When a tropical storm swept through Houston just days after she opened her first gymnastics gym, Carly Markesich faced the kind of test that defines an entrepreneur’s spirit. Instead of walking away, she rebuilt, turning an early setback into the foundation for Discover Gymnastics, a thriving business she led for 26 years before selling to one of her longtime employees.

In this episode, Marla Noel talks with Carly about the evolution of that journey: from bootstrapping with a $50,000 loan and learning to navigate cash flow, to creating systems and staff training programs that made her business stronger and more sustainable. She shares how lessons from the Women Presidents Organization (WPO) helped her professionalize operations, plan for a successful exit, and step into a new chapter as a WPO chair supporting other women entrepreneurs.

Carly’s story is a testament to grit, vision, and the power of process. From founding the Discover Fitness Foundation (DFF) to make movement accessible to children with special needs, to mentoring future leaders through peer learning, she continues to prove that resilience and purpose can turn any challenge into lasting impact.

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Marla Noel is the creator and host of the Per Her Perspective podcast: a series of raw, relatable conversations about leadership, challenges, finding resources and solutions in running a business, many times, with the help of other smart people in peer groups. With riveting episodes available live on all major platforms, the show inspires business owners to grow their businesses and make bold decisions with the input of others to achieve greater success and profitability. To learn more about Marla, visit www.OCGrowthAdvisors.com.