Edgard Corona’s entrepreneurial path began long before he founded Smart Fit, with early ventures in fashion retail and his family’s sugar milling business. These experiences shaped the business philosophy and operational discipline that the fitness executive later applied to building Latin America’s largest fitness chain. Corona studied chemical engineering at Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado from 1974 to 1979, but was already operating businesses during his college years. His first venture involved a materials analysis laboratory, followed by a clothing manufacturing company with retail stores. Fashion Business Success The clothing business focused on youth fashion, primarily producing jeans and t-shirts. The…