We’re looking forward to introducing you to Amanda Leatherman. Check out our conversation below.
Amanda , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I choose integrity above all else every single day.
You can teach skill, you can help develop energy systems, you can even develop intellect with time and effort; but integrity, that’s who you are when no one’s watching. It’s how you show up when things get uncomfortable, or when the reward isn’t immediate. I’ve walked away from opportunities that looked great initially because they didn’t sit right with me and I’ve stayed loyal to people and paths that maybe didn’t make sense to others but felt right to me. Integrity has cost me time, money, relationships, but it’s also what’s kept my conscience clean and my purpose clear. It’s definitely my non-negotiable.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Amanda Leatherman, a CrossFit and Hyrox performance coach for athletes, then jumping into content strategy meetings for brands in the fitness and wellness world. As the founder of Invictas Pro, a brand built for athletes centered around performance and people. We train hard, we build community harder, and we’re not afraid to talk about the messy middle; injuries, comebacks, burnout, baby weight, all of it.
Invictas Pro started as a training company, but recently it’s evolving into a full-blown personal brand powerhouse helping athletes and coaches connecting with something raw, and authentically real. I’m merging years of coaching and life experience to help others feel strong, seen, and damn proud of who they’re becoming. This brand is raw, unfiltered, and high-performance. Just like the people I serve.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My husband and my children, especially my daughter. There were seasons I couldn’t see the strength in myself, I was just surviving but mostly running on fumes, rebuilding my body, chasing big ideas with no guarantee they’d land. My family saw me clearly, they saw the fire, even when all I felt was burnout. My husband never bought into the doubt I carried, he’s always believed in the version of me I hadn’t yet stepped into. Gave me strength when I needed it most and validation when I felt unseen. My daughter mirrors everything I didn’t give myself permission to be for years: bold, brave, expressive. Watching her move through the world reminds me to stop dimming myself to make others comfortable. There’s something about being seen through the eyes of people who love you before the achievements, before the acknowledgments, before the business… that hits different, it keeps you grounded and motivated.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me to trust myself fully, not when things are going well but when nothing makes sense. Suffering stripped away the noise and showed me I could survive hard things and still keep my heart open. It gave me proof that failure doesn’t define me, it teaches me. Success feels good, sure, but it can also be a highlight reel that’s curated, celebrated, but it’s temporary. Suffering strips that all away. It’s the sleepless nights, the injuries, setbacks, the silence when you’re giving your all and no one notices. In those moments, I learned how to keep showing up not for praise, but for purpose. I learned to get comfortable with discomfort. Success may have opened doors, but suffering built the version of me that could walk through them without losing myself.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think we need to stop selling shame and start building strength physically, emotionally, and systemically. That’s the shift Invictas Pro is here to lead. One of the biggest lies is that pushing hard 24/7 equals success. That the more you do, the more you’re worth. In reality, that kind of pace isn’t sustainable physically, mentally, or emotionally. I’ve lived it, I’ve coached through it and I’ve had to learn the hard way that rest isn’t weakness, it’s strategy.
The industry often glorifies the grind, but real progress comes from knowing how to listen to your body, how to pace your energy, and how to build a life not just a physique. That means seasons of intensity, yes, but also seasons of recovery and recalibration. We’re not machines and training like one without checking in on your health, your hormones, your mindset will catch up with you. Success looks different at every phase, sometimes it’s a podium finish, sometimes it’s showing up for yourself consistently without burning out. The sooner we stop tying our worth to output, the more sustainable and powerful our results will be.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I’d stop apologizing for taking up space. I’d stop second guessing myself just to keep other people comfortable. I’ve spent too many seasons shrinking myself, softening my voice, or waiting for the “right time” to go all in, but if I only had ten years I wouldn’t waste another minute dimming down or holding back. I’d stop trying to fix things that were never mine to carry, generational patterns, other people’s expectations, unrealistic timelines. I’d stop performing for approval.
And honestly, I’d stop saying “yes” out of obligation. Time is too damn precious, I’d reserve my energy for the people and projects that light me up, the ones that feel aligned.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @invictas.pro
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-leatherman/
- Facebook: Invictas Pro
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernDayAthlete
Image Credits
@mike_4ctual
@alpha_1.6.1
