Beyond The Technique Podcast

In this episode, Kati sits down with Kellie Johnson to explore the soft skills that truly separate top-performing salon professionals and leaders. From confidence and happiness as learned skills to building trust, integrity, and emotional intelligence within teams, Kellie shares actionable strategies to elevate culture and client experience. They also dive into real-world lessons on hiring, traini...

In this episode, Kati challenges the idea that happiness is something to chase, revealing how the "pursuit" mindset can actually keep salon and spa owners feeling stuck, dissatisfied, and always behind. Drawing on the concept of "the gap," she explains how constantly measuring yourself against an ever-moving ideal can create anxiety, burnout, and a lack of fulfillment—even when you're making real...

Join us today as we sit down with Award-Winning Salon Owner Jennifer Alvarez to tackle one of the most overlooked yet critical systems in business: your employee exit policy. Jennifer shares how a painful team departure led her to build a clear, structured protocol that protects culture, client relationships, and revenue—while still honoring team members' next steps. Together, they unpack the impo...

What if the very thing you're trying to avoid is actually the key to your next level of growth? In this episode, Kati Whitledge challenges salon and spa owners to rethink conflict—not as drama to escape, but as a powerful driver of innovation, clarity, and leadership strength. She shares how avoiding conflict can quietly stall your culture, while healthy, values-driven confrontation builds respect...

In this episode of Beyond the Technique , Kati Whitledge sits down with award-winning salon owner Tonya Raybon to unpack her 15-year journey from bookkeeper to thriving salon CEO. Tonya shares why she transitioned from a booth rental model to a commission-based team, and how that decision transformed her culture, financial stability, and leadership impact. You'll hear real, honest insights into le...

Today your host, Kati Whitledge challenges salon owners and leaders to confront one of the most destructive habits in the workplace—complaining. She explains how a culture of constant negativity erodes social capital, repels high-value clients, and ultimately limits the growth potential of both teams and businesses. Kati shares practical strategies, including the "5-second rule" and healthier ways...

Succession planning isn't something you wait for, it's something you build, and in this episode, we have Mary Beth Berns here to break down the most disastrous myths that can derail your salon or spa exit. From the misconception that growth automatically increases value to the belief that finding a buyer means you're almost done, they reveal what truly impacts a successful sale. You'll learn reali...

In this episode, Kati Whitledge explores the classic "glass half full or half empty" mindset and what it means for salon owners navigating real business challenges. She shares how leaders can shift their perspective from focusing on what's missing to recognizing the opportunities, relationships, and resources already in front of them. Drawing from her own experience with team turnover and business...

In this special episode of Beyond The Technique , Kati Whitledge sits down with a very familiar guest—her husband, Anson Whitledge, VP of Operations at Inspired Enterprises—to share the unexpected journey that led him from electrical engineering and tech startups into the beauty industry. Anson opens up about growing up in rural Wisconsin, building early businesses in video production, and develop...

In this episode, Kati Whitledge walks salon and spa owners through a modern, self-guided performance review process that empowers team members to assess their growth, goals, and impact. She shares how combining honest feedback, culture ratings, and clear review questions creates stronger alignment, better communication, and more meaningful development conversations. Kati also explains how understa...

In this powerful conversation, Kati sits down with third-generation cosmetologist and multi-location salon owner Rachel Thomas to unpack the real gap between salon owners and stylists—and why so many businesses struggle to become truly profitable. Rachel shares her raw journey through personal loss, financial hardship, and a near-death experience that forced her to rebuild her salon and her life w...

There's hidden cost to making assumptions. Today, you'll hear how making assumptions will literally cost you financially, it will cost you time and resources, and it will cost you trust and relationships. Your host, Kati Whitledge, shares real examples of how assumptions fail us and what key principles we can apply to our leadership, communication and business practices to ensure we have great out...

In this episode, salon owner Jenny Jacome shares her honest journey of building a business that reflects her values, even when it meant making difficult decisions and standing firm in her vision. From navigating partnerships and hybrid salon models to launching a culture built on education and collaboration, Jenny reveals what she learned about leadership, boundaries, and trusting her instincts. S...

In this episode, Kati challenges leaders to start building environments and relationships that raise their standards. She explains why goals may get you started, but standards are what actually shape your daily decisions and long-term results. You'll learn how surrounding yourself with high performers can accelerate your growth, sharpen your thinking, and create a healthy pressure to execute at a...

Salon and spa leaders, this episode explores what the 2026 Hybrid Salon really looks like and why so many owners are rethinking traditional commission-only models. Michelle shares her real journey of evolving from a large employee-based salon to a thriving hybrid space that blends commission stylists with renters — while protecting culture, standards, and education. You'll hear practical strategie...

In this powerful episode, Kati challenges leaders to get radically clear about what they actually want, and why clarity is the first step to creating the life they've always imagined. She explains how your brain's reticular activating system works, why your environment and media consumption matter, and how visualization and identity shifts accelerate real change. Kati shares her personal story of...

Today we sit down with Allison Moncheck—award-winning hairstylist, educator, and owner of Unorthodox Salon—to unpack what it really means to build a career by doing things differently. Allison shares her unconventional journey from teenage cosmetologist to school counselor and back into the salon world, ultimately building a thriving business that prioritizes people over polish. You'll hear how sh...

In this episode, your host Kati Whitledge breaks down why client retention is the real growth engine for salon owners—and how increasing retention by just 5% can boost profitability by up to 95%. She explains why repeat guests spend more, stay longer, and why the second visit is the true tipping point for loyalty. Kati shares practical strategies to improve rebooking, follow-up, and client engagem...

Celebrity Hairstylist and Salon Owner, Traci Barrett joins Beyond the Technique to share her powerful journey from answering phones in a corporate salon to becoming a renowned hair artist in LA—and ultimately building a purpose-driven salon in Phoenix. In this episode, Traci and Kati dive into rethinking the traditional salon model, from commission structures and team-based environments to elimina...

In this episode, your host Kati Whitledge challenges salon and spa owners to rethink how they make decisions in a world full of distractions, pressure, and decision fatigue. She breaks down what "smart decisions" really mean—choices that align with your purpose, passion, and business objectives, and why every decision may not deserve your energy. You'll learn how to slow down impulsive reactions,...

In this episode, Kati sits down with Terra Harvell to talk about what it really means to build a salon you can actually walk away from—and why most salons are never truly sellable. Terra shares her journey from behind-the-chair to building scalable systems, including the hard lessons that led her to rethink commission models, leadership, and profitability. They unpack the concept of salon "roll-up...

In this episode, your host Kati Whitledge explores the powerful and often misunderstood difference between self-confidence and pride—and why both can quietly shape the way you lead, grow, and relate to others. She explains how real confidence is built on competence, truth, and humility, while pride is usually rooted in insecurity, image, and the need to protect ego. You'll learn the subtle behavio...

In today's episode, Kati sits down with Blake Reed Evans to explore what modern leadership really looks like in today's salon environment. Blake shares his journey from associate stylist to shareholder and salon owner, and how mentorship, education, and a clear growth path shaped his success. Blake breaks down a new model of salon ownership, team development, and why flexible schedules and evolvin...

Resilience isn't about avoiding stress, it's about learning how to adapt, endure, and grow stronger through every season of business. In this episode, Kati breaks down the four inevitable seasons salon and spa owners face—growth, steadiness, decline, and drought—and explains why waiting for a "stress-free" season is a trap. You'll learn how resilient leaders stay disciplined, protect their identit...

In today's episode behavior strategist, Jay Williams introduces his powerful "fast leadership" framework, breaking leadership down into three deceptively simple pillars: agreements, accountability, and alignment. He reveals why most leaders fail at holding people accountable, the critical difference between expectations and agreements, and how emotional intelligence elevates every conversation. Tu...