6 Qs with MyFitnessPal’s Jakob Jønck

Today we sit down with Jakob Jønck—the head of our International Operations department. Jakob is a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, and he has made it his goal to give MyFitnessPal a greater global presence—something we obviously love! Jakob’s been with us for more than two years now, so we figured he’d be perfect to answer some pressing questions about life at MyFitnessPal.   

Let’s jump right in, Jakob! Why did you decide to join MyFitnessPal? Well, I actually founded Endomondo, which tracks and analyzes data from specific workouts and is now a MyFitnessPal partner, and I’ve always been big on fitness. That’s one reason why I’m here; the others are that I love food, and have always wanted to know more about nutrition, and that I love the whole startup environment.

Okay, so you love fitness and food. What are your favorites? I love surfing, mountain biking, and skiing—sorry, I can’t choose just one! And I also love playing with my kids, which is definitely a form of exercise. When it comes to food, I actually don’t care for candies or sweets—I’m much more interested in deliciously healthy foods, and I’ve found that when you play a lot of sports it’s best to eat foods that help you recuperate faster.

What keeps you motivated to work out? Do you use MyFitnessPal for your own fitness? Yes, I do use MyFitnessPal, and I use a lot of partner apps as well, especially Endomondo. I think the best thing you can do is turn fitness into something fun. Instead of seeing it as something you have to do, find something you love to do, find friends who share that passion, and openly share your goals with them—it will keep you committed!

What do you love most about working at MyFitnessPal? There are a few things, really: I’m extremely passionate about the work I do, and I enjoy having the flexibility within MyFitnessPal to work the way I want. Plus, there’s a unique challenge in growing an American company abroad—taking a well-funded, well-established company and giving it an international presence is incredibly rewarding.

What sets MyFitnessPal apart from other companies? The environment is exceptional—we have a community that is sincere, friendly, and ambitious. We help people live healthier lives. And as a company that started with little to no funding, we’ve grown to substantial numbers—I think that says a lot about the strength of the core product.

Jakob’s not the only one with insight on life at MyFitnessPal. Stay tuned for future interviews with staffers, and let us know what you’d like to learn next about our workplace!