Empowering women through fitness: an inspiring conversation with Jo Vickers

After going through my own fitness journey over the past year, I have seen first-hand how exercise can benefit many areas of life outside of just ‘being fitter’: it creates social connections, improves mental health, builds resilience and noticeably increases energy levels.

In fact, the only detriment has been to my bank balance but you really can’t put a price on the perfect exercise leggings! The experience has led me to wonder, how has exercise positively impacted the lives of my colleagues? In this series on DRIVE, I talk to some of my female colleagues to discover how fitness has empowered them.

“the primary reason I work out is for my mental health... having fitness as a constant in my life helps me be a better mum and employee”

To kick start the series, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Jo Vickers, Enterprise’s newly appointed Head of Fleet and Leasing Sales for Europe.

Hi Jo! So tell me, what’s your sport?  

A variety of sports, I run, captain a hockey team, enjoy pilates and dedicate my spare time to coaching an under 11’s cricket team.

What’s your fitness background?

I’ve had a long-standing relationship with running, as it allows me to explore new cities while travelling or unwind after a busy day. Recently I stayed in a hotel in Leeds and ran down the canal enjoying the street art and graffiti. I’ve played cricket for years and recently started to play hockey, and I also incorporate some lightweight sessions like body pump using Apple Fitness or Les Mills.

Why is fitness important to you?

For me, the primary reason I work out is for my mental health rather than my physical health. Given my demanding job which involves travel and nights away, having fitness as a constant in my life helps me be a better mum and employee. It’s easy to remain desk-bound and inactive, but I know that if I exercise well, I eat well, so one positive action drives the next.

Often when I’m feeling stuck trying to solve a work problem, I will go for a run at lunchtime as it helps me to stay focused and find solutions. From a business perspective, working in an industry that is still male dominated in many areas, sport is a good topic to chat to people about at all levels, proving to be a good icebreaker and a great way to build connections with people.

“You have to find an activity that you really enjoy. If you don’t choose it for yourself, it won’t stick”

How did you get into sports?

I started running seriously after my son Edward was ill as a baby. A lovely nurse at the hospital suggested finding something for myself and entered me into a run. As for hockey, some of my cricket friends persuaded me to give it a go during the winter season when cricket isn’t active.

What’s a typical week for you?  

I will typically run three times per week and do 20 minutes of pilates every weekday. I aim to incorporate three other activities into my routine, although I don’t always manage it all! When travelling, I use hotel gyms or go for a run nearby. I also enjoy swimming at our local pool and cycling. Lately, I’ve been eager to integrate more strength training into my routine.

What changes have you seen since adopting a fitness routine?

Running provides me with headspace and thinking time – the mental health and wellbeing benefits are huge. I love playing team sports because of the social aspect and it’s a different kind of challenge.

What’s your biggest achievement?

I’ve run five marathons so far, and running one in under four hours is an accomplishment I’m most proud of. I’m nearing my goal of running a sub 22.30-minute 5k, thanks to working with a running coach.

How easy is it for someone to get started with fitness?

You have to find an activity that you really enjoy. If you don’t choose it for yourself, it won’t stick. I’ve tried Zumba twice, and it’s not for me. My advice is to find an activity you really enjoy and commit to it to experience the benefits. You need to plan well – take your running kit when away, book a spot in a class, use online resources like Les Mills. Sometimes, the only opportunity I have is to run with my dog at 5:30 am but it normally sets me up well for the day.

It was so lovely speaking with you Jo and thank you for sharing your inspirational journey with us all!

If you would like to be featured in our ‘Empowering Women Through Fitness’ series, please email Sarah.Williams@ehi.com

If you are interested in a career with Enterprise, please visit our recruitment website at careers.enterprise.co.uk