Inspiring Conversations with Jen Kates of Shift Human Performance

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Kates.

Hi Jen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been the person who thinks about health, movement, and performance – probably because I grew up around people who lived it. My parents stayed active, my uncles were into bodybuilding and marathons, and my older brother tried all the combat sports. Fitness wasn’t an option – it was normal and exciting to me.

But life took a little detour. After college, I spent 12 years in biotech research, traveling the world, and loving the science, but something was missing. I started coaching on the side because I genuinely loved helping people feel better in their bodies, and it lit me up in a way research never did. In 2016, I built my coaching business alongside my corporate job – and by 2017, I took the leap to do it full-time.

Today, Shift Human Performance blends real-world sustainability with science-backed and relatable coaching. My goal is the same as it always was: help busy people feel amazing in life, work, and sport, without spending hours in the kitchen or gym.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all! And honestly, I’m glad. If building a business was easy, everyone would do it. The biggest challenge wasn’t the knowledge (I eat research for breakfast) – it was learning to slow down, trust the process, and build coaching around real people’s lives instead of fitness ideals.

Early on when I started coaching almost 20 years ago, I struggled with balancing standards and simplicity. I wanted everything to be “perfect,” and clients were telling me they needed practical advice more than anything. That realization changed everything for me. It pushed me to meet people where they are, not where fitness culture says they should be.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Shift Human Performance, I help busy professionals make sustainable changes and habits that actually stick. Together, we focus on habits that create lifelong results – not quick fixes or cookie-cutter plans, because nutrition and fitness are NOT a one-size-fits-all approach.

What sets me apart:
-Personalized coaching based on your life, goals, and limitations
-A blend of nutrition, training, recovery, stress management, mindset, and performance
-A philosophy rooted in science and real-life sustainability
-Support that feels less like judgment and more like a partnership

My clients range from former professional athletes to every day people trying to perform and feel better while they are getting more sleep, feeling more energy, and seeing real results without sacrificing their lives along the way.

I don’t just aim to improve metrics – I aim to improve lives. My goal is to be the last coach you will ever need.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Absolutely. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to find a mentor who actually meets you where you are, and who you genuinely connect with. Credentials matter, but alignment matters more. If you don’t trust or “jive” with the person, it’s hard to grow.

The best mentors I’ve had were people who listened first, understood my goals and season of life, and then pushed me when I needed it – not all of the time, but at the right moments. Growth doesn’t come from being coddled or constantly overwhelmed; it comes from having someone who knows when to support you and when to challenge you.

When it comes to networking, I’ve found that real relationships always beat surface-level connections. Ask thoughtful questions, be curious, show up consistently, and don’t focus on what you can get. Instead, focus on what you can learn and how you can contribute. The strongest professional relationships I’ve built started with genuine conversations, not perfect pitches.

At the end of the day, mentorship and networking should feel human. If it feels forced, transactional, or misaligned, it’s probably not the right fit, and that’s okay.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shifthumanperformance.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shifthumanperformance
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shifthumanperformance/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShiftHumanPerformance

Image Credits
Ben Duke