Qnity Lightbulb Moments

Most leaders fix the org chart when something feels off. But what if the real issue isn’t where people sit, but what state they’re in when they do the work?On this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn is joined by Katie, author of By Design: Leadership Reframed Through Neuroscience. Her work treats teams and entire organizations as living systems, each with its own nervous system.Together they will explore why a clean org chart can still produce a stressed, stuck team, and what it takes to build a business that can adapt and grow with confidence.If you’ve ever wondered why great people struggle inside a well-designed business, this conversation offers a fresh way to see it.Tune in, and bring a notepad.

What if the biggest opportunity in the beauty industry isn't a new product, but paying closer attention to the professionals driving the industry?Michelle Chandler, General Manager of Schwarzkopf Professional, joins Tom to talk about what she's learned from years inside the salon community, from burnout and isolation to what real support actually looks like. She shares why innovation only matters when it solves a problem professionals are actually facing, how salons can help stylists master their craft and charge what they're worth, and why staying close to the community, not the competition, keeps a brand relevant.Expect a thoughtful conversation about leadership, creativity, and building a business that grows with its people.

What Really Changes as a Business Scales 🤔What does it take to grow from one location to a national brand without losing the culture, customer experience, or clarity that made you successful in the first place?On this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Luke Carlson, Founder and CEO of Discover Strength, to talk about what really changes as a business scales.Luke shares lessons from growing Discover Strength across locations and state lines, including the systems that make scale possible, why simplicity creates focus, how to develop leaders from within, and the shift owners must make from being great technicians to becoming great managers of people.It’s a conversation about growth, but even more, about building a business that can get bigger without becoming more complicated, diluted, or dependent on the founder.For any owner thinking about their next location, their tenth location, or simply how to lead the business they have today, there are plenty of lightbulb moments in this one.

Every generation gets handed the same advice: go to college, get a degree, land a stable job. What if the smartest career move today looks nothing like that?In this episode, Tom sits down with Jason Altmire and Riley Burr, co-authors of Trade Up, a new book on the changing value of higher education. Riley writes from a Gen Z perspective, exploring why so many young people are choosing skilled trades and hands-on careers over a traditional degree, cosmetology among them. Jason brings years of research on the workforce trends driving that shift.A few takeaways to expect: why cosmetology is one of the few careers AI can't easily replace, why Gen Z is drawn to this kind of hands-on, purpose-driven work, and what it means for how you attract and keep great talent in your business.Tune in, you might leave thinking differently about your next hire.

Succession Planning in the Beauty Industry: What Every Owner Needs to KnowIn this episode, host Tom Kuhn is joined by two powerhouse voices in beauty business transitions: Susan Wos, founder and principal broker of SalonSpa Connection, the only national brokerage dedicated exclusively to buying and selling salon, spa, and barbershop businesses, and Mary Beth Berns, 40-year industry veteran, former salon co-owner, and business coach helping beauty entrepreneurs move forward with clarity and confidence.Together, they unpack what most owners don't think about until it's too late - from knowing the real value of your business and cleaning up your financials, to the emotional side of letting go and what it means to build a business with the end in mind. They tackle the five most common reasons small businesses are forced to sell, why a happy team directly impacts your valuation, and what happens when succession plans break down.Whether you're just opening your doors or decades into ownership, this conversation is for you.