Ep. 197 - Creating an Extended Family In Her Community with Neshanta Linson

Neshanta Linson is the owner of Hermes Enchanted Garden, a boutique early childhood program in Lower Alabama. Starting as a home-based daycare, her center has grown into a thriving, community-driven school that blends classical education, family values, and a strong sense of connection. Beyond her role as a business owner, Neshanta is deeply committed to servant leadership, fostering an environment where families, staff, and children feel like an extended family. In this episode, she shares how she built a family-centered school culture where staff and parents feel truly connected. Neshanta also talks with Kris about the power of mindset shifts and personal growth in leading a successful business, the ECE Mafia, and the importance of setting boundaries to avoid burnout and ensure sustainability.

 

Key Takeaways:

 

[7:42] Neshanta started her program as a home daycare and expanded into a boutique school due to growing demand.

[8:33] The name Hermes Enchanted Garden came from blending two meaningful influences — an early childhood program she admired and her family’s cloth diaper business.

[10:41] The culture of her school is laid-back yet structured, emphasizing Southern values, community, and support.

[12:50] Fun fact: Neshanta loves folding a hot towel and hates traveling home with dirty clothes!

[14:10] Neshanta is part of the mafia! Well, the ECE Mafia, a small group of accountable, high-performing child care leaders who challenge each other to grow.

[15:05] Joining the Freedom track of the Child Care Success Academy helped Neshanta implement systems, delegate leadership roles, and reclaim her time.

[19:01] For Neshanta, 2021 was a pivotal year — she battled personal losses, business struggles, and health challenges, but found strength through her team and accountability group.

[22:39] Working with Kris on mindset coaching and awakened leadership has helped Neshanta recognize the impact of ego, expectations, and balance in business and life.

[27:46] Rather than traditional tours, she hosts one-on-one “meet-and-greet” sessions to ensure a mutual fit and strong parent-school relationship.

[30:22] Her strong word-of-mouth reputation allows her school to stay fully enrolled without aggressive marketing.

[32:27] She learned to set boundaries to avoid over-giving and protect herself and her team from burnout.

[33:30] Hosting family events like Mom’s Night Out and private Facebook community discussions helps strengthen parent connections.

[37:32] A rare snow event in Alabama reminded her how much parents and communities rely on child care centers as a support system.

 

Quotes:

• “I would say our culture is laid back, but structured and firm. We believe that kids need to have a balance. I’m a Southerner, and so Southern values really matter to me, and so we want to instill those Southern values into our students. We want them to be well-rounded kiddos.” — Neshanta [10:55]

• “I think we have cultivated a small community where they (the staff) hang out outside of work. They’re becoming real friends and real family, and that’s who we are. Family.” — Neshanta [11:16]

• “It’s like putting the right people in the right seats and people love to give more, especially if that’s their gift.” — Neshanta [18:09]

• “I’ve always been a bit driven, and nobody can tell me no if I believe that that’s where I’m supposed to be.” — Neshanta  [19:04]

• “Real love just is. And being authentic, which is something that I do professionally, being authentic is a way to be, and a lot of times that ego gets in the way of that. And so you have to check yourself in the roles that you play, in your shenanigans when that ego comes to play, and then just realize that life just is. And you have to realize life is about duality, but you want to be balanced.” — Neshanta [24:03]

• “I think that part of our unique brilliance is holding space for parents to be parents.” — Neshanta [26:36]

 

Sponsored By:

ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)

Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Kris Murray

@iamkrismurray

The Child Care Success Company

The Child Care Success Academy

The Child Care Success Summit

Grow Your Center

Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal

The Energy Bus, by Jon Gordon

Hermes Enchanted Garden