Imagine stepping into the ring, gloves on, ready to fight for something bigger than yourself. That’s what Heidi Schaler, also known as The Lioness to her friends and the boxing world, is gearing up for. But her fight extends far beyond the boxing arena.

She is a supermom, a devoted partner, and a badass businesswoman with a big vision. Heidi’s commitment to making a difference is unmistakable as she gears up to participate in the Haymakers for Hope Boxing Charity, where she’ll throw punches to raise money for cancer research.

But that’s not all. Heidi is the founder of Allofam, a tech startup set to launch later this year. With Allofam, she’s on a mission to simplify healthcare for families. Imagine a platform that not only helps parents find healthcare providers but also matches them based on their family’s unique needs, from specialty care to bedside manner and even language preferences.

For Heidi, success is not about personal victories or financial gains; it’s about making a tangible difference. If Allofam can alleviate the burden for even one family navigating the complexities of healthcare, she’ll consider her vision a success.

Dive into Heidi’s inspiring interview and discover how she’s fighting for change inside and outside the ring.

Kim: Heidi, you’re a true powerhouse, juggling your new venture with founding Allofam, a full-time job, a wife, and the mother of two small children. How do you manage to balance all these responsibilities, and what motivates you to keep moving forward?

Heidi: I love all my activities and ventures with my whole heart.  I might not love them all when I’m in the thick of it, but the bigger picture is what drives me to keep going with each.  I am driven to be the best parent I can be (and work to repair with my kids when any of us go off-track) and to break cycles of generational trauma through beautiful work with a parenting coach.  My partner and I are both 100% committed to being the best emotional versions of ourselves for each other and for our kids (think: scheduled therapy and a “your feelings matter” approach to sticky conversations).  Founding AlloFam, an online platform for parents to identify healthcare providers for their young kids, is a passionate spark that won’t go out.  It’s something that I know I am called to do.  Whenever I talk to another parent struggling to find a perfect basic or specialised healthcare provider for their kid, all I want to do is help.  Being a parent can be stressful – finding a healthcare provider to protect your kid through any ailment shouldn’t be added stress.  It’s these missions – in each of my activities/ventures/hectic scheduling – that help me focus on my goal and take the next step to do whatever I can to get the best outcome.

Kim: Your participation in the Haymakers for Hope Boxing Charity event for cancer is inspiring. Can you tell us more about the event, what motivated you to get involved in this cause and why it’s personally significant to you?

Heidi: I fell in love with boxing about nine years ago when my dad dragged me to a session with his coach, Colorado Hall of Fame boxer DaVarryl Williamson, at his gym, Touch of Sleep, in Denver, CO.  I did not love it at first.  I was terrible – just as anyone is terrible the first time they try to do something new (hi, toddlers!).  And as I got more sessions in, I realised that every time I left training, my mind was clear.  I couldn’t think about anything else while training – it was like combat meditation.  I joined a boxing club in San Francisco, where I lived at the time, and the community blew me away.  Boxing – and any martial art – has this draw across demographics, ages, and careers.  One day, I’ll be sparring with a 14-year-old high school kid, and the next, I’ll be working combos with a 70-year-old retired doctor.  We all have one thing in common – we love boxing. It’s this love of boxing and witnessing heroic women in my life go through breast cancer treatments (my aunt Germaine, my mentor and my friend Sue) that I dedicated myself last year to competing in (and raising funds for) the Haymakers for Hope boxing event before my next birthday.  The Haymakers for Hope organisation is a cancer-fighting 501(c)3 like no other, powered by ass-kicking do-gooders who are up to the challenge – and I’m certainly up for it.

Kim: How do you stay focused on your goals and maintain momentum? Your schedule must be insane!

Heidi: I worship discipline and schedules.  I meditate every morning before the kids wake up to set my mind for the day (even 5 minutes counts!). I know exactly when I’m training at the gym (Monday/Wednesday) or lifting weights with my friend (every Friday, followed by smoothies and parent/mom/friend/partner/hustler business owner chat).  I sprinkle in cardio and yoga (even 5-10min counts) to keep my body moving because I truly believe movement is medicine.  It can calm an anxious mind and bring us back to our breath (because it’s the only option when moving that much!), and endorphins are a real thing.  Aside from physical work, I schedule my founder responsibilities while the kids are with their nanny – which I know I’m beyond lucky to have – and I block my weekends, mornings and evenings to be 100% focused on spending time with my kids and my partner.  We get outside as much as possible, explore the neighbourhood, and look for bunnies (which are easy to find, given that my partner keeps leaving carrots out for them.)  I admit – the context switching can be a LOT, and sometimes it takes me a bit for my nervous system to settle after a particularly stressful day of work/Founder problem-solving.  Being aware that this is a challenge for me helps me to witness it and move through it.  Also, no phone/computer after 9 pm helps my brain chill out before going to sleep, and I can have an *actual* conversation with my partner.

Kim: How have you been preparing for the match, both physically and mentally?

Heidi: So much training.  Although I’m much better at giving my body rest days than I used to be.  I train with two different coaches a few times a week.  We work boxing combos, movement around the ring, conditioning (think agility, sprints, ab work, weights), and sparring on the weekends. 

Getting punched in the face—or really anywhere—is a shock to a person. My fight/flight/freeze response is usually to freeze, so sparring is crucial to teaching my nervous system that I can get hit and keep fighting.

I also meditate on what fight night will be like—mentally preparing myself for the music, the crowds (~1800 people!), the lights, and the ring space so that I’m not shocked when I arrive on June 13.

Kim: Beyond the physical aspect, what does participating in this charity event mean to you on a deeper level? How do you hope to make a difference in the fight against cancer through your involvement?

Heidi: Every time I hear of another friend who has experienced cancer or lost loved ones, I tell them that I am fighting for them.  It brings me to an emotional place because I truly do want to be the strength and fight for what people need when they/their bodies can’t do it for them.  The funds I’m raising are dedicated to breast cancer organisations to support the women in my life who have fought a battle that I can’t comprehend.  There are organisations and academic/medical institutions heads-down on research to cure/prevent/treat cancer, and if my fight and funds can support them – that’s my win.

Kim: Let’s briefly touch on Allofam. How does your work with Allofam tie into your passion for creating positive change?

Heidi: Parents and caregivers are true heroes.  They deliver calm and basic needs to kids who can’t yet give it to themselves.  Founding AlloFam allows me to see (and talk to!) those parents and find a way to make their lives easier.  A calmer parent is better able to care for their kids and home, and through helping parents easily find healthcare providers that align with their family values (think: specialties like genetic disease and neurodiversity, provider bedside manner, education, location convenience, credential verification, language preferences, etc!), AlloFam can ease one point of stress in a home.  If I help one single family have an easier time navigating healthcare providers, I’ll have delivered on my mission.

Kim: What message do you hope to send to others by participating in this charity boxing event? What do you want people to take away from your involvement or even the event as a whole?

Heidi: Fight for others when they can’t fight for themselves.  Make someone’s life easier when they don’t have the ability to make their own life easier.  When we are in community -through boxing, parenting, gardening, exercise, etc – we have the opportunity to lift others up and to be lifted up by them.  I’ve met two of my closest friends through boxing in San Francisco (and they are flying out for the event) and met my partner through boxing as well (sorry about that medicine ball to the head on the first day we met Colin!).  This community has brought unexpected people into my life that lift me up, and I hope that everyone has a community like this at some point.  And it doesn’t have to be a boxing community – pick something you love, and you’ll find others who love it, too!  I also hope to show my kids, family, and friends that I am dedicated and steadfast in my training, relationships, and missions.  I feel like my friends already know this, as they have been calling me The Lioness (my boxing fighter name now) for as long as I’ve known them as a nod to my fierceness and loyalty.

Kim: Many people might struggle prioritising self-care and personal pursuits while managing a career and family. What advice would you give to others in similar situations who aspire to pursue their passions despite their busy lives?

Heidi: Schedule it—worship discipline.  You are your best advocate, and there’s only finite time that we are here to do the things that make us the best version of ourselves, so decide to do something – anything – and then let nothing get in the way.  My meditation practice started with me dragging my feet and saying, “Nah, I’m not really a meditation person,” for years.  It wasn’t until I started noticing the effects of even 5 minutes every morning in how I related to my kids, partner, and stress at work that I had that lightbulb moment of “omg, this actually works.”  So, take that next step with whatever you decide will help you become the best version of yourself, and give it time to become a practice.  It doesn’t matter what it is – block your calendar and make time because no one else will do it for you.

Kim: For those who may be inspired by your story, what advice would you give to others who want to make a difference in the fight against cancer or support charitable causes in their communities?

Heidi: Yes!  Join me!  Do you know someone or a community that really needs someone to stand up and fight for them?  What lights your passion when thinking of groups or people that need help?  For me, it breaks my heart to tears when those without a voice (kids, the elderly, the sick) can’t advocate for themselves, so I dedicate myself, my company and my charity work to speaking for them.  There are incredible organisations that need your support, and they will be so grateful to welcome you into their community.  Send an email, call their number and find out where you can plug in.  Don’t overthink it – any time you can spare will make a difference.

Kim: Lastly, Heidi, what is your fierce truth?

Heidi: We have three family values: Sleep, Water, and Safety.  Sleep because it gives us the gift of being our best (and functioning) selves during the day.  Water because, science, plus our bodies work best when well hydrated.  Safety – both physical and emotional – because it means that we can set and hold boundaries when something isn’t safe for us.   (Also, I absolutely see the irony in the “Safety” value as I’m prepping for a boxing fight next month.  And my training is giving me the skills to stay safe and focused.)

Image credits: Gauntlet Productions