Self-defense. Self-empowerment. Self-improvement. Boxing transforms lives on every level and no one knows that better than Donna Gallardo.
Donna is the founder and owner of SheWolf MKE, a women’s boxing gym that goes beyond the punching bags. Her entire approach to SheWolf is focused on empowerment, healing, community, and building a stronger you – mentally and physically.
Born in Chicago and raised in Milwaukee, Donna has overcome plenty of adversity. And now? She’s channeling that growth into everything she does at SheWolf MKE.
In our Q&A with her, you’ll learn more about Donna’s passion for transforming the lives of women and girls in Milwaukee through boxing, and how she went from being an engineer to a business owner and nonprofit founder.
Are there any stories from your youth that define your path – how’d you get to where you are now?
The discipline that boxing instilled in me as a 12-year-old girl has carried me through challenging times throughout my life to this point. I have always been somewhat ambitious about life, but I never thought I would be where I am based on the trajectory of my career after college. I encountered a lot of resistance with many of the things I have set out to do. From boxing to engineering to being a business owner.
Can you talk a little bit about your career journey? How’d you get to where you are now?
For years, I built my life by the blueprint: do well in school. Get the degree. Land the corporate job.
And I did — I became an engineer, working in the corporate world where everything had a formula, a process, a system to follow.
But somewhere along the way, I realized I was building someone else’s dream, not mine. The fire I once had for solving complex problems in the workplace started to fade. I was growing, evolving — but the space I was in wasn’t growing with me.
What was growing, though, was my passion for movement, for boxing, for community. I started coaching women on the side during COVID — and saw firsthand the power that comes from women stepping into their strength. It wasn’t just about throwing punches — it was about reclaiming space, building confidence, and healing in ways that can’t be measured on a spreadsheet.
And so, I made a choice — the kind that flips your whole life upside down.
I left engineering and opened SheWolfMKE, an all-women’s boxing gym on the Southside of Milwaukee. A space that wasn’t just about fitness — but about belonging. A place where women could roar loudly, fight fiercely, and remind themselves of their own power.
Can you talk more about your impact on the community?
As the Owner of SheWolfMKE and Founder of Lioness Academy, I’ve made it my mission to create spaces where women and girls feel empowered, seen, and supported—both inside and outside the ring. Through SheWolf, I’ve built a gym rooted in community, offering inclusive boxing and fitness programming that welcomes women of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities.
Beyond training, we host local wellness workshops, collaborate with Milwaukee small businesses, and provide access to self-defense education and mental health resources. With Lioness Academy, I’m taking that vision even further—offering a youth empowerment program specifically designed for middle and high school girls.
Through a 14-week boxing and mentorship curriculum, combined with monthly workshops on the 8 Stages of Wellness, we equip young women with the physical, emotional, and social tools to thrive. From offering program scholarships to engaging with schools and city partners, everything I do is about building community from the inside out.
Giving access to women and young girls from every demographic and background has been significant and impactful. I have created a space where women can feel strong and empowered, regardless of their background.
What do you like about living in Milwaukee?
I feel like Milwaukee is a hidden gem with so much to offer. From the food scene to the local establishments that have made a significant statement in putting MKE on the map, it is definitely a city that has so much to offer.
What do you want to see for Milwaukee’s future?
I may be biased, but given that I am in the boxing business, I would love to see Milwaukee on the map as one of the top contender cities for boxing. There is so much talent here, and I want to be a part of the community that helps this sport grow and gives the youth a chance at something greater than themselves.