We're excited to share a special moment for our Peak Women community!
On October 6, 2026, our founder and owner, Lissa Pietrykowski, had the honor of serving as a featured panelist at the Troy Chamber of Commerce's Top of Troy: Women of Influence event.
Held at Walsh College's Barry Center in Troy, Michigan, the event brought together local business professionals and community members for a morning of conversations about leadership, personal growth, and the experiences that shape successful women.
For Lissa, it was a chance to share what she's learned as a business owner, entrepreneur, and mother, while connecting with other women making a difference across our region.
And what made the morning even more special? Just two years earlier, Lissa sat in the audience, imagining herself on that very stage.
Celebrating Women in Leadership at Top of Troy
The Troy Chamber of Commerce organized the Top of Troy: Women of Influence event, bringing together four women from different professional backgrounds to share their experiences, perspectives, and advice.
The panel was moderated by Jamie Edmonds, a reporter and sports anchor with WDIV Local 4, ClickOnDetroit, and WJR.
Alongside Lissa, the featured panelists included:
Dr. Darienne Driver Hudson, President and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Lori Grigg Bluhm, City Attorney for the City of Troy
Dr. Suzy Siegle, President and CEO of Walsh College
Lissa Pietrykowski, Co-Owner of Peak Physique Fitness and Peak Women
Each woman brought a different perspective to the conversation, representing leadership in nonprofit organizations, local government, higher education, and small business.
The panel explored topics many women can relate to, including career growth, navigating challenges, managing responsibilities, overcoming self-doubt, and building confidence as leaders.
The event was especially meaningful because we heard from women who have built careers in different fields but share many of the same experiences.
Leadership doesn't look the same for everyone, and we can learn a lot from hearing how others have found their way.
From Sitting in the Audience to Speaking on the Panel
One of our favorite parts of Lissa's involvement in this year's event is the story behind it. Two years ago, Lissa attended Top of Troy as an audience member.
While listening to the women on stage, she took a picture of the panel and sent it to Nick with a message:
"Someday I'll be sitting on that panel."
Fast forward to October 2026, and there she was. It's a meaningful full-circle moment, especially considering the message Lissa wanted to share with other women at this year's event.
So often, we hesitate to pursue opportunities because we question whether we're ready, qualified, or capable enough.
We tell ourselves that maybe someday, when we have more experience or when life feels a little less busy, we'll take that next step.
But sometimes, the first step is simply believing that something is possible. For Lissa, what started as a goal while sitting in the audience became a reality just two years later. And we think that's something worth celebrating.
Lissa's Message: Don't Second-Guess Yourself
If there's one message Lissa hopes women take away from her experience, it's this:
"Don't second-guess yourself; you're capable of amazing things sooner than you think! While we may not be able to 'do it all', we can do anything with the support of others around us!"
It's a message that reflects both her experience as an entrepreneur and the values that have shaped Peak Women.
Building a business, raising a family, and taking on new opportunities can come with plenty of challenges.
There are moments when you question your decisions, wonder whether you're doing enough, or compare your progress to someone else's.
And when you're trying to balance multiple responsibilities, it's easy to feel like you should be able to handle everything on your own.
But that's not always realistic, and it doesn't have to be the expectation.
Having people who encourage you, believe in your abilities, and offer support can make a tremendous difference.
Sometimes that support comes from family and friends. Other times, it comes from colleagues, mentors, employees, or the community you've built around you. The important thing is recognizing that accepting help doesn't make your accomplishments any less meaningful.
In fact, having a strong support system can help make those accomplishments possible.
Sharing the Realities of Entrepreneurship and Work-Life Balance
As the owner of Peak Women and co-owner of Peak Physique Fitness in Troy, Lissa brings more than a decade of experience in personal training and small business leadership.
Her work has involved much more than helping clients exercise.
Running a business means building a team, developing relationships, making difficult decisions, adapting to challenges, and learning how to grow without losing sight of what matters most.
For Lissa, it also means navigating entrepreneurship alongside the responsibilities of raising four children.
These experiences shaped the questions prepared for the Top of Troy panel.
Topics included how business owners transition from being the face of their brand to empowering employees, how women manage their energy and mental health, and how the definition of work-life balance changes as children grow.
They're important conversations because success doesn't eliminate the challenges of everyday life.
Even when you love your work, competing priorities, unexpected setbacks, and moments when you have to decide where your energy is needed most still happen.
And having everything perfectly balanced all the time isn't necessarily realistic. At Peak Women, we understand that women are often managing several responsibilities at once.
That's why we've always believed in meeting women where they are, whether they're starting a fitness routine, returning to exercise after time away, or finding ways to prioritize their health during a busy season of life.
The same principle applies outside the gym. You don't need to have everything figured out before taking a step toward something important to you.
Why Supporting Other Women Matters
One of the things we appreciate most about events like Top of Troy: Women of Influence is the opportunity they create for women to learn from and encourage one another.
It's easy to look at someone else's accomplishments and see only the finished result.
We see the successful business, the leadership position, or the professional recognition, but we don't always see the uncertainty, hard work, and support that made it possible.
Conversations like these remind us that everyone's path looks different.
Some careers follow a clear plan, while others develop through unexpected opportunities. Some women find their confidence early, while others build it gradually through experience.
There's no single way to become a successful leader.
And you certainly don't have to do it alone.
We work hard to create that sense of encouragement at Peak Women.
Our women-only personal training studio was built around the belief that women deserve a place where they feel comfortable, supported, and confident in themselves.
We see how meaningful that support can be every day.
Whether someone is trying an unfamiliar exercise, working toward a personal goal, or rebuilding confidence after a difficult period, having people in their corner can make all the difference.
The same is true in business, leadership, and life.
When women share their experiences and support one another, they help create opportunities for others to grow.
Thank You to the Troy Chamber of Commerce
We're grateful to the Troy Chamber of Commerce for organizing such a meaningful event and inviting Lissa to be part of the conversation.
Thank you to moderator Jamie Edmonds for leading the discussion and to fellow panelists Dr. Darienne Driver Hudson, Lori Grigg Bluhm, and Dr. Suzy Siegle for sharing their experiences and perspectives.
Events like Top of Troy give our local community a chance to connect, celebrate accomplishments, and learn from the people making a difference across the region.
We're proud to be part of a community that recognizes and encourages women in leadership.
Keep Believing in What's Possible
Two years ago, Lissa was sitting in the audience at Top of Troy, looking at the women on stage and imagining herself among them.
This year, she was one of the women sharing her story.
It's a reminder that the goals we set for ourselves may be closer than we think, even when they feel out of reach.
We don't always know exactly how an opportunity will come together, and we certainly can't control every challenge along the way.
But we can continue learning, take chances, believe in our abilities, and surround ourselves with people who encourage us to keep going.
That's a message we hope every woman in our Peak Women community remembers.
You don't have to do it all to accomplish something amazing. And you might be capable of more than you realize.
Congratulations, Lissa! We're proud of you for sharing your experiences, representing Peak Women, and encouraging other women to believe in what's possible.
And thank you to everyone who helped make the 2026 Top of Troy: Women of Influence event such a memorable morning!
