Welcome to the Beyond The Technique podcast with Kati Whitledge. We exist to support beauty & wellness pros and your growing team and business. We believe it's what you do beyond the technical aspects of your craft that will bring substantial success. We promise to bring you the most forward-thinking industry topics to help you consistently grow and develop yourself and your business.
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Pressure can sharpen your focus, strengthen your performance, and inspire growth—but when it becomes constant, it can threaten your health, relationships, and leadership. In this episode, Kati shares lessons from her own transition out of salon ownership while exploring how anxiety, stress, fear, overwhelm, and pressure affect salon and spa leaders. You'll learn why pressure paired with adequate…
AI is transforming the front desk, and salon and spa owners can now deliver immediate, personalized support without overwhelming their teams. In this episode, conversation designer Jyoti Iyer introduces Brook, a virtual assistant that manages calls, texts, website chats, appointment bookings, and client requests—even after hours. Discover how the right AI can eliminate voicemail, prevent missed…
Your greatest weakness may actually be one of your greatest strengths—simply overused, misused, or applied in the wrong context. In this episode, Kati explores how qualities like communication, confidence, loyalty, optimism, decisiveness, and adaptability can create powerful results but also damage trust and relationships when left unchecked. You'll learn a practical four-step process to name,…
In this inspiring episode, Kati sits down with salon owner and educator Kelley Martell to explore her 22-year journey of creativity, resilience, and continual growth in the beauty industry. Kelley shares why salon owners must remain humble, stay present with their teams, and recognize the talent and fresh perspectives emerging from today's newest hairstylists. She also encourages beauty…
Your brain is wired to notice problems, but constantly focusing on what's wrong can stall progress, exhaust leaders, and create a fearful salon or spa culture. In this episode, Kati explores the difference between pessimism, blind optimism, and realistic optimism—and shares how effective leaders face the facts, focus on what they can control, and believe improvement is possible. You'll learn how…
What if understanding why you lead the way you do could transform how you connect with your team? Certified Enneagram coach and salon owner Jennifer Culverhouse reveals how the Enneagram goes beyond surface-level behaviors to uncover the motivations, strengths, fears, and patterns driving each of us. Discover how greater self-awareness can help salon and spa owners navigate conflict, appreciate…
The most effective salon and spa leaders don't need to be the hero—they become the trusted guide who helps others reach their full potential. In this episode, Kati Whitledge explains how owners can empower their leaders, leaders can develop their teams, and service providers can help clients become the heroes of their own stories. Discover why empathy and authority are essential to effective…
The most effective salon and spa leaders don't need to be the hero—they become the trusted guide who helps others reach their full potential. In this episode, Kati Whitledge explains how owners can empower their leaders, leaders can develop their teams, and service providers can help clients become the heroes of their own stories. Discover why empathy and authority are essential to effective…
If you want a new life, a stronger business, or a better future, you must first become someone who believes those outcomes are possible. In this powerful episode, Kati shares how changing her identity helped her overcome lifelong struggles, lose more than 100 pounds, and transform the way she leads and lives. Salon owners and leaders will learn how to replace limiting labels with empowering "I am"…
What if happiness wasn't just a personal goal—but a competitive business advantage? In this episode, Heather Bagby shares the powerful Head, Heart, and Hands framework from her new book, Beautiful and Balanced , revealing how emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and consistent action can help salon leaders build stronger teams, develop grit, and create lasting success. If you're looking for…
Are your stylists and service providers building their careers through real-world experiences—or just watching everyone else's on social media? In this episode, Kati challenges salon owners, leaders, hairstylists, and beauty professionals to get out from behind the screen, seek meaningful education, build powerful industry relationships, and place themselves in environments that fuel long-term…
Discover how salon owner and mentor Ashley Vance is leading a movement to heal the beauty industry by addressing burnout, mindset, and the leadership challenges that keep salons from thriving. In this inspiring conversation, Ashley shares her journey from receptionist to multi-location salon owner, why integrity and direct communication are essential for healthy teams, and how salon leaders can…
Today, your host Kati Whitledge encourages salon and spa owners to leap into the deep end, reminding leaders that building a dream business requires huge faith to face unpredictable unknowns. Drawing from a raw personal story of a failed collaboration and a lawsuit early in her career, Kati reveals how to navigate toxic professional relationships and double down on your determination to succeed.…
