A Mission Rooted in Personal Experience -SPARKD’s Journey to Holistic Health Empowerment
Anna Milani’s lifelong passion for health and fitness deepened after the birth of her three children and as she neared her forties, marking a shift in her priorities from aesthetics to long-term health, especially brain health. Losing her grandfather to Alzheimer’s disease made her acutely aware of cognitive decline and its profound impact on families. Driven by this personal experience, Anna founded SPARKD with a mission to empower individuals to lead healthier, longer lives by optimising both physical and cognitive performance.
Through SPARKD’s evidence-based brain-body programs, she pioneers a holistic approach to wellness, aiming to bridge the gap between body and mind health. The initial challenge of introducing this innovative concept involved educating people unfamiliar with brain-body health integration. However, as awareness has grown, so has acceptance of SPARKD’s mission, with more individuals embracing solutions that support both mental and physical well-being.
SPARKD’s Educational Journey on Transforming Scepticism into Acceptance
To overcome the initial scepticism and lack of awareness surrounding SPARKD’s holistic brain-body fitness concept, Anna Milani dedicated several years to educating the public. Through presentations and informative content, she emphasised the connections between exercise, brain health, cognition, and neuromuscular training. Initially, such training was exclusive to elite athletes—like F1 drivers and professional sports players—or reserved for individuals with neurological conditions.
Today, Anna is encouraged by the growing curiosity among the general population regarding the benefits of exercise for brain health. More people are seeking preventative interventions to optimise their mental and physical well-being, reflecting a significant shift in perception. This increasing openness marks an exciting evolution in the understanding of how integrated health practices can enhance overall quality of life.
Championing Equality – Anna Milani’s Journey as a Female Entrepreneur
As a solo female founder, Anna Milani has faced numerous challenges in navigating the business landscape, particularly in securing investments and managing team dynamics. She acknowledges that the journey has often been difficult, with investment opportunities not always favouring her as a woman. Anna believes that true equality in investment scenarios is still a work in progress.
Despite these hurdles, she is determined to inspire both female and male entrepreneurs to persevere in pursuing their passions and beliefs. Anna aims to motivate more women to embrace their boldness and confidence, encouraging them to step into leadership roles. Through her experiences, she hopes to foster a culture of resilience and determination, paving the way for future generations of leaders in the business world.
Building a Team of Lifelong Learners SPARKD’s Approach to Training and Excellence
At SPARKD, Anna Milani seeks team members who are both inquisitive and adaptable, ready to embrace innovation in brain-body fitness. New trainers undergo comprehensive training, starting with the science behind SPARKD’s approach to brain-body exercise, followed by hands-on experience with specialised technologies. They then learn to design customised programs for both group and private sessions.
Anna places particular emphasis on one-to-one training, where a deeper level of personalization is essential. Trainers are taught to align each client’s physical and cognitive needs with their specific goals, ensuring a tailored experience. The learning journey at SPARKD is continuous, as each client brings unique objectives. For this reason, Anna looks for individuals who are not only skilled but also committed to lifelong learning, embodying SPARKD’s dedication to high standards and personalised care.
Staying Ahead in Brain-Body Fitness – SPARKD’s Commitment to Innovation and Data Integration
To maintain SPARKD’s position as a leader in brain-body fitness, Anna Milani continuously explores emerging technologies and training methods, ensuring that SPARKD stays aligned with industry trends and evolving client needs. A core part of this approach is leveraging data integration, which enhances the value of each session for both clients and trainers. By refining how data is collected and utilised, Anna aims to provide insights that drive progress and foster deeper client engagement. Through this commitment to innovation and data-driven results, SPARKD remains at the forefront of the brain-body fitness movement, setting new standards for personalised and effective training.
Bridging Fitness, Healthcare, and Academia – SPARKD’s Noteworthy Milestones
SPARKD has celebrated many memorable achievements, with two standout projects reflecting its impact across fitness, healthcare, and academia. In 2022, SPARKD was part of the Under Armour COMBINE games, a major fitness tour spanning Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia, which showcased SPARKD’s unique brain-body approach to diverse audiences. Another significant milestone involves SPARKD’s ongoing collaboration with the NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity. Each year, SPARKD hosts workshops and classes for 45 international participants, immersing them in longevity medicine and holistic fitness. These events underscore SPARKD’s commitment to advancing health and wellness across multiple fields, from athletic performance to academic learning.
Advice from Anna Milani for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Anna Milani
Founder of SPARKD
The challenges will get bigger as the opportunities will get bigger
Although you will never be ready for the journey that lies ahead of you as a first time entrepreneur, prepare as much as possible for option B and C. Know what your vision, mission and values are and how you want to get there, but be ready to adapt, adjust, listen, learn and evolve. The challenges will get bigger as the opportunities will get bigger.