Qnity Lightbulb Moments

From Conflict to Collaboration: Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Dr. Larry SchoolerIn this episode, host Tom Kuhn sits down with Dr. Larry Schooler, Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin and expert in conflict resolution, facilitation, and organizational leadership. Together they unpack the real-world challenges every leader faces from navigating difficult conversations and avo...

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn and CPA Jared Sanders of Lightheart, Sanders and Associates reveal key findings from the 2025 Salon P&L Study, analyzing financial data from 61 salon companies across 13 states. Together, they explore profitability trends, benchmark metrics, labor costs, revenue growth, and the factors that separate the industry's top-performing salons from the re...

In this powerful episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Micah Nickens for a deeply moving conversation about trauma, healing, presence, and what it truly means to connect with people. After surviving a near-fatal brain injury in 2020, Micah shares how his life, work, and perspective were completely transformed. From rebuilding his life after months in the hospital to discovering dee...

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Crystal Anderson of Babe Hair Extensions and Beauty Industry Group to explore the rapid growth of the hair extension category and the opportunities it is creating for salons, stylists, and cosmetology schools. Crystal shares how extensions have evolved from a luxury service into a mainstream solution for fullness, confidence, and recurr...

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments , Tom Kuhn talks with Sudheer Koneru, CEO of Zenoti, about key insights from the 2026 Beauty & Wellness Benchmark Report. They break down flat industry growth, declining new guest traffic, and why “calendar inflation” is hurting bookings. The conversation also explores how top performers are driving results through better utilization, memberships, and onlin...

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments , Tom Kuhn sits down with Ameet Kallarackal co-founder and CEO of Glammatic, to explore how the salon industry is evolving and what it takes to stay competitive. Ameet shares insights from working with hundreds of premium salons, breaking down how search behavior is shifting and what that means for attracting new clients. From changes in web traffic to the grow...

This episode of Lightbulb Moments takes a practical look at how AI is showing up inside the salon business, beyond the hype. Host Tom Kuhn sits down with Ronan Perceval, founder and CEO of Phorest Software, for a real-world conversation on technology, growth, and the future of work in the beauty industry. They break down three powerful AI tools transforming salon operations:Front Desk AI to reduce...

In this special mini-episode, Tom Kuhn takes a moment to connect with the audience live from Austin, Texas, and share updates on some exciting happenings in the beauty and salon industry. While our guest Micah Nickens is temporarily unavailable due to jury duty, Tom gives listeners a sneak peek of the incredible story to come—a New Orleans barber whose life was forever changed by a serious brain i...

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Austin-based AI operator Thanh Pham for a fast-paced, eye-opening conversation about how AI is already transforming salons, from marketing and retail to bookings, retention, and beyond. Thanh shares practical, real-world examples salon owners can use immediately, including:Turning messy before-and-after photos into polished, post-ready...

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom sits down with leadership coach and Circle facilitator Jodi Ohama for a candid conversation about what’s really happening inside leadership teams today. Drawing from insights in Qnity’s Circle groups and recent workplace research, they unpack the decline in manager engagement, especially among younger leaders and women — and what it means for performance,...

“Data’s Like a Bag of Chips: Insights from the Kim Report” Ever wonder what’s really driving salon revenue, services, and staffing trends? Tom Kuhn sits down with Alain Audet of the Kim Report to reveal the latest anonymized data from thousands of U.S. salons. From revenue growth driven by price increases to why adding staff doesn’t always mean more profit, this episode shows why in the beauty ind...

Kick off 2026 with clarity, focus, and a fresh game plan. In this solo episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom sets the tone for the year ahead with a powerful reset on intention, focus, and action. He shares Qnity’s word of the year Focus and explains why “not more, but better” is the mindset salons, spas, and med spas need right now. From there, Tom dives into two bold, community-driven challenges des...

Beauty industry visionary. Inspired leader. Impassioned teacher. Debra Neill Baker serves as Chairman of Neill Corporation with a leadership philosophy rooted in possibility, creativity, and human potential. Known affectionately as the company’s “Chief Energy Officer,” Debra champions a culture where people are encouraged to think bigger, dream bolder, and bring their fullest selves to the work th...

In this episode, Tom talks with Chris, head of the tax department at Boyum & Barenscheer, about what salon owners need to know for 2025 taxes. Having guided hundreds of beauty businesses through PPP, ERC, and ongoing tax planning, he breaks down the new rules and how to avoid costly mistakes. Chris shares clear, actionable tips on the tip credit, deductions, and smart strategies for growing or...

This week, Tom chats with Kacy Smith, General Manager of James Griffith Salon, and Tina Ruiz, Operations Director and Managing Partner of Ruiz Salon Group. Kacy, who has spent the past 11 years growing within James Griffith Salon, shares how a front-desk role transformed into a calling rooted in teamwork, healthy challenge, and genuine connection, fueling her passion for creating a culture where b...

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom sits down with Erin Kuhn Bhansali, President and Partner of Qnity for Schools, to explore the exciting launch of MONEY EDU 3.0, an elevated approach to financial literacy for beauty and wellness schools. Erin shares fresh insights on Gen Z's financial habits, reveals eye-opening survey results from students, and explains how this program is empowering...

Industry Wisdom from a Beauty Powerhouse with Reuben Carranza Join host Tom Kuhn with Reuben Carranza, Group CEO of Bansk Beauty and Board Director for Amika, Eva NYC, and Ethique. With four generations of family history in beauty and 24+ years leading multi-billion-dollar brands like Pantene, Olay, and Olaplex, Reuben brings unparalleled perspective on what it takes to elevate professional beauty...

“Scaling with Soul: Lessons from Milk + Honey’s CEO, Phil Murray”Join us as Phil Murray, CEO of Milk + Honey, shares how he partners with founders to grow their businesses while preserving the vision and culture that made them successful. From pandemic-era expansion to creating luxurious, revenue-driving spa environments, Phil dives into leadership, operational excellence, and the power of designi...

Business Succession Planning - The What, Who, When & How In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom sits down with Heath Smith, Director of Advisory Services, to dive deep into one of the most critical yet overlooked aspects of business ownership: succession planning. Whether you're considering selling your salon or spa in the next few years or simply want to future-proof your business, this co...

The Financial Health Check with Rebecca Ezolt Join host Tom Kuhn with Rebecca Ezolt, Qnity for Business Profit Advisor and former CEO of LL Salon Group. With her journey from Brand and Marketing Director to CEO in the pro beauty industry, Rebecca brings unique insight into salon and spa financials. Rebecca reveals why your P&L statement is like a medical exam for your business—providing the di...

How the Owner Mindset Transformed Sharah from MT to Multi-Location Success. Based in Eugene, Oregon, Qnity Guide Sharah Madrone shares her journey from massage therapist to owner. This inspiring entrepreneur has fully empowered her team to make decisions while maintaining intimate business knowledge from a high-level leadership role. By implementing key structures in her business, Sharah takes 8 w...

Deep insights from Marketing Mastermind, Ameet Kallarackal, CEO and CoFounder of Glammatic. This isn't just another marketing discussion—it's your chance to learn from a proven innovator who's cracked the code on customer acquisition and retention in the competitive beauty space. Ameet reveals strategic thinking behind the most successful campaigns and the counterintuitive approaches t...

The numbers are in with surprising truths about what really drives profitability in the beauty industry. Three powerhouse voices dissect the newly released P&L study — a comprehensive analysis that's already generating buzz among study participants. Jared Sanders from Lightheart Sanders and Associates brings razor-sharp financial expertise of the complexities of industry-specific growth st...

From Dreamer to Doer: Karla Lopez-Martinez's Journey in the Beauty IndustryMissed the LIVE show? Catch up on our inspiring conversation with Karla Lopez-Martinez, owner of Gila Rut Salon and one of Qnity's newest Guides. Karla's journey from cosmetology student with a dream to successful salon owner offers valuable insights for anyone looking to grow in the beauty business. In this epi...

Tom shares his key takeaways from The FiLL 2025 this week. In this special episode, Tom delves into the conference's theme, "PLAY!", which emphasized bold moves and crafting the ultimate business playbook through tactile learning and strategic discovery. He discusses the innovative workshops, the integration of academic insights from the University of Texas at Austin, and the collabo...