The Fierce Factor with Kaeli Lindholm

Kaeli Lindholm

I'm Kaeli Lindholm, high-performance leadership coach, business strategist, and CEO of KLC Consulting. I'm on a mission to help inspiring and intentional female entrepreneurs in the aesthetics and wellness industry build lucrative, life-first businesses that don't require sacrificing their vision, values, or well-being. Recognized as a Forbes Top 10 Inspiring Women Business Leader to Watch and a USA Today Top 10 Business Leader Driving Innovation, I've spent years guiding seven- and eight-figure practice owners to redefine success on their own terms. I'm a brand revisionist who helps elite female entrepreneurs carve out category-of-one leadership and establish unshakable authority in their industries. Through The Fierce Factor podcast, I'm bringing you powerful conversations about leadership, business growth, and high-performance strategies designed specifically for women in aesthetics and wellness. You'll hear from badass, fierce women making big moves in their careers, as well as the people who support them, because I believe that true power, profitability, and purpose can and should coexist. If you're ready to break past traditional business models, lead boldly, think differently, and scale sustainably, this podcast is for you. Welcome to The Fierce Factor.

  1. Episode 308: Structure Without Micromanagement: The Leadership Shift Inside Growing Practices (ALT 2025 Replay)

    5D AGO

    Episode 308: Structure Without Micromanagement: The Leadership Shift Inside Growing Practices (ALT 2025 Replay)

    This week on The Fierce Factor Podcast, we're bringing you another powerful replay from the ALT Experience 2025 stage, and this one is all about what leadership really looks like inside a scaling practice. I sit down with three high-level operators and practice leaders, Amanda Siem, Melanie Crowley, and Liz Grad Murphy, for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about managing teams, building trust, and navigating the often complicated dynamic between founders and managers. We unpack what it actually takes to turn vision into action, how to coach instead of constantly fixing, and why clear expectations eliminate chaos. You'll hear real talk about psychological safety, proactive communication, systems that create autonomy, and the tension between control and trust as your business grows. If you've ever felt stuck in the middle, struggled to loosen your grip, or wondered how to build a team that can truly run with you, not just report to you, this conversation will hit home. If you want to experience conversations like this live, there are only a handful of ALT Experience tickets remaining. Special bonus: When you register this week, you'll receive a 2-hour coaching intensive to prepare a customized growth plan prior to the event so you don't just attend, you arrive with strategy. Resources → Snag your ticket for the ALT Experience → Download our NEW free resource, Owner vs Practice Manager Role Clarity Map to clarify who owns what, define decision authority, and understand what your practice still depends on the Owner for → Join the Fierce Factor Society → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm Additional Ways to Connect: Book a Discovery Call: Ready to scale with intention? Let's map out your next strategic move. KLC Consulting Website Kaeli on LinkedIn

    30 min
  2. Episode 307: Retain to Grow: Designing Development Runways for High-Growth Employees (ALT 2025 Replay)

    FEB 23

    Episode 307: Retain to Grow: Designing Development Runways for High-Growth Employees (ALT 2025 Replay)

    In this week's episode, we're bringing you a powerful panel replay straight from our ALT 2025 stage: Retain to Grow: Designing Development Runways for High-Growth Employees. On this panel, Kaeli is joined by Shelby Miller, DNP, Heidi Hermel, NP, and Rachel King, FNP-C. Each of these founders leads a thriving practice with strong team culture. And notably, each operates under a different compensation structure. Three different models. Three successful, growing organizations. This panel conversation dives deep into what it really takes to attract, develop, and retain top talent in today's competitive landscape. We unpack compensation models that actually drive performance, when profit-sharing makes sense, how to structure growth pathways, and the balance between rewarding excellence while protecting the business. You'll hear transparent conversations around commission structures, onboarding, mentorship tiers, leadership development, and how to prevent your best people from being lured away by flashy offers that don't hold up under scrutiny. More importantly, we explore how to create emotional loyalty, cast long-term vision, and build a culture where high performers see their future with you. If you've ever wondered how to grow without losing your best people, this episode is for you. And if this conversation resonates, ALT 2026 is where you need to be. Register for ALT by February 28 and receive a complimentary 1:1 Mini Intensive — a private 2-hour strategy session designed to tackle your biggest business challenge. Exclusive to the first 10 registrations $1,297 value Personalized action plan you can implement immediately We'll see you in the room! Resources → Snag your ticket for the ALT Experience → Join the Fierce Factor Society → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm Additional Ways to Connect: Book a Discovery Call: Ready to scale with intention? Let's map out your next strategic move. KLC Consulting Website Kaeli on LinkedIn

    39 min
  3. Episode 306: Develop Your Voice of Impact: Part 3 with Krista Donargo, SGA

    FEB 16

    Episode 306: Develop Your Voice of Impact: Part 3 with Krista Donargo, SGA

    This episode is Part 3 of our special Develop Your Voice of Impact series, and it's all about what happens when the stakes are high and the spotlight is on. In this conversation, Krista Donargo, SGA, dives into the difference between recorded content and live communication, and why so many brilliant leaders lose their power when they step on stage, lead a training, or answer questions in real time. From keynotes and panels to team trainings and high-pressure conversations, this episode breaks down what it really takes to speak with confidence, presence, and authority when things don't go exactly as planned. She covers why over-rehearsing can backfire, how to stop hiding behind notes, and what to do when tech fails, nerves spike, or the room's energy feels off. You'll learn how to use pattern interrupts to keep people engaged, how to handle tough or impromptu questions without rambling, and why silence is often more powerful than filling space with words. If you want to command a room, sound grounded under pressure, and communicate in a way that feels both confident and human, this episode is for you. If you're ready to expand your voice to match the level of leadership you're stepping into, our Voice of Impact Mini Intensives are now open. These personalized 1:1 coaching sessions are designed to help high-performing founders communicate with authority, lead with presence, and use their voice as a strategic asset, on stage, online, and inside their business. Details and booking information are available in the show notes. Resources → Learn more about our Voice of Impact Mini Intensives → Join the Fierce Factor Society → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm Additional Ways to Connect: Book a Discovery Call: Ready to scale with intention? Let's map out your next strategic move. KLC Consulting Website Kaeli on LinkedIn

    30 min
  4. Episode 305: Develop Your Voice of Impact: Part 2 with Krista Donargo, SGA

    FEB 9

    Episode 305: Develop Your Voice of Impact: Part 2 with Krista Donargo, SGA

    Before Sara Blakely became the founder of Spanx, her life looked nothing like a success story. She failed the LSAT twice, was told she was "too short" at a Disney audition, and spent seven years selling fax machines door to door—hearing no over and over again. What changed everything wasn't luck. It was how she treated rejection. Instead of seeing discomfort as failure, she treated it like training. In Part 2 of our Develop Your Voice Impact series, Krista Donargo, SGA unpacks how Blakely learned to fail forward, show up before things felt polished, and turn a scrappy idea into a billion-dollar brand without investors, a roadmap, or industry experience. From there, we zoom out to a skill every leader needs but few are ever taught: storytelling. Storytelling isn't fluff—it's a leadership tool. Stories activate emotion and logic, reduce resistance to change, and help people trust, understand, and follow your ideas. Whether you're leading a team, speaking on stage, guiding clients, or showing up online, how you communicate matters just as much as what you're saying. This is exactly the work we do inside our Voice of Impact Mini Intensives, to help leaders identify the stories they need to tell, shape them with intention, and deliver them with confidence, clarity, and authority. These high-touch intensives are designed to help your voice match the level of leadership you're stepping into—without scripts, gimmicks, or overproduction. If you've ever struggled to get people to understand, trust, or act on your ideas, this episode will change how you think about communication—and what's possible when you learn to use your voice with intention. Because growth doesn't require perfection. It requires conviction, connection, and the willingness to be uncomfortable long before the results show up. Resources → Learn more about our Voice of Impact Mini Intensives → Join the Fierce Factor Society → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm Additional Ways to Connect: Book a Discovery Call: Ready to scale with intention? Let's map out your next strategic move. KLC Consulting Website Kaeli on LinkedIn

    11 min
  5. Episode 304: Develop Your Voice of Impact: Part 1 with Krista Donargo, SGA

    FEB 2

    Episode 304: Develop Your Voice of Impact: Part 1 with Krista Donargo, SGA

    In part one of our Develop Your Voice of Impact podcast takeover, KLC's Strategic Growth Advisor, Krista Donargo kicks off a powerful three-part series designed to help high-performing founders become more confident, compelling, and magnetic communicators, online, in person, and on stage. This episode explores why so many accomplished leaders lose their authority the moment a camera turns on or they're asked to speak publicly, and why it has nothing to do with skill. Krista unpacks the real culprit behind shaky confidence: self-conscious, performance-based communication. Through personal stories and client examples, she introduces a service-led approach that shifts the focus from "How do I sound?" to "How can I help?" You'll learn how over-polishing erases presence, why trends and perfection dilute trust, and how intention, insight, and invitation create authentic authority. This foundational conversation sets the tone for the entire series and reframes communication as a leadership practice—not a content task. If you're ready to stop performing and start leading with your voice, this episode is your starting point. Resources → Learn more about our Voice of Impact Mini Intensives → Join the Fierce Factor Society → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm Additional Ways to Connect: Book a Discovery Call: Ready to scale with intention? Let's map out your next strategic move. KLC Consulting Website Kaeli on LinkedIn

    28 min
  6. Episode 303: Safety vs Growth

    JAN 26

    Episode 303: Safety vs Growth

    In this episode, I'm unpacking one of the most dangerous myths women are taught about success: that "playing it safe" is the responsible choice. This conversation was sparked by a reflection on 2016, the year I started KLC and the year my brother passed away, and a question that stopped me in my tracks: Is my life truly better because I chose growth over safety? What I've learned over the past decade is this: safety is often conditional, and comfort can be far more limiting than risk. I take you back to my corporate career at Bayer Healthcare, a role that looked secure by every traditional measure. Great pay, benefits, prestige, and a clear path forward… until one unexpected call from HR shattered the illusion of stability. That moment changed how I understand security, responsibility, and agency, especially for women. We'll talk about why big companies are often romanticized as "safe," why small business ownership is framed as risky, and how that mindset shows up when women build their own companies. I'll also share a powerful story about growth, discomfort, and why the very tension we try to avoid is often what prepares us for our next level. If you're craving expansion but feel stuck optimizing for familiarity instead of fulfillment, this episode is your invitation to rethink what safety really means, and to consider whether the boldest move might actually be the most responsible one. Resources → Learn more & secure your spot for: The Female Founder Forum: The CEO Blueprint to Building a Booked-Out Injector → Join the Fierce Factor Society → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm Additional Ways to Connect: Book a Discovery Call: Ready to scale with intention? Let's map out your next strategic move. As always, thank you for listening. I'll see you right back here next week. KLC Consulting Website Kaeli on LinkedIn

    14 min
  7. Episode 302: Bonus: Why Your Injector Isn't Booked

    JAN 19

    Episode 302: Bonus: Why Your Injector Isn't Booked

    Episode 302 is a special bonus episode, and one every aesthetics and wellness founder needs if you've hired help but still feel like everything runs through you. You've hired a talented provider, invested in training, and yet you're still carrying most of the revenue load. Patients wait for you. Your injector's schedule stays open. And before frustration sets in, it's important to understand the real factors keeping your provider from being fully booked. In this episode, I'm breaking down the 10 reasons your injector isn't fully booked, from over-reliance on your personal brand and misaligned expectations, to gaps in clinical confidence and positioning. More importantly, you'll walk away with actionable strategies to build a team that consistently drives demand and delivers high-value results without you driving every dollar. I'm also sharing details about this month's Female Founder Forum on January 28, featuring three powerhouse multi-location CEOs who've cracked the code on building booked-out, trusted providers. If you're ready to scale without burning out, this conversation will reshape how you lead, coach, and grow your team. Resources → Learn more & secure your spot for: The Female Founder Forum: The CEO Blueprint to Building a Booked-Out Injector → Join the Fierce Factor Society → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm Additional Ways to Connect: Book a Discovery Call: Ready to scale with intention? Let's map out your next strategic move. KLC Consulting Website Kaeli on LinkedIn

    26 min
  8. Episode 301: My 2026 Predictions

    JAN 12

    Episode 301: My 2026 Predictions

    This isn't a conversation about resolutions, hustle, or chasing the next shiny tactic. It's a grounded, strategic look at what's actually going to separate thriving practices from struggling ones in the year ahead. In this episode, we zoom out to reflect on the shifts shaping our industry—maturing consumer behavior, increased economic discernment, rapid AI expansion, and the quiet erosion of average experiences—and what those forces demand from today's leaders. You'll hear the 10 defining predictions for 2026, including why retention will outperform revenue growth, how client experience becomes a competitive advantage, why personalization replaces price-driven luxury, and how human-centered leadership will quietly win in an increasingly automated world. This episode is for the founder who's been building infrastructure while others chased shortcuts. For the leader who values depth over noise, intention over urgency, and trust over tactics. Resources → Learn more & secure your spot for: The Female Founder Forum: The CEO Blueprint to Building a Booked-Out Injector → Join the Fierce Factor Society → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm Additional Ways to Connect: Book a Discovery Call: Ready to scale with intention? Let's map out your next strategic move. If you're ready to lead with clarity, discipline, and humanity in 2026—this conversation will meet you exactly where you are. KLC Consulting Website Kaeli on LinkedIn

    25 min
5
out of 5
134 Ratings

About

I'm Kaeli Lindholm, high-performance leadership coach, business strategist, and CEO of KLC Consulting. I'm on a mission to help inspiring and intentional female entrepreneurs in the aesthetics and wellness industry build lucrative, life-first businesses that don't require sacrificing their vision, values, or well-being. Recognized as a Forbes Top 10 Inspiring Women Business Leader to Watch and a USA Today Top 10 Business Leader Driving Innovation, I've spent years guiding seven- and eight-figure practice owners to redefine success on their own terms. I'm a brand revisionist who helps elite female entrepreneurs carve out category-of-one leadership and establish unshakable authority in their industries. Through The Fierce Factor podcast, I'm bringing you powerful conversations about leadership, business growth, and high-performance strategies designed specifically for women in aesthetics and wellness. You'll hear from badass, fierce women making big moves in their careers, as well as the people who support them, because I believe that true power, profitability, and purpose can and should coexist. If you're ready to break past traditional business models, lead boldly, think differently, and scale sustainably, this podcast is for you. Welcome to The Fierce Factor.

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