Injecting Leadership

Jake Laban and Tod Reed

Injecting Leadership is a premium editorial podcast featuring candid conversations with the operators, executives, founders, physicians, practice owners, innovators, and industry veterans behind medical aesthetics. Hosts Jake Laban and Tod Reed explore how companies are built, teams are led, cultures take shape, products come to market, and leaders learn through real decisions, mistakes, growth, and change. No polished answers. No leadership theater. Just experience from inside the industry. Executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller.

Episodes

  1. 06/10/2025

    Building Culture and Hiring Right with Bob Rhatigan | Part 2 | S1 E12

    The people you hire, the culture you build, and the lessons you take from failure determine how far an organization can go. In Part 2 of the Season One finale, Tod Reed and Jake Laban continue their conversation with Bob Rhatigan, Global Chief Executive Officer of Merz Aesthetics. Bob explores the evolution of direct-to-consumer advertising in medical aesthetics and the leadership decisions that helped shape how the industry connects with consumers. He also shares hard-earned lessons about hiring, building culture, recognizing mistakes, and developing teams capable of supporting long-term growth. Together, they discuss why the right experience does not always mean the right fit, how leaders learn from hiring decisions that miss the mark, and why culture must be actively protected as an organization grows. In Part 2: • How direct-to-consumer advertising changed medical aesthetics • What Bob learned from building category-defining brands • Why hiring the right people requires more than reviewing experience • How to recognize whether someone truly fits the organization • What hiring mistakes can teach leaders • Why strong cultures must be actively built and protected • How leaders create accountability without limiting people • Why growth requires humility, reflection, and a willingness to change The strongest organizations are not built by leaders who get every decision right. They are built by leaders who learn from what goes wrong and use those lessons to lead better. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and connect with us at @injectingleadership. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Guest: Bob Rhatigan, Global Chief Executive Officer of Merz Aesthetics. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

  2. 06/03/2025

    Performance, People and Process with Bob Rhatigan | Part 1 | S1 E11

    Building an enduring business requires more than vision. It requires disciplined execution, strong people, and processes that turn strategy into results. In Part 1 of the Season One finale, Tod Reed and Jake Laban sit down with Bob Rhatigan, Global Chief Executive Officer of Merz Aesthetics, for a conversation about the experiences and principles that shaped his leadership career. Bob reflects on his role in launching Botox Cosmetic, the challenge of helping create a new market, and the early influences that formed his authentic, high-integrity approach to leadership. He also introduces his three-part leadership framework: Performance, People, and Process. Together, they explore customer-centricity, accountability, execution, and what it takes to build teams and businesses with purpose. In Part 1: • What Bob learned while helping launch Botox Cosmetic • The leadership challenges involved in creating a new market • Bob’s three-part framework: Performance, People, and Process • How early influences shaped his leadership philosophy • Why authenticity and integrity are leadership essentials • How customer-centricity guides stronger business decisions • Why execution must support even the strongest strategy • What it takes to build teams that perform with purpose The strongest leaders know that lasting performance is built through people and sustained by the processes that help them succeed. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and continue with Part 2 of the Season One finale. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Guest: Bob Rhatigan, Global Chief Executive Officer of Merz Aesthetics. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

  3. 05/27/2025

    The Leadership Behind the Global Botox Boom with Rob Seguin | S1 E10

    What if the global Botox boom began with a car salesman, a schoolteacher, and a Canadian marketing leader willing to see an opportunity differently? In this episode of Injecting Leadership, Tod Reed and Jake Laban sit down with Rob Seguin, the leader behind the global launch of Botox Cosmetic, to explore the people, decisions, and unconventional thinking that helped transform a medical product into one of the most recognized brands in the world. Rob shares the story behind Botox Cosmetic’s early development and the leadership lessons he learned while helping create an entirely new market.  Together, they discuss customer experience, culture, innovation, and why successful leadership begins with understanding people rather than simply promoting a product. In this episode: • The unconventional story behind the rise of Botox Cosmetic • How Rob recognized an opportunity others could not yet see • What it takes to build and lead within a new market • Why customer experience became central to the brand’s success • How curiosity and unconventional thinking drive innovation • Why strong cultures are built around people and purpose • What Rob learned from the setbacks and turning points in his career • How leaders can turn experience into meaningful impact Category-defining growth begins when leaders understand the people they serve and have the courage to build what does not yet exist. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and connect with us at @injectingleadership. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Guest: Rob Seguin, organizational health advisor and leader behind the global launch of Botox Cosmetic. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

  4. 05/20/2025

    Lead by Serving and Developing People with Jeff Ehrhardt | S1 E9

    Strong leaders advocate for their people while never losing sight of the goals they are responsible for achieving. In this episode of Injecting Leadership, Tod Reed and Jake Laban sit down with Jeff Ehrhardt, General Manager of Motiva USA, to discuss servant leadership, team development, and the responsibility that comes with leading people through growth and change. Jeff shares the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy and explains how he balances supporting his team with delivering results for the organization.  Together, they explore why leadership requires trust, clear expectations, honest communication, and a genuine commitment to helping people develop. In this episode: • What servant leadership looks like in practice • How to advocate for your team while supporting organizational goals • Why developing people is a leader’s responsibility • How trust and communication strengthen performance • Why leaders must create clear expectations • How to support people without removing accountability • What Jeff has learned while leading within medical aesthetics • Why the strongest teams are built through both challenge and support Great leaders do more than manage performance. They create the conditions for people to grow, contribute, and become leaders themselves. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and connect with us at @injectingleadership. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Guest: Jeff Ehrhardt, General Manager of Motiva USA. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

  5. 05/13/2025

    How Inspirational Leaders Move People to Act | S1 E8

    Motivation can influence what someone does today. Inspiration can change what they believe is possible. In this episode of Injecting Leadership, Tod Reed and Jake Laban explore the difference between motivating people and genuinely inspiring them. They discuss how inspirational leaders use vision, vulnerability, authenticity, and purpose to create a deeper connection with the people they lead. Rather than relying on authority or short-term incentives, these leaders help others understand why their work matters and inspire them to take ownership of what comes next. Through real leadership experiences, Tod and Jake examine what it takes to move people beyond simple compliance and create the trust, energy, and shared purpose that drive lasting performance. In this episode: • The difference between motivation and inspiration • Why motivation is often temporary while inspiration creates lasting change • How leaders connect everyday work to a greater purpose • Why vision and vulnerability must work together • How authenticity strengthens a leader’s influence • What inspirational leadership looks like during uncertainty • Why stories can move people more effectively than instructions alone • How to help people believe in themselves and the work they are doing The most inspirational leaders do more than tell people what to do. They help people see what is possible and give them a reason to pursue it. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and connect with us at @injectingleadership. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

  6. 05/06/2025

    Lead Through Innovation and Uncertainty with Jasson Gilmore | S1 E7

    Innovation does not happen without uncertainty.  The strongest leaders create the trust, clarity, and resilience their teams need to move through it. In this episode of Injecting Leadership, Tod Reed and Jake Laban sit down with Jasson W. Gilmore, a seasoned commercial, digital, and technology executive whose career spans entrepreneurship, startups, MedTech, and medical aesthetics. Jasson shares the pivotal experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy, including what he learned from building companies, developing innovative technology, and leading teams through periods of change and growth. Together, they explore why leaders should hire for potential, how transparency builds trust, and what it takes to create a culture where people feel safe enough to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and take meaningful risks. In this episode: • How entrepreneurship shaped Jasson’s approach to leadership • Why leaders should hire for potential, not only experience • How psychological safety creates stronger and more innovative teams • Why transparency matters when leading through uncertainty • How to communicate change with clarity and purpose • What resilience looks like at the leadership level • Why innovation requires trust, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge assumptions • How leaders can give people room to grow without lowering expectations Innovation begins when people feel trusted enough to think differently and supported enough to act on it. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and connect with us at @injectingleadership. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Guest: Jasson W. Gilmore, commercial, digital, and technology executive. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

  7. 04/29/2025

    From Firefighter to CEO with Scott Melamed | S1 E6

    The path to leadership is rarely a straight line. Sometimes the experiences that appear completely unrelated are the ones that prepare you to lead. In this episode of Injecting Leadership, Tod Reed and Jake Laban sit down with Scott Melamed, CEO of ProMD Health, to discuss his unconventional journey from firefighter to investment banking and ultimately to leading one of the top medical aesthetics platforms. Scott shares how each chapter of his career shaped the leader he is today, from learning to perform under pressure to understanding business, building teams, and recognizing opportunities for growth.  Together, they explore the resilience, adaptability, and willingness to take calculated risks required to build a successful organization. In this episode: • How Scott’s career evolved from firefighting to investment banking and medical aesthetics • What working under pressure taught him about leadership • Why career changes can become a leader’s greatest advantage • How experience across different industries shapes decision-making • What it takes to recognize and pursue the right opportunities • Why adaptability and resilience matter when building a business • How strong leaders build teams capable of supporting growth • The lessons Scott has learned while leading ProMD Health Leadership is not defined by where you begin. It is shaped by how you respond, adapt, and lead through every chapter that follows. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and connect with us at @injectingleadership. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Guest: Scott Melamed, CEO of ProMD Health. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

  8. 04/24/2025

    Lead with Clarity and Compassion with Amber Edwards | S1 E5

    Great leadership requires more than a clear strategy. It requires the ability to communicate a vision, build a strong culture, and lead people with compassion. In this episode of Injecting Leadership, Tod Reed and Jake Laban sit down with Amber Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair, to discuss her remarkable career journey through medical aesthetics and the leadership lessons that shaped it. Amber shares experiences from her time at Pfizer and Allergan through her current role leading Sinclair’s global platform. She introduces the concept of Holistic Aesthetic Medicine and explains how Sinclair is building a vision that considers the whole person throughout their aesthetic journey. Together, they explore authenticity, organizational culture, strategic clarity, and Amber’s leadership framework centered on three principles: Communication, Control, and Compassion. In this episode: • How Amber’s career at Pfizer and Allergan prepared her to lead Sinclair • The pivotal decisions and challenges that shaped her leadership • What Holistic Aesthetic Medicine means for the future of the industry • Why communication creates clarity throughout an organization • How leaders balance control with trust and empowerment • Why compassion belongs in strong executive leadership • How authenticity strengthens credibility and culture • What it takes to unite a global organization behind one vision The strongest leaders create clarity around where the organization is going while never losing sight of the people responsible for getting it there. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and connect with us at @injectingleadership. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Guest: Amber Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

  9. 04/10/2025

    Lead by Serving First with Rob Hubert | S1 E4

    The strongest leaders do not lead from above. They lead by serving the people around them. In this episode of Injecting Leadership, Tod Reed and Jake Laban sit down with Rob Hubert, Chief Revenue Officer at Lynch Regenerative Medicine and a seasoned executive with decades of experience leading within the medical aesthetics industry. Rob shares how his journey from the United States Naval Academy and active-duty service in the Navy shaped the way he approaches leadership today. He discusses servant leadership, accountability, mentorship, and the responsibility leaders have to equip their people with the tools, training, and support they need to succeed. Together, they explore what it takes to earn trust, develop future leaders, and guide large teams through growth and change without losing sight of the people behind the performance. In this episode: • How Rob’s experience in the Navy shaped his leadership philosophy • What servant leadership looks like in practice • Why accountability begins with the leader • How mentorship can change the course of a career • Why leaders must give their teams the tools and support to succeed • What Rob learned from both success and failure • How to maintain perspective while leading through pressure and change • Why developing people is one of a leader’s greatest responsibilities Leadership is not about being the most important person in the room. It is about helping the people around you become better. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and connect with us at @injectingleadership. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Guest: Rob Hubert, Chief Revenue Officer at Lynch Regenerative Medicine. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

  10. 04/10/2025

    Avoid These Mistakes: Our Hard-Earned Lessons | S1 E3

    The mistakes that damage a team rarely begin as dramatic failures. They begin as blurred boundaries, unclear expectations, unrecognized effort, and small leadership habits left uncorrected. In this episode of Injecting Leadership, Tod Reed and Jake Laban share seven common leadership mistakes and the hard-earned lessons they have learned from making, witnessing, and correcting them. They explore how these behaviors affect trust, morale, accountability, and performance, along with what leaders can do differently. Because strong leadership is not about never making mistakes. It is about recognizing them, taking responsibility, and changing how you lead. In this episode: • Why blurred boundaries create confusion and weaken leadership • How unclear expectations set teams up to fail • What happens when leaders overcommit and underdeliver • Why failing to recognize achievements damages morale • How overloading capable people leads to burnout • Why leaders must remain open to honest feedback • How micromanagement limits ownership, confidence, and growth Every leader will make mistakes. The difference is whether they defend those mistakes or learn from them. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and connect with us at @injectingleadership. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

  11. 04/10/2025

    The DNA of Effective Leaders | S1 E2

    What separates an effective leader from someone who simply holds a leadership position? In this episode of Injecting Leadership, Tod Reed and Jake Laban break down eight traits that shape exceptional leaders: emotional intelligence, authenticity, accountability, empowerment, decisiveness, humility paired with courage, visionary thinking, and adaptability. They explore how these qualities help leaders earn trust, develop stronger teams, make difficult decisions, and navigate change with confidence. Because effective leadership is not about having every answer or getting everything right. It is about continuing to grow while creating the conditions for others to grow with you. In this episode: • Why emotional intelligence is essential to understanding and leading people • How authenticity builds credibility and trust • What genuine accountability looks like at the leadership level • Why effective leaders empower people instead of controlling them • How decisiveness creates confidence and forward momentum • Why humility and courage must work together • How visionary leaders connect daily execution to a greater purpose • Why adaptability matters when teams, businesses, and industries change These traits are not reserved for executives or people with impressive titles. They can be developed, practiced, and strengthened at every stage of leadership. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and connect with us at @injectingleadership. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

  12. 04/10/2025

    Leadership Isn’t a Title. It’s a Decision. | S1 E1

    Welcome to Injecting Leadership. In the first episode, hosts Tod Reed and Jake Laban set the foundation for the conversations ahead: an honest look at leadership from inside the medical aesthetics industry. Tod and Jake explore what strong leadership actually requires, why a title alone does not make someone a leader, and how trust, authenticity, accountability, and execution shape the teams and businesses people build. They also introduce the purpose behind Injecting Leadership and the real-world perspective they plan to bring to every episode. This show goes beyond polished answers and leadership theory. It is about the decisions, mistakes, lessons, and experiences that shape people into leaders. In this episode: • What meaningful leadership looks like in practice • Why trust and authenticity matter • How leadership decisions affect teams, culture, and business performance • What the medical aesthetics industry can teach us about leading through change • What listeners can expect from Season One of Injecting Leadership This is where the conversation begins. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a decision. Follow Injecting Leadership so you never miss an episode, and connect with us at @injectingleadership. Hosted by Tod Reed and Jake Laban. Injecting Leadership is hosted by Jake Laban and Tod Reed and executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller. Leadership from inside the aesthetics industry. Website: https://injectingleadership.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injectingleadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/injectingleadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecting-leadership TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@injectingleadership YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InjectingLeadership X: https://x.com/injleadership

About

Injecting Leadership is a premium editorial podcast featuring candid conversations with the operators, executives, founders, physicians, practice owners, innovators, and industry veterans behind medical aesthetics. Hosts Jake Laban and Tod Reed explore how companies are built, teams are led, cultures take shape, products come to market, and leaders learn through real decisions, mistakes, growth, and change. No polished answers. No leadership theater. Just experience from inside the industry. Executive produced by Ashley Nicole Miller.