From Wall Street to Rumble Boxing: Irina Kapetanakis on Thinking Bigger & Leading Smarter (S3:E4)

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About Irina Kapetanakis

Irina Kapetanakis is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and franchise owner with a passion for building community-focused businesses that go beyond products and services. With over a decade of experience in finance and marketing, Irina made a bold transition into entrepreneurship, opening several Rumble Boxing studios across New York and New Jersey. She is deeply committed to creating spaces that inspire connection, wellness, and personal growth. In addition to her work with Rumble, Irina invests in women-led and wellness-focused startups and serves on nonprofit boards that support leadership and empowerment. She believes success is driven by strong teams, authentic relationships, and a values-based approach to leadership. Her mission is to foster communities that promote health, confidence, and meaningful change.

Reference Links: 

• Linkedin
• Green Ridge Wealth Planning
• BobbyMascia.com
• Instagram - Bobby Mascia
• Instagram - Business Unchained

Irina Kapetanakis Social Media

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/irina.kapetanakis/?hl=en
• Rumble website - https://www.rumbleboxinggym.com/franchise
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-kapetanakis

Episode Highlights

How do you walk away from nearly two decades in finance, bet on yourself in a completely different industry, and build the top-performing Rumble Boxing franchise in the world? How do you juggle scaling multiple businesses across state lines, raising a family, and staying true to your roots?

In this episode of Business Unchained, Bobby Mascia sits down with Irina Kapetanakis to unpack the real, unfiltered journey behind her success. From engineering school to Wall Street to building thriving fitness communities, Irina has proven that success doesn’t come from playing it safe—it comes from thinking outside the box, betting on yourself, and leading with heart.

Raised by Greek immigrant grandparents who took the ultimate risks to create opportunity, Irina shares how that legacy fueled her own fearless approach to business. You’ll hear how she pivoted from fashion tech startups to U.S. manufacturing, how COVID created unexpected business opportunities, and how boxing became the foundation for building strong communities.

(17:00) "If you think you know it all, you know nothing. I am probably the most vulnerable when it comes to business because that’s how you grow." — Irina Kapetanakis

(36:01) "Anyone can go to a gym… but after six months, you’ll get bored. We’re building communities. That’s what keeps people coming back." — Irina Kapetanakis

From Wall Street boardrooms to fitness studios, Irina’s story is proof that reinvention is always possible—and building boldly starts with betting on yourself.

In this episode:

• [00:00] Welcome to Business Unchained
• [05:51] The birth of Rumble and its expansion
• [11:23] Scaling a multi-unit business
• [13:43] The importance of networking and team building
• [24:47] Entrepreneurial roots and mindset
• [30:27] The weight of leadership
• [32:01] Difficult conversations and tough decisions
• [33:10] Creative freedom in franchising
• [36:14] Building communities, not just gyms
• [50:08] Balancin