Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Finley.
Hi Ryan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Lumberton, New Jersey, in a family of entrepreneurs and loving parents who built something really special. My mom and dad both came from humble beginnings in Levittown, Pennsylvania — high school sweethearts who started with nothing. My dad went to West Point, served in the Army, and later realized corporate life wasn’t for him. In 1991, my parents founded West Point Thoroughbreds, which grew into the largest horse racing syndicate in the country. Today, nearly everyone in my family — my dad, mom, sister, and even my wife — works for the company.
Watching them build something from scratch was inspiring, but I’ve always had that same independent streak as my dad — I’ve wanted to build something of my own.
Sports were my outlet growing up. I played everything — baseball, basketball, and soccer — but soccer was my passion. I was a relentless competitor and fortunate to travel internationally as a teenager, playing in tournaments across South America, Europe, and Asia. I earned a scholarship to Duke University and later transferred to Notre Dame, where I became a two-time All-American and runner-up for the Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s equivalent of the Heisman. In 2013, I was drafted 9th overall in the MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew and went on to play professionally in the U.S. and Europe for several years.
By 2017, I was ready for a new challenge. The timing was poetic — shortly after I retired, my parents’ company co-owned the Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming. It felt like life’s way of confirming I was moving in the right direction.
I transitioned into finance in New York City, which is where I met my wife, Ali, in 2018 — the best part of that chapter. Wanting to keep growing, I studied for the GMAT, got accepted into The Wharton School, and earned my MBA in 2022. After marrying Ali in Saratoga Springs, we moved to Dallas, where I joined McKinsey & Company.
McKinsey was an incredible experience, but as we welcomed our two children — Duke and Gemma — I found myself craving more autonomy and purpose. After one particularly brutal week of canceled flights and late nights away from home, I knew it was time for something different.
I started exploring franchising because I was drawn to the idea that, much like sports, success comes down to executing a proven playbook. Around that time, my son was enrolled in a child enrichment program — and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a better model out there. After months of research, I discovered KidStrong. The mission immediately resonated with me: helping kids build strength, confidence, and character. Parents were sharing incredible stories about their children’s growth, and the five-star reviews spoke for themselves. When I learned that six territories were available in Nashville, it felt like fate
Ali and I packed up our family and moved to Franklin, Tennessee, to begin this next chapter. Our first location, KidStrong West Nashville, is opening in January, with additional centers planned for Franklin, Murfreesboro, Mt. Juliet, Smyrna, and Hendersonville. My goal is to positively impact over 20,000 kids across Tennessee and the Southeast.
What makes this journey so meaningful is how it ties everything in my life together — physical development through soccer, character development from my military family upbringing, and cognitive development from Notre Dame and Wharton. KidStrong’s mission to “help kids win at life” feels like my own personal calling.
I’ve been fortunate — incredible parents, great mentors, and opportunities that lined up at just the right moments. But more than anything, I feel grateful to have found something that reignites that same fire I had as a pro athlete — something I’m genuinely excited to wake up and build every single day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all. My journey has been full of twists and setbacks that have ultimately shaped who I am today.
I began my career playing soccer at Duke, where I was an All-American as a sophomore — but I still made the difficult decision to transfer to Notre Dame. My junior year turned out to be the worst season of my career, and I thought my chances of going pro were slipping away. But I came back my senior year and had the best season of my life.
As a professional athlete, I experienced the highs of making it and the lows of being traded and cut. It’s not always the glamorous life people imagine — it teaches you humility, resilience, and the importance of showing up every single day, no matter what.
When I transitioned out of soccer, I felt behind. I was 27 with no “real world” experience, surrounded by peers who already had established careers. I knew I had to catch up quickly. At Wharton, I didn’t land the McKinsey summer internship everyone wanted, but I came back after being rejected and earned a full-time offer. That experience reinforced a lesson that’s defined my career — perseverance pays off.
Building my KidStrong portfolio has brought its own challenges — finding the right real estate, negotiating leases, securing permits — every step takes longer and costs more than you expect. But that’s the reality of entrepreneurship.
If there’s one constant in my story, it’s relentlessness. I’ll always find a way forward. I keep a list of quotes in my phone, and two stand out to me:
1. “Problems are an opportunity to differentiate yourself from others — every problem is an opportunity in disguise.”
2. “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.”
Those two mindsets sum up how I approach everything in life — persistence, optimism, and belief that the hard road is always worth it
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about KidStrong ?
I’m the Area Developer / Owner for all of Nashville for a franchise called KidStrong, where I’m developing six centers across the region — in West Nashville, Franklin, Hendersonville, Mt. Juliet, Murfreesboro, and Smyrna.
KidStrong is a kids training program designed to help kids build strong bodies, confident minds, and high character. Each week, children attend 45-minute classes built around three core pillars: cognitive, physical, and character development. Our curriculum is created by child development experts with one goal in mind — helping kids win at life, whether that’s on the field, in the classroom, or in everyday situations.
With more than 150 centers across the U.S. and Canada and over 70,000 kids enrolled, KidStrong has become one of the fastest-growing child development programs in North America. I’m honored to bring this incredible concept to the Nashville community.
If you’ve seen us on Instagram, you’ve probably noticed the physical side of what we do — box jumps, pushups, sprinting, and obstacle courses. But what often surprises people is how much we focus on the mental and social aspects: teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and communication. Yes, KidStrong helps kids move better and become more athletic — but more importantly, it helps them grow into confident, capable young people.
What I’m most proud of is being part of a company that’s truly changing kids’ lives. It’s inspiring to think about the future and imagine the kind of adults today’s KidStrong kids will become — strong, confident leaders ready to take on the world.
What does success mean to you?
For my family, success means being the kind of person my kids want to spend time with when they’re 15, 25, and 40 years old. I want them to look forward to visits the way I did when my parents came to see me at college or to feel excited to bring their own families home someday. More than anything, I hope they see me as a role model — someone who does the right thing, treats people with respect, and works hard.
For my time, success is having the freedom to work on things I’m passionate about, alongside people I enjoy and respect. It’s about building a life where the work feels meaningful and energizing.
For my team, success means creating a culture of partnership and shared purpose. I tell every new hire during their first interview, “We work together.” I never want anyone to say they “work for me.” That sense of collaboration and mutual respect is what I hope defines our team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://westnashville.kidstrong.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidstrongwestnashville/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidstrongwestnashville/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/kidstrong
