Brazen and Bold: Real, Raw, and Radically Honest Conversations for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Leaders

What happens when you stop trying to be everything to everyone—and finally go all in on what you do best? On this episode of Brazen & Bold, Heather sits down with Sasha McGowan, owner of Sassy Beauty23, to talk about the bold decisions that transformed her career from stylist to specialist, salon owner and CEO. Sasha shares why cutting down her service menu was one of the scariest—and best—decisio...

What does it really take to lead a team that shows up, performs, and actually wants to do well for you? In this episode of Brazen and Bold, Heather sits down with Bonnie Bonadeo — CEO and founder of SOS Leadership Academy and a 35-year veteran of the beauty industry — for one of the most practical, real, and eye-opening conversations about salon leadership we have ever had on this show. Bonnie bre...

What are the most successful salon owners doing differently right now? Heather Harris and Lucy Randall of Spark Pro Global share what they're seeing inside nearly 60 salons across the U.S. and Canada. They also preview their ICA Fall Atelier classroom, Out of the Office, Into the Business. In this episode: •⁠  ⁠The 3-question delegation test (What am I best at? What do I love? What makes the most...

Heather sits down with Kati Whitledge — entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and founder & CEO of MYA — for a conversation that moves from cold, hard business numbers straight into one of the most honest personal stories the show has featured. Kati spent 16 years as a salon owner before recently selling the business, and built MYA out of a problem she saw firsthand behind her own chair: getting the ri...

Heather sits down with Laura Watkins — hairdresser, salon owner, Aveda educator, and the voice behind Mental Girl — for a conversation that starts with a simple, disarming line: "They probably wouldn't guess that I'm mentally ill." Laura has been licensed in beauty for over 21 years and holds an MBA, but her path has never been just about the business side of the industry. In 2015, after years of...

Heather sits down with Ameet Kallarackal — founder of Glammatic and author of Dice Theory — for a conversation that starts as a soul-level connection at an Intercoiffure event and goes absolutely everywhere from there. Ameet shares the origin story that changed the course of his life: an amusement park roller coaster at 14, five rides in a row, and the realization that he didn't have to be the per...

What if the next level of your salon isn't about working harder, booking more clients, or adding another location—but becoming less essential to the day-to-day business? In this episode of Brave & Bold, Heather sits down with Ronit Enos, bestselling author of Profit First for Salons and founder of Salon Cadence, for a powerful conversation about what it actually takes to build a profitable salon t...

Meet Shelbie Moser — owner of Lightning Hair Lounge in Saxonburg, PA, red-specialist-turned-mindset-coach, and proud mom to two mini pigs. Shelbie built her salon into "the bougiest in Butler County," but the real gold in this episode is what's underneath the glow: the burnout that nearly broke her, the weekly budgeting system (yes, 12 checking accounts) that transformed her finances and bought he...

Shelby Bills started at the front desk of Graeber & Company at 19 with a marketing degree and zero salon background. By 25, she'd bought out her boss. Over the next twelve years she bought out every remaining partner — and today she's the 100% owner of a 61-year-old Boise institution with 32 team members, 22 chairs, a facial bar, and her fiancé's coffee shop and wine bar attached. In one of Heathe...

Chet Pope is the self-professed "numbers guy" in one of the beauty industry's most unique power couples — co-owner and CEO of NAHA-winning Salon 27 in Mesa, Arizona, PBA board member, ex-punk-rock roadie, and yes, a perfume entrepreneur on the side. In this episode, Heather sits down with one of her very first "beauty besties" for a refreshingly honest conversation about the side of the salon busi...

Tammie Axworthy has spent 30+ years behind the chair — but it's what she did outside the salon that's turning heads. A Goldwell National Team artist who recently took the stage in front of 1,500 people at the Color Sphere show in Milan, Tammie sat down with Heather to unpack how a decade of frustration with subpar foils turned into Beautifoils, her own product line. She opens up about the "left fo...

Most salon owners spend years building successful businesses—but very few are building long-term wealth. In this episode of Brazen & Bold, Heather Harris sits down with Certified Financial Planner and former salon owner Kristin Stutz to discuss the financial habits every salon owner should know. Kristin shares her powerful journey from owning a salon to surviving leukemia, selling her business, an...

What if selling wasn't about convincing someone to buy? What if it was simply about helping people feel seen, understood, and confident? In our newest episode of Brazen & Bold, Heather and Lucy sit down with bestselling author and emotional sales expert Arif to unpack why the most successful businesses don't focus on selling—they focus on connection. Inside this episode, you'll learn: •⁠  ⁠Why sto...

What does success really mean? After attending the Salon Today Top 200 awards, Heather found herself reflecting on a word that gets thrown around constantly but is rarely defined: success. In this solo episode, she explores why awards, income, status, and even longevity don't necessarily equal a successful life. Drawing from her experiences as a business owner, conversations with high-achieving pr...

What does it take to build a salon that thrives for nearly four decades? In this episode of Brazen & Bold, Heather sits down with industry icon Gayle Fulbright, owner of Headlines The Salon in Encinitas, California. Gayle shares the lessons she's learned from growing a salon she purchased for just $11,000 into a thriving multi-million-dollar business. Together they discuss: The power of relationsh...

Google's latest update is changing how businesses are ranked online, and many salon owners don't even realize they're at risk. In this episode, Heather Harris and Lucy sit down with industry innovator Kip Dodson to discuss the major Google update impacting reviews, rankings, and online visibility. They unpack why traditional review strategies may now hurt your business, how AI is reshaping local s...

What separates successful salon owners from those who stay stuck? In this powerful episode of Brazen & Bold, Heather Harris sits down with renowned salon business coach, bestselling author, educator, and leadership expert Steve Gomez. Steve has coached more than 700 salons worldwide and brings decades of experience helping owners improve profitability, strengthen culture, and become better leaders...

What does it take to stay relevant, innovative, and inspired after 54 years in the beauty industry? In this episode of Brazen & Bold, Heather Harris sits down with NAHA Lifetime Achievement Award winner, salon owner, educator, inventor, and industry visionary Sam Brocato. From dropping out of high school and building a multi-million-dollar salon company to pioneering AI-powered business systems, S...

What does it actually take to scale a salon from one location to four without losing your culture, your team, or your sanity? In this episode of Brazen and Bold, Heather Harris sits down with Lisa Sanger of Wild Olive Salon — a multi-location, multi-million dollar salon brand in North Carolina — to break down the real strategies behind sustainable salon growth. Lisa shares her biggest leadership m...

In this raw, funny, and deeply honest conversation, Heather sits down with Christopher Hartle from The Refine Network to talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, divorce, identity, mental health, addiction, growth, and what happens when the business you built no longer aligns with the life you want to live. From hilarious stories about getting fired for barricading a boss's house with Christmas tr...

What if everything you thought you knew about branding was wrong? Heather Harris sits down with Andi, founder of Oui We Studio, to talk about what actually makes people obsessed with a brand. Spoiler: it has nothing to do with your logo. Andi introduces the concept of "lore" (think brand mythology), explains why your point of view is your most powerful marketing tool, and shares how human design c...

If you've ever whispered to yourself "I just want my life back" — this episode is for you. Lauren Gartland of Inspiring Champions sits down with Heather and Lucy of Spark Pro Global for a raw, no-fluff conversation about what it actually takes to stop doing everything yourself and start leading like the CEO you are. From panic attacks mid-client to doubling profit margins, Heather and Lucy share t...

What does it take to go from a recently divorced single mom with a few hundred dollars to running a multi-location, award-winning luxury salon? Anne Marie Krainich, founder of Ottalaus Salon in Salt Lake City, Utah, joins Heather Harris on Brazen and Bold to pull back the curtain on all of it. The messy middle, the Monday she almost quit, and the systems that quietly made her unstoppable. Anne Mar...

What does it actually feel like to own a salon? Spoiler: it's a rollercoaster — and nobody tells you that before you sign the lease. In this episode of Brazen and Bold, host Heather Harris sits down with salon business coach, consultant, and former salon owner Nikki Le of Nikki Le Consultancy for a candid, no-fluff conversation that every salon owner needs to hear. Nikki opens up about what it rea...

In this special webinar-turned-podcast episode, Heather Harris (CEO of Spark Pro Global) and Lucy Randall (COO) join Brigette Sobus, founder of Power & Joy Coaching Academy, for a powerful conversation on what it really takes to grow a profitable, sustainable salon. Hosted by Brigette, this conversation dives into how salon owners can step into their CEO role, increase revenue, and reduce overwhel...