Business on Top with Kaeli Lindholm

Episodes

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  Episode 25: What It Really Takes to Build a Business With Your Spouse with Daniella & Patrick Gery 19.10.2026 57m

  In this episode of Business on Top, I'm joined by Daniella and Patrick Gery, the husband-and-wife team behind Trouvé Medspa in Mayfield Heights, OH, to talk about what it really looks like to build a thriving business and a life together. Daniella shares how she went from being a provider to becoming the CEO of a growing med spa, and the leadership lessons that came with stepping away from patient care and learning to lead a team. We talk about the shift from doing everything yourself to building systems, creating accountability, having difficult conversations, and developing leaders who can take ownership. Patrick brings his perspective from the operations and finance side of the business, including how his analytical, systems-driven approach complements Daniella's more instinctive decision-making. We also get honest about what it's like to work with your spouse, separate work from home, divide responsibilities, make decisions together, and navigate the inevitable changes that come with a growing company. Most importantly, we talk about why the goal isn't always to build a bigger business, it's to build a better life, with more freedom, more balance, and more time for the people who matter most. Is your aesthetics business actually ready for 2027? Patient expectations are changing, marketing is changing, and the way people buy is changing. If you want to understand where your business stands, take the How On Trend Are You? 2027 Aesthetic Business Assessment to see where you're ahead and where you may need to catch up. Then join me on November 12th for a free Strategic Planning Masterclass, where I'll break down the trends and shifts I'm watching across the industry and what I think aesthetics businesses should be preparing for now. Take the assessment and get your results at klcleadershipadvisory.com/assessment. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Follow Daniella on Instagram → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 24: Part 2: You Don't Need More Followers: What Actually Builds Trust on Social Media with Shannon Bokhoor 12.10.2026 22m

  In Part 2 of my conversation with Shannon Bokhoor, founder of SocialRx, we're getting into what actually makes content effective and how to build visibility without becoming obsessed with follower counts or trying to be everywhere. We talk about why a smaller, loyal audience can be more valuable than a large following, the role of spontaneous and personal content, and how founders can stay involved in their content even when they outsource the heavy lifting. Shannon also shares practical ways to make content creation easier, from using trial reels and simple editing tools to creating a content bank from the questions, misconceptions, and conversations already happening in your business. We also dive into the difference between creating content that simply sells and content that builds real authority. Shannon shares why having a strong point of view, challenging conventional thinking, and sharing what makes your approach different can help you stand out in a crowded industry. We talk about building visibility through your local community, engaging with other businesses, and using social media to create real relationships rather than just chasing reach. And we end with one of my favorite takeaways from the conversation: the content you're most afraid to share may be the content that makes the biggest impact. Sometimes the thing you're hesitant to say is exactly what someone else has been waiting to hear. About Shannon Bokhoor Shannon Bokhoor is the founder of SocialRx, a social media marketing, online course development, and content production agency for aesthetic and wellness brands. She helps providers strengthen their authority, build influential brands, and create new revenue streams through social media and education. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 23: Part 1: You Don't Need More Followers: What Actually Builds Trust on Social Media with Shannon Bokhoor 05.10.2026 26m

  In this episode of Business on Top, I'm joined by my friend Shannon Bokhoor, founder of SocialRx, for Part 1 of our conversation about building a strong personal brand without feeling like you have to become an influencer. Shannon has spent the last eight years working in aesthetics, helping providers build influential brands, create strategic content, and turn their expertise into scalable education. We discuss becoming more confident on camera, preparing for content days, creating content when you have limited time, and knowing when professional production is actually worth the investment. We also talk about why posting more isn't always the answer and why social media can't be the thing that fixes an underlying business problem. We'll cover AI, authenticity, and how to create content that actually sounds like you. Shannon shares why your best content ideas are often already sitting inside your treatment rooms, conversations with patients, and the questions you answer every day. We talk about building authority through your own perspective and expertise rather than simply creating another version of the same generic content everyone else is posting. Ultimately, this conversation is about becoming more visible without losing yourself in the process. You don't need to be everywhere, have millions of followers, or create perfectly polished content. You need to find the ideas and perspectives you're uniquely positioned to share, and have the courage to put them out there. About Shannon Bokhoor Shannon Bokhoor is the founder of SocialRx, a social media marketing, online course development, and content production agency for aesthetic and wellness brands. She helps providers strengthen their authority, build influential brands, and create new revenue streams through social media and education. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 22: How I'm Using AI to Create More Capacity As a CEO 28.09.2026 24m

  What if AI could do more than write emails, create content, or give you another list of things to do? In this episode of Business on Top, I'm sharing a 20-minute sneak peek from our recent Too Busy to Learn AI workshop. Over the last year, my team and I have been figuring out how to actually put AI to work inside our own business. And what we've learned is that the real opportunity goes far beyond using AI to create content faster. It can help us think more strategically, make better decisions, create stronger team execution, and ultimately give us more capacity to focus on the work that truly requires us. In this workshop excerpt, I walk through what we've learned as we've moved beyond basic AI prompts and started using AI through the lens of workflows, agents, context, and guardrails. We also break down three practical applications we've been using inside KLC: The CEO Priority System: Using AI to sort through everything on my plate and identify what actually requires my attention. Meeting Follow-Through & Accountability: Creating clearer ownership so ideas, decisions, and action items don't get lost after the meeting ends. Data-Driven Decision Making: Using AI to help create a source of truth so we can access the information we need to make better business decisions. This episode is just a preview of the full experience. If you're finding yourself wanting more, you can still purchase the full two-hour workshop replay along with the AI-Empowered Life-First CEO Playbook, where I walk you through the actual tools, prompts, and processes we're putting to work inside KLC. Offer ends October 3. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm 
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  Episode 21: The Confidence to Be Seen, Heard, and Taken Seriously 21.09.2026 13m

  In this episode of Business on Top, I'm answering your questions about visibility, confidence, authority, and what it really takes to walk into a room and own it. I'm sharing lessons from early in my career, including the powerful women I watched and emulated, and how those experiences shaped the way I show up in bigger rooms today. I also talk about why you don't have to be the most experienced or qualified person in the room to have something valuable to say. We'll get into how to make other people feel valuable, develop your own point of view, communicate with more authority, and become the kind of leader people want to listen to. And most importantly, I'm sharing why I believe confidence isn't something you need to have before you take the leap. Confidence is built through experience. You show up, you do the thing, and eventually you realize you can. Too Busy to Learn AI? Start Here. Click here to access the recording of our Too Busy to Learn AI Workshop, plus the companion workbook to help you put what you learn into action. Offer ends October 3. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 20: The Leadership Mistakes Keeping Your Business Stuck 14.09.2026 17m

  What happens when your business slows down, your team isn't retaining clients, or your employees aren't taking initiative? Too often, we look for an external fix, a new device, more advertising, a new hire, or someone to blame. In this episode, I'm breaking down why sustainable growth starts from the inside out. I'm unpacking two real questions from med spa owners: how to attract more patients after making a major investment, and how to build a team that takes ownership and creates lasting client relationships. We'll talk about the difference between using a tool to enhance an already-healthy business and expecting that tool to solve a fundamental business problem, why your customer experience is one of your most powerful growth engines, and what it really takes to build an A-player team. Because your people, your systems, your leadership, and the experience you create are what ultimately drive sustainable growth, not one device, one tactic, or one employee. READY TO PUT AI TO WORK IN YOUR BUSINESS? Join us this week for our AI Workshop designed to help founders use AI to save time, streamline their business, and get more done. 📅 September 16, 2026 | 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET Register now! Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Bonus: Leadership Lesson 19: Growth vs. Safety: How Do You Know Which One to Choose? 07.09.2026 12m

  In this bonus replay episode, I'm revisiting one of my favorite conversations from the Fierce Factor: one of the most dangerous myths women are taught about success, that "playing it safe" is the responsible choice. This conversation was sparked by a reflection on 2016, the year I started KLC and the year my brother passed away, and a question that stopped me in my tracks: Is my life truly better because I chose growth over safety? What I've learned over the past decade is this: safety is often conditional, and comfort can be far more limiting than risk. I take you back to my corporate career at Bayer Healthcare, a role that looked secure by every traditional measure. Great pay, benefits, prestige, and a clear path forward… until one unexpected call from HR shattered the illusion of stability. That moment changed how I understand security, responsibility, and agency, especially for women. We'll talk about why big companies are often romanticized as "safe," why small business ownership is framed as risky, and how that mindset shows up when women build their own companies. I'll also share a powerful story about growth, discomfort, and why the very tension we try to avoid is often what prepares us for our next level. If you're craving expansion but feel stuck optimizing for familiarity instead of fulfillment, this bonus replay is your invitation to rethink what safety really means, and to consider whether the boldest move might actually be the most responsible one. READY TO PUT AI TO WORK IN YOUR BUSINESS? Join us for our upcoming AI Workshop designed to help founders use AI to save time, streamline their business, and get more done. 📅 September 16, 2026 | 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET Register now! Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 18: Best Practices for Raising Your Prices 31.08.2026 19m

  If the thought of raising your prices makes you want to crawl under a rock, this episode is for you. In this episode of Business on Top, I'm breaking down why premium pricing is such an important part of building a profitable, sustainable business, and how to know when it's time to increase your prices without disrupting the client experience. I'm walking you through the signs that your pricing is out of alignment, from rising operating costs and shrinking margins to clients expecting discounts or becoming less aligned with the experience you want to provide. I'm also sharing the practical strategies I use with our highest-level clients to evaluate margins, identify your most valuable offers, communicate a price increase with confidence, and stop making decisions based on what you think your clients can or can't afford. Because your clients aren't buying a transaction. They're investing in transformation. And if you want to build a business with strong profit margins, exceptional client experiences, and the freedom to serve fewer clients at a higher level, your pricing needs to reflect the value you actually provide. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Download my Price Increase Communication Template → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 17: What Would Kaeli Do? The Leadership Questions Every Founder Should Be Asking 24.08.2026 21m

  In this special episode of Business on Top, I'm answering real questions from women navigating the complexities of growing and scaling their businesses. I'm sharing my candid perspective on the biggest mistake I see seven-figure founders making, whether work-life balance is actually possible, how to build a business that supports your life, and what to do when your partner doesn't understand or support your business investments. I'm also breaking down what I would look at first if someone handed me a million-dollar med spa and sharing why I believe the value of coaching goes far beyond what you learn in the curriculum. For me, it's about proximity, perspective, and surrounding yourself with people who expand your belief in what's possible. If you're building a business and want it to support the life you actually want to live, this episode is full of honest insights, practical questions, and a few hard truths I think every ambitious founder needs to hear. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 16: Your Performance is Built in Practice 17.08.2026 13m

  In this episode of Business on Top, I'm getting a little more personal and reflecting on the experiences, failures, discipline, and perseverance that have shaped the leader I am today. I spend so much time focused on growth and what's next that I rarely stop to recognize the experiences that gave me the skills and confidence to pursue those goals in the first place. In this episode, I talk about the importance of acknowledging the wisdom we've already earned through the challenges, failures, and moments when we had to get back up and keep going. I also share a personal story from my childhood and competitive soccer years, where I learned one of my most important lessons about leadership: your performance in the game is built through what you do in practice. The discipline and consistency we develop when no one is watching ultimately determine how we show up when it matters most. This episode is a reminder to give yourself credit for who you've already become, and to recognize that the experiences that shaped you are the foundation for everything you're capable of becoming next. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Learn more about Aesthetic Business School → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 15: Clinical Expertise Won't Build Your Business 10.08.2026 11m

  I believe one of the biggest challenges in the aesthetics industry isn't clinical skill, it's business education. In this episode of Business on Top, I'm sharing why so many talented providers struggle with leadership, finances, hiring, and scaling their practices, despite being exceptional at what they do. If you've ever felt confident in the treatment room but uncertain reading your financials, leading a team, or making strategic business decisions, this conversation is for you. I dive into why this gap exists, how it keeps high-achieving founders stuck, and why mastering your craft isn't enough to build a sustainable, profitable business. I also share why I created Aesthetic Business School, a six-week accelerator designed to give aesthetic founders the practical business education they never received in school. We'll talk about leadership, financial literacy, hiring, KPIs, operations, and the mindset shift required to step into the role of CEO. My goal is to help you stop relying on talent alone and start building a business that creates freedom, impact, and long-term success. If you're ready to think like a business owner, not just a provider, this episode is for you. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Learn more about Aesthetic Business School → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 14: Part 2: The Six Stages of Entrepreneurial Business Growth 03.08.2026 23m

  In Part 2 of this series, I'm continuing the conversation around the six stages every business moves through and the leadership evolution required to successfully navigate each stage of growth. As your business grows, your role as a founder has to evolve. The strategies, habits, and decisions that helped you build your business are not always the same things that will help you scale it. In this episode, I'm breaking down the final four stages of business growth: Toddler, Teenager, Young Adult, and The Zone, and the mindset shifts required to move from being the person who does everything to the leader who builds something that can thrive beyond them. I'll share why founders often get stuck in "management by interruption," how constantly solving problems for your team can unintentionally create dependency, and why true leadership is about developing people who can think, decide, and lead without you. We'll also talk about navigating growth, protecting your culture, making intentional decisions about what to add and what to eliminate, and building a company where leadership exists at every level. The ultimate goal isn't to become unnecessary. It's to become irreplaceable in a completely different way. Because extraordinary businesses aren't built by founders who do everything forever, they're built by leaders who evolve alongside the business they're creating. In this episode, I also share why we created Aesthetic Business School, a six-week program designed to help aesthetic and wellness founders build the leadership, systems, and business foundations required to move from exceptional provider to exceptional CEO. If you're ready to build a business that creates more impact, more freedom, and more sustainability, this episode is for you. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Learn more about Aesthetic Business School → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 13: Part 1: The Six Stages of Entrepreneurial Business Growth 27.07.2026 16m

  I've learned that every stage of business growth requires a different version of you as a leader. Just like parenting, your role evolves over time. The way you lead your business in the beginning is not the way you lead a million-dollar company, a growing team, or a business designed to give you your life back. In Part 1 of this two-part series, I'm sharing one of the biggest lessons I've learned from working alongside hundreds of founders: businesses don't outgrow strategy first, they outgrow leadership. I'm breaking down the first two stages of business evolution, Birth and Infant, and the leadership shifts required to move from leading yourself and doing everything alone to trusting other people with pieces of your vision. If everything still depends on you, growth feels heavier instead of easier, or your business cannot function without constant access to you, this episode is for you. In This Episode, I Cover: Why businesses outgrow leadership before strategy What leadership looks like in the Birth and Infant stages How the habits that help you survive can eventually keep you stuck Why being needed is not the same as being successful How to stop being the bottleneck and start creating capacity The question isn't just, "How do I grow my business?" It's: "Who do I need to become so my business doesn't outgrow me?"   Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Learn more about our NEWLY LAUNCHED 6-week program, Aesthetic Business School → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 12: Your Business Can Only Grow as Far as Your Operating System 20.07.2026 33m

  Last week, I released a 7-part series on operational excellence, and the response was incredible. So many founders reached out saying these conversations completely shifted the way they think about growth, leadership, and building a business that doesn't rely on them for everything. So, I wanted to bring the entire series together in one place. In this episode, you'll hear all seven parts back-to-back as we dive into the systems, leadership, and operational frameworks that I've seen transform businesses over the last decade of working alongside hundreds of founders as they've crossed their next million-dollar milestone. If you've ever felt like your business can't function without you, your team constantly needs your approval, or growth has started to feel more exhausting than exciting, this episode is for you. Together, we'll explore: What systems actually are (and why software isn't one of them) The difference between systems, processes, and SOPs Why founder dependency keeps businesses stuck The five core operating systems every million-dollar business needs Why accountability starts with clarity How broken systems break great people And why operational excellence is the foundation for building a Life-First Business My hope is that this episode helps you stop reacting to your business and start intentionally designing one that creates more consistency, more profitability, more freedom, and ultimately, more life. If this series resonates with you, I'd also love to invite you to join me inside the 90K in 90 Days Strategic Planning Masterclass, where I'll walk you through building a focused 90-day plan to strengthen your business, increase profitability, and create sustainable growth without sacrificing the life you're building it for. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube →  Download the Ultimate Practice Growth Audit to uncover the hidden operational, leadership, and financial opportunities inside your business. → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 11: Growth Doesn't Break Businesses. Weak Infrastructure Does. 13.07.2026 42m

  If you've ever felt like your business is growing, but you're carrying more stress, more responsibility, and less freedom than ever before, this episode is for you. Today, I'm sharing Day 1 of our five-day SPARK Leadership Intensive, where I dive into one of the biggest shifts every growing practice owner has to make: realizing that sustainable growth isn't about working harder, it's about leading differently. In this session, I'll walk you through why so many successful businesses hit a plateau, how leadership, not demand, becomes the biggest growth constraint, and what it really takes to build a business that can thrive without depending on you for every decision. We'll talk about: Why growth eventually becomes an infrastructure challenge, not a marketing challenge. The leadership capacity gap that's keeping so many practices stuck. The three foundations of sustainable growth: clarity, prioritization, and focus. What it means to build a Life First Business™ that creates health, wealth, impact, freedom. Whether you're a practice owner or a practice manager, my hope is that this conversation helps you step back, refocus on your vision, and begin building a business that supports your life, instead of consuming it. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Learn more and register for our Strategic Planning Masterclass → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 10: If You Want to Be a Great Leader, Be a Great Follower 06.07.2026 12m

  Most leadership conversations focus on what founders need from their teams. But in this episode of Business on Top, I want to flip the script and talk directly to employees, emerging leaders, and team members who want to grow their careers, increase their impact, and become indispensable within their organizations. One of the most valuable lessons I learned climbing the corporate ladder was this: if you want to be a great leader someday, you first need to learn how to be a great follower. In this episode, I share what I've learned from both sides of the table, as an employee who worked her way into executive leadership and as a founder responsible for leading a growing team. We'll talk about how to create more value for your company, why the most promotable employees focus on growth before compensation, and how developing skills and solving problems ultimately creates greater earning power than simply asking for more. I also pull back the curtain on the realities founders face every day, the decisions, pressures, responsibilities, and unseen challenges that most team members never fully see. My goal is to help you better understand the perspective of your leader while identifying practical ways you can make a bigger impact within your role. If you've ever wondered how to position yourself for greater opportunities, become a stronger leader, or earn more by contributing more, this conversation is for you. And if you're a founder who's realizing that your team needs stronger communication, clearer accountability, and greater leadership capacity to support your next level of growth, I'd love to invite you to join me for our free Strategic Planning Masterclass on July 22 at 4 PM PST. During this live 90-minute training, I'll walk you through the same three-pillar framework we use with our private clients to evaluate business performance, assess team capacity, and identify the leadership shifts required to finish the year strong. You'll leave with greater clarity, stronger priorities, and a practical plan for creating momentum through year-end. Because extraordinary businesses aren't built by leaders doing everything themselves. They're built by teams that know how to grow, think, lead, and solve problems together. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Learn more and register for our Strategic Planning Masterclass → Learn more and register for The Owner + Practice Manager Leadership Intensive → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 9: You Are the Guarantee 29.06.2026 15m

  If there's one thing entrepreneurship has taught me, it's that there are no guarantees. Not in hiring. Not in growth. Not in leadership. Not in life. In this episode of Business on Top, I'm sharing one of the most important mindset shifts every founder must make if they want to reach their next level: stop searching for guarantees and start becoming one. Over the years, I've worked alongside hundreds of entrepreneurs navigating employee turnover, cash flow challenges, competitive threats, leadership loneliness, and unexpected setbacks. What I've learned is that the founders who build extraordinary businesses aren't the ones with perfect circumstances. They're the ones who learn to trust themselves in uncertain circumstances. I share a powerful story from our client, Jessica Christy, who experienced one of every founder's worst nightmares when a team member she had spent years developing left to become a competitor. While devastating in the moment, that experience ultimately became the catalyst for her next level of growth and leadership. Throughout this conversation, I explore why your circumstances become your curriculum, how adversity develops the leadership capacity required for sustainable success, and why growth often has less to do with your skills and more to do with your ability to regulate yourself through uncertainty. The reality is that entrepreneurship is one long exercise in moving forward without guarantees. Nobody can promise your next hire will work out, your expansion will succeed, or your plans will unfold exactly as expected. But the most successful leaders I know stopped waiting for certainty. They learned to trust themselves enough to move anyway. If you've been waiting for the perfect timing, more confidence, or some sign that success is guaranteed before taking your next step, this episode is for you. Because the guarantee you're searching for isn't found in the opportunity. It's found in who you are becoming. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Learn more and register for The Owner + Practice Manager Leadership Intensive → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 8: Your Addiction to Being Needed Is Slowing You Down 22.06.2026 31m

  One of the biggest leadership lessons I've learned is that business growth doesn't require me to become more essential, it requires me to become less essential. For years, being the person everyone relied on felt like a badge of honor. I answered every question, solved every problem, and made sure nothing fell through the cracks. That mindset helped me build my business, but eventually it became the very thing slowing it down. In this episode of Business on Top, I'm sharing why I believe one of the most common blind spots for high-achieving founders is the addiction to being needed. While it feels good to be the person everyone depends on, true leadership requires us to let go of control, trust our teams, and create businesses that can thrive without us at the center of everything. I'll walk you through the three stages of leadership growth, the Hero, the Bottleneck, and the Builder, and explain why the transition from founder to CEO requires a complete shift in how we define our value. You'll also hear part two of a powerful live panel discussion from the ALT Experience featuring Shannon Morrow, Jill Canes, and Jill Goodman. Together, we discuss the realities of team development, navigating turnover, having difficult conversations, building trust, and learning how to step out of the role of being everyone's answer. If you've ever felt like your business can't function without you, this episode is for you. Because the goal of leadership isn't to become more important. It's to build something that succeeds even when you're not in the room. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Learn more and register for The Owner + Practice Manager Leadership Intensive → Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the POP Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 7: Don't Just Learn, Activate 15.06.2026 35m

  Most founders are not lacking information. They're lacking activation. In this episode, you'll hear Part 1 of our Provider to CEO Panel from ALT,  featuring POP Leadership Academy members Jill Canes, Shannon Morrow, and Dr. Jill Goodman. Despite leading different businesses in different markets and stages of growth, they share a common thread: a commitment to investing in their leadership development and becoming the CEOs their businesses required them to be. We explore one of the biggest growth barriers business owners face: confusing knowledge with transformation. From conferences and podcasts to books, trainings, and endless saved content, many leaders spend years learning without ever fully implementing what they already know. We'll talk about the difference between consuming information and activating it. Because real business growth doesn't happen when you learn something new. it happens when you operationalize it, embody it, and consistently execute it. Together, we discuss what it really takes to transition from provider to CEO, the mindset shifts that accelerate growth, and how leadership activation creates lasting operational change. If you've been asking yourself, "What else do I need to learn?" This episode may challenge you to ask a more powerful question: "What do I need to fully activate?" Tune in for Leadership Lesson #7: Don't Just Learn, Activate. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Learn more and register for The Owner + Practice Manager Leadership Intensive → Subscribe to The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the Pop Leadership Academy is right for you! → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm
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  Episode 6: Bombing Season 08.06.2026 15m

  In this episode of Business on Top, I'm talking about something I believe every founder eventually encounters whether they realize it or not: bombing season. This conversation is all about the seasons of business growth and why some of the most powerful leadership decisions are not about adding more… but about refining, simplifying, eliminating, and protecting what actually creates momentum. I share a recent conversation with one of my longtime clients, a multi seven-figure founder, who found herself in a season of strategic subtraction. Closing locations, ending partnerships, restructuring roles, eliminating distractions, and letting go of things that were no longer aligned with the future vision of the company. And while many founders associate growth with constant expansion, what we unpack in this episode is that sustainable scale often requires discernment, focus, and the willingness to stop carrying things the business has quietly outgrown. We talk about the Pareto Principle, entrepreneurial overwhelm, operational complexity, emotional attachment inside leadership, and why so many founders stay trapped protecting what is familiar instead of strengthening what is exceptional. This episode is really about learning how to identify your true twenty percent, the people, offers, systems, and strategies creating the majority of your momentum, and having the courage to stop overinvesting in the eighty percent that's draining your energy, focus, and profitability. If your business has been feeling heavier than it should, if you've been sensing misalignment, operational chaos, or the need for refinement, this episode will likely hit home in a very deep way. Because sometimes the next level of growth doesn't come from expansion. Sometimes it comes from having a really good bombing season. Resources → Watch this episode on YouTube → Subscribe to The Blueprint → Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the Pop Leadership Academy is right for you! → Learn more and register for SPARK for Owners + Practice Managers → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm