong, Stallard decided to leave his corporate job entirely and embrace his own business full-time, and the group now has two gyms in Central, Hong Kong, and one in LA near the Staples Centre. “I am highly motivated by the fact that it is guaranteed our time will come to an end one day; the more things I can look back on when that day comes, the better,” he explains. Inside Indian influencer Anushka Sen’s fitness and beauty routine “I love building businesses that give people an opportunity to change their lives for the better, whether it be through developing future leaders or through the positive impact on our clients’ lives every day.” Even with his surplus of courage and optimism, Stallard wasn’t immune to the difficulties presented by a global pandemic. While Hybrid signed the LA lease in February 2020, it wasn’t until August 2021 that they were able to open their doors to customers. Perhaps more significantly, the three business partners stood firm on their decision not to terminate any staff, nor reduce salaries or commission, a promise that “hasn’t been easy on the financials, but it was the right decision … and something we are proud of”. More than surviving the pandemic, Hybrid continues to grow. In October 2021, the company announced its partnership with Asaya Wellness at the Rosewood Hong Kong, for which the two brands will deliver a 360 Personal Training & Wellness programme to guests, a collaboration that Stallard hopes will expand to 13 other countries around the world. “The past year has by far been the most difficult time to navigate in my career … but what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger,” Stallard says. “One thing I have learned throughout my journey is to expect the unexpected, and if a great opportunity comes up – even if it scares the hell out of you – grab it with both hands.” 9 athletes who are vegans or vegetarians, from Venus Williams to Chris Paul This kind of go-getter attitude extends beyond his professional ethos and into his personal life. The father of three small children wakes up before 4am every day and spends a couple of hours on personal learning and research. He then walks his eldest to school and juggles calls, meetings and personal fitness during the day, alternating between Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, HIIT, yoga and personal training sessions throughout the week. He makes sure to have a private jiu-jitsu session with his eldest son every week, emphasising the importance of making as much time for family as possible. “The only thing you cannot buy is time. Every day I wake up with the aim to make as many amazing memories as I can, whether it be with my family or through experiencing something I have never done before,” he says. “I’d like to be able to look back and think, ‘Wow that was one hell of a ride’.” Dean Stallard’s preferred watch – Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona “I have recently ordered a Rolex Daytona to start a new father-son tradition. We have a few in my family already – for example, the eldest son received the middle name ‘James’, so I, my father, my grandad, great grandad and so on all have the middle name James, as does my eldest son, Harry. I wanted to start a new tradition, and will pass on my Rolex with my initials engraved, for Harry to pass on through our future generations.” Want more stories like this? Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.