I'm not going out there screaming, 'I'm CEO! I'm CEO!' That's not the way to do it.
I'm an artist in my heart.
You need to keep having data points of progress, so even if an investor - and we've all had investors say no to us - there are times where you go back, and you keep them in the loop, and you keep telling them the progress and the perseverance you have.
When I dance, I go to a different side of who I am. I feel like I can solve a problem without knowing I'm solving one.
What's crucial is to never get stuck. Making hard decisions is such an important part of being a startup in order to keep moving forward.
I work out once a day. When I'm in a massive dance show mode, I'll probably be active for about 20 hours each week.
In a startup, there have to be challenges. Otherwise, someone else would have done it already. And that's almost the most exciting part.
Failure is an amazing data point that tells you which direction not to go.
It's really lonely trying to build something by yourself. It's good to have thought partners to bounce ideas off of.
When I started fundraising like me and leading like me, that's when I really started to shine and find my own rhythm.
As we've got more data, and ClassPass has grown, we've had to change rather than have a one-size fits all approach.
I basically live in workout clothes.
You should wake up in the morning and say, 'What do I want to do today? What's going to make me happy?'
When something is aspirational, you don't want someone to be thinking about payment every single time.
When I first started out, there were times I would dress or act in a way because I thought it was expected of me or that people would take me more seriously. But once I started leading in a way that was authentically me, that is when I really started to see success.
We're not trying to be Nike. It's about evolving into new products that are going to make people's lives better.
I think it's so important to have a great support network when you feel like you can't - I would actually go and talk to the people who tell you that you can.
The only way to do everything in your life is to find awesome people to lean on so you can focus your time.
The more you practice something, the easier it'll become.
If I exercise once or twice a day on vacation and don't want to wash my hair too often. I pack a lot of dry shampoo, like Amika's.
I remember, at MIT, we had to write an essay about something mathematical that you do in your extra time. I basically wrote about how dance, to me, was geometry: it was all shapes.
I travel pretty frequently, but a few things that are routine are going for a run, getting my green tea in the morning, and checking email... well, all the time!
Surround yourself with people who only lift you higher.
Focus on your product. A lot of people focus on the name of their brand or the legal aspects, but it's more important to create your product. It's why people join. It's your vision. Without your product, nothing is going to happen.
The variety and flexibility of ClassPass is limitless, ensuring that you'll never get bored, and neither will your muscles.
I think I learned to overcome some things in life through dance.
I work out once a day - it's built into my ethos.
Growing up as a South Asian-American, I didn't have any female role models.
You make sure to set True Norths for your company. You can't be involved in every decision and every meeting; you have to make sure the mission is very built into the culture, the product, and how you communicate.
The best thing I could do is build a successful company and continue to innovate and be in the right role I want to be in. If I'm not doing that, I'm inauthentic. That's not a good role model to anyone. That, to me, is the most important thing.
If you feel good, it doesn't matter what you're wearing.
I plan my time to a 'T.' I plan when I am going to sleep; I plan when I am going to relax. I obviously leave time to have spontaneous life experiences - I think that's really important. But so much of it is setting up you mental energy in the right way to get the most out of your day and time.
We want people to be active so you'll be happier and be more yourself.
In running my own company, I was too busy for a while, and I thought, 'Maybe I'll stop dancing for a bit.' It was the worst decision ever. I just lost my creativity and my drive.
I like to work out every single day. And it's about movement.
We're encouraged by the engagement on ClassPass and the tremendous growth we've had that shows we are fulfilling our mission of helping people live a more active life.
You need to find that thing that's going to get you through your day and that you're excited about. No day should ever be lived without feeling like it was a fulfilling day. You need to set yourself up for that.
I always say investors invest in lines, not dots.
I needed to build a product that got people back to working out.
I love barre because even when I'm not dancing, I feel like I'm training those same muscles.
Some people have that school of thought where fitness isn't enjoyable, but we're making it enjoyable, I think, by making it more fun, challenging, and engaging rather than this boring thing that you have to do. It's about using technology and data to change this experience.
I think I had a lot of people who were like, 'Payal, we love you, but product's not there,' or 'business is not there.' I never gave up, though.
Be true to yourself and surround yourself with positive, supportive people.
I thought, 'I have ideas. I'm creative.' I just didn't see why I should be pigeon-holing myself in the business world or staying in corporate America when I already knew that I was capable of taking risks.
If you love what you do, it's not work.
I love meeting our users and partners and talking to them about how ClassPass has made an impact.
I think, as a founder and entrepreneur, you just keep hustling through it.
I want little girls to believe that they can be CEOs.
When it's time to recharge, I don't feel guilty about it.
