Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Younes.
Hi Diane, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I always wanted to be a lawyer. In fact, I loved law school so much I went twice – earning one degree in Canada and another from New York Law School. I spent five intense, fast-paced years working as a lawyer in Investment Banking in New York City. It gave me a rock-solid foundation in corporate structure, negotiations and legal strategy.
Eventually, I felt the pull to build something of my own. I left Investment Banking, moved to Asia, and spent six years founding and running a lifestyle tech startup.
Then, COVID-19 hit. Like it did for so many people, the global lockdowns flipped my world upside down. Living in Asia, isolated from my family, and facing endless lockdowns, I went through a period of deep reflection. That’s when I found movement. I got heavily into CrossFit, and as I dove deeper into the sport, I realized how profoundly movement, nutrition, mindset, and recovery were tied to my mental state. I didn’t just want to do it; I wanted to understand it. So, I became certified as a trainer by the American College of Sports Medicine and as a Nutrition Coach by Precision Nutrition.
Right before moving back to the United States, I thought of my resume:
– Five years of corporate law and Investment Banking.
– Six years of building and running a startup in the trenches.
– A deep, hard-earned expertise in fitness, nutrition and mental resilience.
I realized I didn’t have to choose just one path. I could combine all of them. That is how Growth 2 Mindset was born. The philosophy: Growth for companies. Growth for people. Growth².
Today, we help wellness and sports brands flourish. Because I’ve been an entrepreneur and a lawyer, I know exactly what it’s like to be in the trenches trying to scale, secure partnerships, handle legal hurdles, and build staying power. We step in to handle their business development, marketing, partnerships, legal needs and more. Alongside the consulting arm, we run corporate wellness events, host The Di-scussions Podcast (where I interview industry leaders about personal growth), and run a series of wellness events across Miami called G2M Retreats. We’ve worked with brands such as Nike, Lululemon, Red Bull and more.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing in life is ever smooth – that’s the point! When building my lifestyle tech startup in Hong Kong, I had no tech-specific expertise. I made the mistake of hiring the wrong tech team to build my prototype. This set me back two months but it gave me a valuable lesson: if you make a mistake, fail quickly. Pivot fast and move on.
We’ve been impressed with Growth 2 Mindset, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our branding is intentionally minimalistic. Black and white logo and pictures. The use of 90s hip hop references and inspiration. Why? Because we believe that wellness and fitness are all about going back to the basics: nutrition, sleep, recovery, mindset, connection. Old-school hip hop was all about beats and lyrics that read like poetry – no autotune, no extras. Back to the basics.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Let’s be honest: the term “networking” is pretty outdated. It feels transactional and stiff. In my line of work, I cross paths with people from every imaginable industry and background – and it rarely happens in a boardroom or at a networking event. It happens at other events, at the gym, or even standing in line at the grocery store. I actually believe we need to stop networking and start connecting. Instead of asking people the standard, “So, what do you do?”, I like to ask them what they’re genuinely interested in or what they love doing. When you pivot the conversation to human interests rather than job titles, you build a connection on a much higher, more authentic level. Once you establish that real human rapport, I believe the professional synergy and business opportunities naturally follow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://growth2mindset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growth2mindset.io
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/diane.you.nes/
