Qnity Lightbulb Moments
by Tom Kuhn
For salon, spa, and beauty industry leaders who crave clarity, financial success, and real-world inspiration. Hosted by Tom Kuhn—Founder and CEO of Qnity, industry innovator, and former salon owner—each episode features powerful “lightbulb moments” that help leaders make smarter decisions, boost profitability, and unlock growth.From insightful solo episodes to candid conversations with top industry changemakers, you’ll walk away with practical tools, fresh ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose. 🎧 Tune in for your next lightbulb moment—because better business starts with better thinking.
Episodes
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Lightbulb Moments - Featuring Dr. Katie Pritchett
Most leaders fix the org chart when something feels off. But what if the real issue isn’t where people sit, but what state they’re in when they do the work? On this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn is joined by Katie, author of By Design: Leadership Reframed Through Neuroscience. Her work...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Michelle Chandler, Schwarzkopf
What if the biggest opportunity in the beauty industry isn't a new product, but paying closer attention to the professionals driving the industry?Michelle Chandler, General Manager of Schwarzkopf Professional, joins Tom to talk about what she's learned from years inside the salon community, from...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Luke Carlson
What Really Changes as a Business Scales 🤔What does it take to grow from one location to a national brand without losing the culture, customer experience, or clarity that made you successful in the first place?On this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Luke Carlson, Founder…
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Lightbulb Moments Episode | Featuring Jason Altmire & Riley Burr
Every generation gets handed the same advice: go to college, get a degree, land a stable job. What if the smartest career move today looks nothing like that?In this episode, Tom sits down with Jason Altmire and Riley Burr, co-authors of Trade Up, a new book on the changing value of higher...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Susan Wos and Mary Beth Berns
Succession Planning in the Beauty Industry: What Every Owner Needs to KnowIn this episode, host Tom Kuhn is joined by two powerhouse voices in beauty business transitions: Susan Wos, founder and principal broker of SalonSpa Connection, the only national brokerage dedicated exclusively to buying…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Tom Kuhn and Candice Gliatto
This episode of Lightbulb Moments explores one of the hottest topics in the salon industry: stylist compensation. With conversation around uncapped commissions, 70% commission models, and bold claims about the future of pay, many salon owners have been looking for a balanced perspective. This...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Larry Schooler
From Conflict to Collaboration: Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Dr. Larry SchoolerIn this episode, host Tom Kuhn sits down with Dr. Larry Schooler, Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin and expert in conflict resolution, facilitation, and organizational leadership. Together...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Jared Sanders
In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn and CPA Jared Sanders of Lightheart, Sanders and Associates reveal key findings from the 2025 Salon P&L Study, analyzing financial data from 61 salon companies across 13 states. Together, they explore profitability trends, benchmark metrics, labor...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Micah Nickens
In this powerful episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Micah Nickens for a deeply moving conversation about trauma, healing, presence, and what it truly means to connect with people. After surviving a near-fatal brain injury in 2020, Micah shares how his life, work, and…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Crystal Anderson
In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Crystal Anderson of Babe Hair Extensions and Beauty Industry Group to explore the rapid growth of the hair extension category and the opportunities it is creating for salons, stylists, and cosmetology schools. Crystal shares how...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Sudheer Koneru
In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn talks with Sudheer Koneru, CEO of Zenoti, about key insights from the 2026 Beauty & Wellness Benchmark Report. They break down flat industry growth, declining new guest traffic, and why “calendar inflation” is hurting bookings. The conversation also...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring: Ameet Kallarackal
In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Ameet Kallarackal co-founder and CEO of Glammatic, to explore how the salon industry is evolving and what it takes to stay competitive. Ameet shares insights from working with hundreds of premium salons, breaking down how search…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Ronan Perceval
This episode of Lightbulb Moments takes a practical look at how AI is showing up inside the salon business, beyond the hype.Host Tom Kuhn sits down with Ronan Perceval, founder and CEO of Phorest Software, for a real-world conversation on technology, growth, and the future of work in the beauty...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Tom Kuhn
In this special mini-episode, Tom Kuhn takes a moment to connect with the audience live from Austin, Texas, and share updates on some exciting happenings in the beauty and salon industry. While our guest Micah Nickens is temporarily unavailable due to jury duty, Tom gives listeners a sneak peek…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Thanh Pham
In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Austin-based AI operator Thanh Pham for a fast-paced, eye-opening conversation about how AI is already transforming salons, from marketing and retail to bookings, retention, and beyond.Thanh shares practical, real-world examples salon...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Jodi Ohama
In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom sits down with leadership coach and Circle facilitator Jodi Ohama for a candid conversation about what’s really happening inside leadership teams today.Drawing from insights in Qnity’s Circle groups and recent workplace research, they unpack the decline…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Alain Audet
“Data’s Like a Bag of Chips: Insights from the Kim Report” Ever wonder what’s really driving salon revenue, services, and staffing trends? Tom Kuhn sits down with Alain Audet of the Kim Report to reveal the latest anonymized data from thousands of U.S. salons. From revenue growth driven by price...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Tom Kuhn, Qnity Founder
Kick off 2026 with clarity, focus, and a fresh game plan. In this solo episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom sets the tone for the year ahead with a powerful reset on intention, focus, and action. He shares Qnity’s word of the year Focus and explains why “not more, but better” is the mindset salons,...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Debra Neill Baker
Beauty industry visionary. Inspired leader. Impassioned teacher. Debra Neill Baker serves as Chairman of Neill Corporation with a leadership philosophy rooted in possibility, creativity, and human potential. Known affectionately as the company’s “Chief Energy Officer,” Debra champions a culture...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Chris Wittich
In this episode, Tom talks with Chris, head of the tax department at Boyum & Barenscheer, about what salon owners need to know for 2025 taxes. Having guided hundreds of beauty businesses through PPP, ERC, and ongoing tax planning, he breaks down the new rules and how to avoid costly mistakes.…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Kacy Smith and Tina Ruiz
This week, Tom chats with Kacy Smith, General Manager of James Griffith Salon, and Tina Ruiz, Operations Director and Managing Partner of Ruiz Salon Group. Kacy, who has spent the past 11 years growing within James Griffith Salon, shares how a front-desk role transformed into a calling rooted in...
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Lightbulb Moments Featuring Erin Kuhn Bhansali, President and Partner of Qnity for Schools
In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom sits down with Erin Kuhn Bhansali, President and Partner of Qnity for Schools, to explore the exciting launch of MONEY EDU 3.0, an elevated approach to financial literacy for beauty and wellness schools. Erin shares fresh insights on Gen Z's financial...
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Lightbulb Moments Featuring Reuben Carranza
Industry Wisdom from a Beauty Powerhouse with Reuben Carranza Join host Tom Kuhn with Reuben Carranza, Group CEO of Bansk Beauty and Board Director for Amika, Eva NYC, and Ethique. With four generations of family history in beauty and 24+ years leading multi-billion-dollar brands like Pantene,...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Phil Murray
“Scaling with Soul: Lessons from Milk + Honey’s CEO, Phil Murray”Join us as Phil Murray, CEO of Milk + Honey, shares how he partners with founders to grow their businesses while preserving the vision and culture that made them successful. From pandemic-era expansion to creating luxurious,...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Heath Smith
Business Succession Planning - The What, Who, When & How In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom sits down with Heath Smith, Director of Advisory Services, to dive deep into one of the most critical yet overlooked aspects of business ownership: succession planning. Whether you're considering...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Rebecca Ezolt
The Financial Health Check with Rebecca Ezolt Join host Tom Kuhn with Rebecca Ezolt, Qnity for Business Profit Advisor and former CEO of LL Salon Group. With her journey from Brand and Marketing Director to CEO in the pro beauty industry, Rebecca brings unique insight into salon and spa…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Sharah Madrone
How the Owner Mindset Transformed Sharah from MT to Multi-Location Success.Based in Eugene, Oregon, Qnity Guide Sharah Madrone shares her journey from massage therapist to owner. This inspiring entrepreneur has fully empowered her team to make decisions while maintaining intimate business…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Ameet Kallarackal
Deep insights from Marketing Mastermind, Ameet Kallarackal, CEO and CoFounder of Glammatic.This isn't just another marketing discussion—it's your chance to learn from a proven innovator who's cracked the code on customer acquisition and retention in the competitive beauty space. Ameet reveals...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Jared Sanders, Adriana Arispe, And Candice Gliatto
The numbers are in with surprising truths about what really drives profitability in the beauty industry. Three powerhouse voices dissect the newly released P&L study — a comprehensive analysis that's already generating buzz among study participants.Jared Sanders from Lightheart Sanders and...
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Lightbulb Moments Featuring Karla Lopez-Martinez
From Dreamer to Doer: Karla Lopez-Martinez's Journey in the Beauty IndustryMissed the LIVE show? Catch up on our inspiring conversation with Karla Lopez-Martinez, owner of Gila Rut Salon and one of Qnity's newest Guides. Karla's journey from cosmetology student with a dream to successful salon...
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Lightbulb Moments Featuring Tom Kuhn's Top Takeaway's from the FiLL
Tom shares his key takeaways from The FiLL 2025 this week. In this special episode, Tom delves into the conference's theme, "PLAY!", which emphasized bold moves and crafting the ultimate business playbook through tactile learning and strategic discovery. He discusses the innovative workshops, the...
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Lightbulb Moments Featuring Steve Reiss
Data-Driven Beauty: Steve Reiss on Transforming the Industry Through Insights and InnovationThis week on Lightbulb Moments, we're joined by Steve Reiss, Executive Director of Industry Relations & Insights at Pivot Point International and a visionary strategist with over three decades of beauty...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Goulds Salon Part 1 Multi-Generation
Join Tom Kuhn as he welcomes Samantha and Philip Gould, stewards of a remarkable beauty empire that's been turning heads since 1932. From a single Memphis salon to a multi-location powerhouse spanning nearly a century, the Goulds share their unique perspective on sustaining family legacy while...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Shana Merlin
Join host Tom Kuhn for an illuminating conversation with improv master Shana Merlin, founder of Merlin Works and award-winning improvisational talent.Tom will explore how Shana transformed from an improv novice to a celebrated educator who's helped organizations like Dell, T-Mobile, and Texas A&M...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Candy Shaw
Painting with Light: Candy Shaw's Journey from Salon Legacy to Global EducatorThis week on Lightbulb Moments, we sit down with Candy Shaw, the "Balay Boss" herself and a true industry pioneer who transformed highlighting techniques worldwide.Born into beauty royalty as the daughter of...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Dr. Stuart Brown
"The Power of Play: How Childlike Wonder Transforms Adult Leadership"Join host Tom Kuhn for a profound conversation with three generations of play research pioneers: Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, his daughter Lauren Sundstrom, and granddaughter Mia Sundstrom.In…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Edward Gottried, BETTERMENT
Join host Tom Kuhn for LIGHTBULB MOMENTS, featuring Edward Gottfried, Vice President of Product Management at Betterment. In this unscripted conversation, Edward will share insights into financial strategy, product innovation, and the critical intersection of technology and personal finance. With…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Susan Wos, SalonSpa Connection
Join host Tom Kuhn for LIGHTBULB MOMENTS, where this week's special guest Susan Wos, Founder of SalonSpa Connection, reveals the spark behind her transformative platform for the beauty industry. Susan will share how she recognized the fragmented landscape of salon opportunities and created a...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Tom Kuhn
Discover a revolutionary approach to team engagement as Tom Kuhn unveils ACCE - a powerful methodology that bridges the gap between business metrics and human connection. In this enlightening episode, Tom shares the spark of inspiration behind this unique framework that weaves together...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Robert Reed
Join Tom Kuhn for an inspiring Lightbulb Moments interview with Robert Reed, founder of ERGO Research and creator of the Art of the Blowdry education program! Discover what led this family-operated business to triumph over a devastating warehouse fire and gain valuable insights into the…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Jayne Morehouse
Join us for an illuminating conversation with Jayne Morehouse, a powerhouse in beauty industry communications and CEO of the Beauty Industry Report. With decades of experience helping brands tell their stories, Jayne shares her insights on building meaningful connections through PR, social media,...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Tom Kuhn
Inspiration meets action in this segment hosted by Tom Kuhn, Founder and Visionary of Qnity. He shares his most recent Lightbulb Moment - "a sudden realization, enlightenment, or inspiration" - reminding us that "you can't start a fire without a spark". Don't miss this chance to discover your own...
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Lightbulb Moments Throwback | Featuring John Dijulius
In this Lightbulb Moments packed episode with author John DiJulius and Qnity's Tom Kuhn, we learn how John's personal mantra to "be narrow and deep" has supported his work in creating exceptional customer experiences by zeroing in on his employee experiences and training his team to "sell the...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Jared Sanders
Join Tom as we welcome back Jared Sanders, seasoned CPA with Lightheart Sanders and Associates, a leading accounting firm for single and multi-location beauty salons and beauty schools across the country. Jared's passion and dedication to bridging the gap between financial professionals and Pro...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Luisa Garcia, Soliel Salon
In this episode of LIGHTBULB MOMENTS, host Tom Kuhn welcomes back Luisa Garcia, owner of Soleil Salon and Spa, for a new inspiring conversation. Luisa shares details about her latest venture: collaborating with a local university to mentor senior students in business studies. Through this...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring DEBRA NEILL and GARRISON NEILL
In this Multi-Gen episode, Tom shares a unique conversation with Neill Corporation leaders and family members, Debra Neill and Garrison Neill, that centers on the dynamics of operating a family-business and lessons on the importance of external guidance or a "3rd opinion", different perspectives,...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Tom Kuhn
In this short episode, Tom shares insights into THE STRANGEST SECRET by Earl Nightingale, a book that offers a practical guide to achieving success and personal fulfillment. The book is based on Nightingale's lifetime of research into human motivation and the secret to achieving success. THANK…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Luscious & Co and Vish
In this episode, we bring together returning guests and visionary leaders from Luscious & Co and Vish, a strategic partnership that is reshaping education implementation. Jess Arrindell, co-founder of Luscious and Co, shares how she transitioned from 15 years of corporate experience to building a...
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Megan Jasper, Gadabout + VerVe Salons
This week's feature brings us an industry icon! At Qnity, we know that sometimes you have to let go of what's weighing you down to make space for what's next. Megan Jasper, Vice President - Operations with Gadabout and VerVe Salons, shares a recent adoption of technology that went from challenge…
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Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Naomi Brien
Join us for a conversation with Naomi Brien, Director of Marketing, Verde Salon Group & Aveda Institute Winnipeg. Naomi is driven by a deep passion for the beauty industry's transformative power. As a Marketing Director, Educator and the host of Hairblazers Podcast, she leverages her expertise to...
About this show
For salon, spa, and beauty industry leaders who crave clarity, financial success, and real-world inspiration. Hosted by Tom Kuhn—Founder and CEO of Qnity, industry innovator, and former salon owner—each episode features powerful “lightbulb moments” that help leaders make smarter decisions, boost profitability, and unlock growth.From insightful solo episodes to candid conversations with top industry changemakers, you’ll walk away with practical tools, fresh ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose. 🎧 Tune in for your next lightbulb moment—because better business starts with better thinking.
Hosted by
Tom Kuhn
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