Kris is joined by longtime friend, business visionary, and rockstar early childhood leader Rachel Supalla. Rachel is the founder of Vision Tree, a TEDx speaker, and the author of The Playful Leader’s Toolkit, a book packed with wisdom on leading with joy, grounding, and energy. With 10 schools across Montana and Utah, Rachel shares how she’s scaled her business while embracing what she calls “ruby slipper leadership.” They talk about managing energy instead of time, why remote teams need tight leadership structures, and how playfulness is more than just dress-up — it’s a strategy for productivity. Rachel also opens up about living with ADHD and how it shapes her leadership style, creativity, and drive.

Key Takeaways:

[5:26 ] Rachel shares her evolution from center owner to coach and consultant, and how joining the Child Care Success Academy changed her career path.
[6:36 ] She talks about scaling rapidly across three regions and how Vision Tree emerged as her consulting and leadership training brand.
[9:05 ] Rachel loves lake life and is a proud mom of four kids and grandma to baby Zeke.

[10:39 ] Fun fact: Rachel’s trip with her grandma (who some thought was her sister) to Ireland at age 13, including a spontaneous solo in a pub, was an early clue that she’d someday take the stage.
[12:46 ] Rachel explains how The Playful Leader’s Toolkit came out of her ADHD-fueled trial-and-error experiences, and why she believes burnout is not a badge of honor.

[14:12 ] Ruby slippers became a metaphor for grounding, confidence, and leadership clarity, especially in high-pressure seasons. Once you’ve got the right shoes on, you can do anything!

[16:41 ] Managing energy (not just time) helps Rachel structure her day and lead effectively, especially as a neurodivergent leader.

[20:24 ] She breaks down the “max of 10” rule for direct reports and why it protects leadership bandwidth across large teams.
[24:34 ] Rachel gives a deep dive into her favorite systems: Playground, JotForm Enterprise, Teachable, and Zapier.
[27:16 ] Playfulness isn’t fluff — it’s a mindset that supports innovation, brain-based leadership, and mental reset when teams are stressed.
[32:03 ] Rachel walks through her M.A.G.I.C. framework, the five pillars of playful leadership.

[35:40 ] Doing a TEDx Talk was terrifying and transformational; the unexpected outcome was a deeper conversation about ADHD and leadership.

[39:15 ] Rachel shares her seasonal schedule, non-negotiables like football and summer in Montana, and the power of team infrastructure.

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