Business Unchained
Calling all small business warriors who feel chained to their business! Do you run your business or does your business run you? You've poured your blood, sweat and tears into it and it is time to set yourself free. I'm Bobby Mascia – owner of a wealth management firm, family office, manufacturing business, 18 store Dunkin Franchise, and de facto business coach. My goal? To liberate your business— whether it be operationally, prep for a sale, a legacy handover, or self-management. The roadmap to this freedom is something we will uncover together in Business Unchained." Join me as I learn about fellow entrepreneurs, dissecting their past, present, and future.
Business Unchained
From Wall Street to Rumble Boxing: Irina Kapetanakis on Thinking Bigger & Leading Smarter (S3:E4)
About Irina Kapetanakis
Irina Kapetanakis is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and franchise owner with a passion for building community-focused businesses that go beyond products and services. With over a decade of experience in finance and marketing, Irina made a bold transition into entrepreneurship, opening several Rumble Boxing studios across New York and New Jersey. She is deeply committed to creating spaces that inspire connection, wellness, and personal growth. In addition to her work with Rumble, Irina invests in women-led and wellness-focused startups and serves on nonprofit boards that support leadership and empowerment. She believes success is driven by strong teams, authentic relationships, and a values-based approach to leadership. Her mission is to foster communities that promote health, confidence, and meaningful change.
Reference Links:
- Green Ridge Wealth Planning
- BobbyMascia.com
- Instagram - Bobby Mascia
- Instagram - Business Unchained
Irina Kapetanakis Social Media
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/irina.kapetanakis/?hl=en
- Rumble website - https://www.rumbleboxinggym.com/franchise
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-kapetanakis
Episode Highlights
How do you walk away from nearly two decades in finance, bet on yourself in a completely different industry, and build the top-performing Rumble Boxing franchise in the world? How do you juggle scaling multiple businesses across state lines, raising a family, and staying true to your roots?
In this episode of Business Unchained, Bobby Mascia sits down with Irina Kapetanakis to unpack the real, unfiltered journey behind her success. From engineering school to Wall Street to building thriving fitness communities, Irina has proven that success doesn’t come from playing it safe—it comes from thinking outside the box, betting on yourself, and leading with heart.
Raised by Greek immigrant grandparents who took the ultimate risks to create opportunity, Irina shares how that legacy fueled her own fearless approach to business. You’ll hear how she pivoted from fashion tech startups to U.S. manufacturing, how COVID created unexpected business opportunities, and how boxing became the foundation for building strong communities.
(17:00) "If you think you know it all, you know nothing. I am probably the most vulnerable when it comes to business because that’s how you grow." — Irina Kapetanakis
(36:01) "Anyone can go to a gym… but after six months, you’ll get bored. We’re building communities. That’s what keeps people coming back." — Irina Kapetanakis
From Wall Street boardrooms to fitness studios, Irina’s story is proof that reinvention is always possible—and building boldly starts with betting on yourself.
In this episode:
- [00:00] Welcome to Business Unchained
- [05:51] The birth of Rumble and its expansion
- [11:23] Scaling a multi-unit business
- [13:43] The importance of networking and team building
- [24:47] Entrepreneurial roots and mindset
- [30:27] The weight of leadership
- [32:01] Difficult conversations and tough decisions
- [33:10] Creative freedom in franchising
- [36:14] Building communities, not just gyms
- [50:08] Balancin