From Backup Dancer to Airport Yoga: How Youmie Jean Francois Built Flex and Fly From Zero

How do you transition from backup dancing for A-list musical artists to becoming a licensed pilot and founding an in-airport wellness company?

Recorded live from Central Park, Dave Gulas sits down with Youmie Jean Francois, founder and CEO of Flex-n-Fly. Youmie shares her 8.5-year journey of turning a sudden spark of inspiration during a flight layover in Morocco into physical airport wellness studios—offering pre-flight yoga, meditation, and red light therapy at major hubs like LaGuardia and Newark.

Youmie breaks down the brutal realities of cash flow, navigating predatory lending practices for small businesses, why she rejects the mask of “having it all together,” and how her nonprofit foundation is giving underserved communities real access to travel, wellness, and AI education.

Timestamps:

00:00 Preview: Enjoying the humble journey & knowing you can do hard things01:04 Welcome to Beyond Fulfillment from Central Park, NYC01:36 From backup dancer to travel wellness founder03:03 The layover in Morocco: Discovering the concept for Flex-n-Fly04:45 Becoming a pilot and pitching a completely new airport concept05:51 Saving late-night restaurant tips to hire a corporate lawyer06:47 Launching travel yoga mats and growing the initial audience09:35 Embracing the journey: Why showing up authentically builds a loyal community11:25 Customer intentionality: Why small businesses must protect