The Flex

In this episode of The Flex, Jennifer Helten shares her journey from therapist to CEO and the real challenges of stepping into leadership. She dives into building trust within teams, letting go of control, avoiding micromanagement, and scaling a business without losing core values. Discover how strong communication, clear roles, and aligned vision can help you grow as a leader and build high-perfo...

In this episode of The Flex, Scott Herbst sits down with Alejandra Werner, CEO of Blossoming Minds Therapy, to talk about what it really takes to build something meaningful from scratch. From starting with just one client to growing a purpose-driven clinic, Alejandra shares the honest reality behind leadership — the fear, the failures, and the constant learning. This conversation dives deep into e...

If your team only works when you tell them to… you’re not leading - you’re managing wrong. The biggest mistake most leaders make isn’t lack of skill; it’s relying on authority instead of understanding people. In this episode of The Flex, Tim Ariza shares how psychology, behavior science, and real-world experience can help you turn resistance into collaboration. You’ll learn how to get people on bo...

In this episode of The Flex, Scott Herbst sits down with Diah Askari, Founder and Executive Director of ABA Services at Step Forward ABA. Diah shares her journey from being a broke grad student earning $8/hour to building a multi-state ABA organization. They dive into lessons on scaling a service-based business, the importance of choosing the right partners, balancing employee experience with busi...

Want to become a better leader? In this episode, Scott Herbst sits down with Dr. Baker Wright to explore modern leadership, servant leadership, and how to build trust within teams. They discuss leadership development, team culture, vulnerability in leadership, and why asking better questions is the key to effective leadership. You’ll learn practical insights on leading teams, improving communicati...

In this powerful episode, Stephanie Vavilala shares her deeply personal journey from receiving her daughter’s autism diagnosis to building Awetism Wonderland, a clinic dedicated to supporting children on the autism spectrum. What started as a moment of overwhelm turned into a mission. Stephanie didn’t just look for solutions, she became one. From going back to school to becoming a BCBA, to creatin...

What does it really take to grow into leadership, without losing yourself in the process? In this episode, Scott Herbst sits down with Kassy Coleman, Director of Operations and Clinical Services at Rising Above ABA and founder of Empower Edge Consulting. Kassie shares her honest journey from stepping into leadership too early, battling imposter syndrome, and feeling constantly overwhelmed to final...

In this episode of The Flex, Katie talks about leading while still learning, building relationships across teams, and helping organizations create more inclusive employment opportunities for individuals with autism. Katie Cappelen, Project Manager for You Can Employ at Els for Autism, shares her unexpected journey into leadership after graduating from Florida State University during the COVID pand...

In this episode of The Flex, Jennifer Nicholson shares her powerful journey from working with children with autism to building impactful systems that truly support families in real life. As the Founder & CEO of Forward Integrated Services, she dives deep into leadership, disability inclusion, and why traditional approaches often miss what families actually need. Jennifer opens up about balanci...

In this episode of The Flex, Scott Herbst sits down with Amanda Cox, owner of The Know Better Co, a boutique leadership and communication training company. Amanda shares her journey from competitive dancer to leadership development expert, and how a high-pressure, high-support environment at James Madison University transformed her approach to growth and leadership. Amanda dives into the power of...

On this episode of The Flex, Scott Herbst sits down with Dr. Rachel Taylor, co-founder and owner of the Center for Applied Behavior Analysis (CABA), to explore her journey from early fieldwork to leading a family-owned organization across California. Rachel shares her experiences navigating leadership, building a company culture rooted in integrity, and creating opportunities that align employee g...

On this episode of The Flex, Scott Herbst sits down with Ryan Jones, Regional Clinical Director at Lamplight Behavior Analysis, to explore Ryan’s journey into leadership and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Ryan shares how he navigated transitions, prioritized clinical quality over financial incentives, and developed his approach to effective communication and feedback. From opening a new c...

In this episode of The Flex, host Scott Herbst sits down with Courtney Murawski, Clinic Director at Lifespeed Behavioral Support Services, for a thoughtful and deeply practical conversation on leadership, responsibility, and growth in behavioral health. Courtney shares her leadership journey from frontline therapist to BCBA to clinical director, reflecting on how each role expanded her perspective...

In this episode of The Flex, host Scott Herbst sits down with Holli Beth Clauser, founder of ABA C.A.R.E.S., for a practical and thoughtful conversation on leadership, recruiting, and retention in the world of behavioral health. Holli explains why most hiring systems fall short before candidates even walk through the door — and how organizations can build stronger talent pipelines by first getting...

In this episode of The Flex, host Scott Herbst sits down with Dr. Becca Tagg, founder of the Del Mar Center for Behavioral Health, an organization providing diagnostic services, therapy, and school consultation for children with autism and their families in Southeast North Carolina. Dr. Tagg shares her personal and professional journey into psychology, leadership, and founding Del Mar after recogn...

In this episode of The Flex, host Scott Herbst sits down with Professor Jamie Currie, EdDc, LMFT, BCBA, founder and CEO of Hope, Inc., an agency providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities across Southern California. Jamie shares her deeply personal pathway to leadership, starting Hope, Inc. for her son with profound autism and growing it into a respected organization built o...

Welcome to this episode of The Flex! Today we’re with Cody Cerny. In this episode, host Scott Herbst sits down with Cody Cerny, Founder of Cerny Performance, to explore what it really means to “find an extra gear” in leadership and performance. Drawing from his experience in Special Operations and high-performance training, Cody shares how purpose, discipline, and reliability create extraordinary...

In this episode of The Flex, Scott Herbst sits down with Reena Naami, Owner and Founding CEO of The Spark Center for Autism, to explore what it takes to build a mission-driven, ethical organization in a growing healthcare field. Reena shares how her early experiences in behavior analysis and seeing firsthand what not to do pushed her to co-found a clinic in Michigan when ABA services were still li...

In this episode of The Flex, Scott Herbst sits down with Elise Brown, Founder of Focus Consulting and Training, to explore what it really takes to lead with courage, clarity, and purpose. Elise shares her journey from working in inner-city schools to building district-wide behavior support systems and how those experiences shaped her leadership style. She also opens up about starting her own compa...

Welcome to this episode of The Flex! Today we’re with Rick Loewenstein. In this episode, host Scott Herbst sits down with Rick Loewenstein, Founder and CEO of TeamGame Advisors, LLC, to explore his leadership journey across the food industry, nonprofit work, and the disability and ABA space. Rick shares why leadership skills are transferable, how real confidence comes from being transparent about...

Welcome to this episode of The Flex! Today we're with Alexandra Lawyer. In this episode of The Flex, host Scott Herbst sits down with Alexandra Lawyer, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Imprint Pediatric Therapy, to discuss her remarkable journey from an entry-level ABA Therapist (RBT) to managing the operations of a growing agency. Alexandra shares her honest and vulnerable experience with imposte...

Welcome to this episode of The Flex! Today we’re joined by Adam Malaty-Uhr. In this episode of The Flex, host Scott Herbst sits down with Adam Malaty-Uhr, Founder of Transformative Facilitation to explore why so many organizational change efforts fail and how leaders can finally break the cycle of repeated, unproductive behaviors. Adam unpacks the critical difference between structural problems an...

Welcome to this episode of The Flex! Today we’re joined by Yrenka Lolli Sunderlin. In this episode of The Flex, host Scott Herbst sits down with Yrenka Lolli Sunderlin, MS, BCBA, LBA, Founder of Sunderlin Behavioral and the Yrenka Method, to explore what it really takes to build a values-led organization in a high-pressure, people-first industry without burning out or compromising ethical standard...

Welcome to this episode of The Flex! Today we're with Gabrielle Centra - Taylor, Chief Clinical Officer at Rainbow ABA, Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Gabrielle Centra - Taylor contact info:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-centra-taylor-m-a-bcba-836151bb/ Rainbow ABA's contact info: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rainbow-aba-therapy/ I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share...

Welcome to this episode of The Flex! Today we're with team of Autism Advocacy and Intervention, Empowering Autistic Individuals and ABA Professionals. Autism Advocacy and Intervention's contact info: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aai---autism-advocacy-and-intervention/ I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. - Scott and...