From College Side Job to C-Suite, Samantha Musonda Builds on Passion and Purpose
Samantha Musonda turned a college side gig into a spot in the C-suite.
While on the dance team at Philadelphia’s Temple University, Musonda became a part-time instructor at The Little Gym to help pay bills. But she quickly fell in love with the brand’s mission: Helping young children build confidence through movement.
Over the next few years, she rose through the ranks of the local gym, eventually leading it.
Musonda is now the Brand President of The Little Gym, an enrichment and physical development franchise for kids ages 4 months to 12 years, with locations worldwide.
She says those early years working as an instructor gave her a front-row seat to the challenges and responsibilities of the role — teaching children, managing parent expectations, selling programs and keeping the gym spotless.
“Today, as I make decisions that affect franchisees and instructors, I often ask myself, ‘If I were still working in a gym, how would this work?’” she says. “Whether it’s rolling out new technology or new programs, I strive to ensure that front-line team members can succeed while still delivering exceptional classes and customer service.”
Leading Through Purpose
The Little Gym has been at the forefront of the kids’ fitness movement for nearly 50 years. Now, with the growing awareness of childhood obesity and the need for regular physical exercise, it’s a leader in a booming youth franchise market projected to reach $15 billion this year, according to Proficient Market Insights.
With more than 400 locations, the brand continues to grow, opening a record 39 new locations and training more than 600 team members since 2024. The Little Gym is consistently recognized as an exceptional franchise model, most recently landing on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2025 Franchise 500® list.
In her current role, Musonda is a trusted partner to franchisees, ensuring they have the tools to thrive while upholding the brand’s mission of fostering fun, growth and confidence in children.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, but stepping back to remember why we do this work and who it impacts is essential,” she says of her leadership style. “By putting myself in the shoes of franchisees or team members, I can make thoughtful, considerate decisions — and explain those decisions with honesty and respect.”
Musonda has followed that mantra while navigating a dynamic landscape, from evolving technology to COVID to the company’s acquisition by Unleashed Brands in 2021.
As a leader, she says her guiding principle is to focus on what can be controlled — whether at the home office or gym level.
“During times of change, the bond between our franchisees and the home office team has grown stronger than ever,” she says. “Together, we’ve innovated programs, refined processes and found creative ways to stay connected.”
Musonda says the same mindset carried through the Unleashed Brands acquisition which brought The Little Gym into a robust portfolio of youth enrichment brands.
“Joining Unleashed Brands has also created opportunities for growth and leadership that didn’t exist before,” she says. “It’s been exciting to evolve and reimagine how we support franchisees.”
Passion for Service
The Little Gym seeks franchisees who share the same passion for service to children that Musonda felt back in her very first job. Owners are a diverse group: parents, those in accounting, finance, sales leaders, operations executives and existing business owners — many are drawn to The Little Gym for its strong potential to scale.
The company provides a turn-key owner experience — from operations and finance support to a pre-opening business team that assists with site selection and build-out. Before the first child steps foot inside a Little Gym, Musonda explains, there is robust staff training to ensure quality and continuity.
Shared Experience
Falling in love with the brand’s mission early on helped Musonda develop a leadership style rooted in service, empathy and long-term vision.
Being a mom of a toddler has added perspective.
“Every time I’m in a gym, I’m not just looking through my professional lens, I’m also looking through the lens of a mom,” she says. “Experiencing the program alongside my child, then working at the brand level to make that experience even better is incredibly rewarding.”
Her advice to others looking toward the C-suite? Communicate often with leaders about your desire to grow.
“Hard work, staying connected to your ‘why,’ and stepping back to see the bigger picture are all important, but so is confidently putting yourself out there,” she says. “Passion grows when you proactively seek new challenges.”
Visit The Little Gym franchise website for more information.
