06. Leading with Heart: How Penny Payne Built a Center Where People Come First

What if your childcare business could be both profitable and deeply purposeful? In this episode of The Profitable Preschool Podcast, host Alexis Louis, CPA, sits down with Penny Payne, founder of 15th Avenue North Learning Academy, to unpack the mindset and systems behind her thriving Nashville childcare center. Penny’s story is the blueprint for what happens when compassion meets consistency. She’s not chasing vacation money or status symbols, instead she’s building a community where teachers feel valued, parents feel supported, and children feel seen. From surviving a rocky first year to leading a six-classroom school that’s fully enrolled and mission-driven, Penny shares the real talk on what it takes to build a business that lasts. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn passion into profit without losing your peace, this episode will reignite your belief that abundance follows alignment. 🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How to lead with heart without losing your financial footing Why structure and systems are the real keys to sustainability How to recover from burnout and reconnect to your “why” Penny’s secret to keeping staff loyal and families raving for 10 years strong Why faith and service are still the most powerful business growth strategies ✨ Quote to Remember “Money will come if you’re doing what you’re supposed to do.” – Penny Payne