A positive force of energy

Kelly Lynn Gibson, a leadership development grad student at Wright State, a mother of four, health coach and fitness professional, is head of a company promoting well-being and an author.

To say that she has a lot of energy is an understatement. Kelly Lynn Gibson is rocket fuel.

The young mother of four, including triplets, is pursuing her master’s degree in leadership development at Wright State University. She is also a nationally certified health coach and fitness professional, has founded and runs a company that promotes physical and emotional well-being, and just released a book that is available on Amazon.

It took Gibson about a year to write “Worthy of Wellness,” which she says is her story of overcoming the obstacles that prevented her from living her best life.

“Believe in yourself and start leading by example for others, starting in your own home, family, workplace and community,” she said. “Don’t let the fear of failure keep you from pursuing your purpose. I want the readers to recognize that they too are worthy and capable of achieving any goal they set for themselves.”

Gibson grew up in Dayton, graduating from Carroll High School in 2003. She earned her associate degree in mental health from Sinclair Community College and then worked for the State of Ohio for 10 years.

Gibson came to Wright State to pursue a bachelor’s degree that would bring job stability and widen her horizons. She chose to major in organizational leadership, steered by her work as a fitness instructor.

“People were increasingly inspired by my story of fitness after triplets, and my passion of women empowerment grew,” said Gibson. “I didn’t know what I was getting into, but the more I progressed the more evident it was that it was the perfect choice. Pam Beatty was my academic advisor, and her encouragement was monumental in my journey.”

While at Wright State, Gibson interned at the Women’s Center. She assisted with Body Positivity Week and organized the Love Your Body Movement, where she had various wellness and campus organizations make presentations to showcase health, self-care and overall well-being. She also spoke to classes on overall wellness.

After her husband encountered some health problems and Gibson lost her job when the company she worked for closed, she wrote a letter to Ellen DeGeneres and the couple and their children appeared on her show April 25, 2017.

“She blessed our family and gave me a boost to keep working toward a brighter future,” Gibson said. “My husband has always been a huge supporter of my dreams.”

As Gibson was nearing graduation, she conceptualized developing a wellness incentive program for organizations to promote whole health from the inside out.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership in 2018, Gibson founded INNERGIZE*, which promotes physical, emotional and spiritual well-being through fitness classes, motivational speaking engagements, corporate wellness programs and one-on-one health coaching.

“I hit the ground running and wanted to make a positive impact in any way I could,” she said. “The coronavirus hit and we had a few setbacks but were able to start back up in June and have sold out every class thus far. I also am currently hosting ‘Worthy of Wellness’ virtual health-coaching challenges.”

Gibson is now pursuing her master’s degree in leadership development.

“Wright State has prepared me to lead and gave me the confidence to succeed,” she said. “I learned how to build upon my strengths and become a transformational leader that inspires growth in others. My education became a desire rather than a chore.”

Brenda Kraner, senior lecturer and director of the Organizational Leadership Program, said she has seen Gibson’s leadership skills both in and outside of the classroom environment.

“She takes initiative, is visionary, passionate, determined, caring, collaborative and committed to the development of others and to giving back to the community,” said Kraner.

Gibson said her journey to find her own worth inspired her to write her book with the hopes of helping other women discover self-love.

“I was very insecure as a young woman and I didn’t believe I was capable of much,” she said. “I went down a dark cycle of self-destructive behavior. But I surrendered my past of pain and regret to God and let him take control.”

Gibson’s high-octane energy spills out beyond her work and studies. She likes to run when she can, and she and her husband have competed in a couple of Tough Mudders, endurance events on obstacle courses of up to 10 miles.

“I also love to dance everywhere I go, whether it is with my kids in the living room, at church, teaching a class or even in the aisle at the grocery store,” she said. “My energy is infectious, and I enjoy shining my light and being a force for positivity.”