Episode 270: Bonus: Developing Employee Comp Plans
The Fierce Factor with Kaeli Lindholm
Release Date: 06/16/2025
The Fierce Factor with Kaeli Lindholm
In this episode, I’m closing out 2025 with a real, honest conversation about what it takes to finish the year strong and set yourself up for an impactful 2026. I spent the entire day deep inside the numbers of my business, reviewing every program, every metric, every lever, and it reminded me how important it is for us as CEOs to pause, assess, and identify the one main constraint that’s actually holding us back. I’m sharing why so many of us get caught trying to fix problems that haven’t even happened yet, and how that tendency keeps us from addressing the simple but powerful issue...
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In this episode, I’m getting real about the emotional rollercoaster that comes with being a CEO, especially as we close out Q4. Between the external chaos, the end-of-year pressure, and the constant push to perform, it’s easy to lose trust in the one thing that built your business in the first place: your own wisdom. I’ll share why so many high-achieving women find themselves second-guessing their decisions and outsourcing their confidence to “experts,” accountants, and Facebook groups — and how to break that cycle for good. We’ll talk about what it really means to lead through...
info_outlineThe Fierce Factor with Kaeli Lindholm
In this episode, we’re continuing the conversation from part two of our Female Founder Forum with three incredible founders—Gabrielle Hudson (Onyx Medical Esthetics), Lauren Grandanetti (Sunday Skin), and Morgan Kraut (MK Esthetics). Together, we’re diving deeper into what it really takes to design, price, and scale a membership program that drives loyalty, profitability, and lasting impact. We’re talking about the systems, strategies, and mindset shifts that transform memberships from a discount plan into a true growth engine for your business. You’ll hear how these women built...
info_outlineThe Fierce Factor with Kaeli Lindholm
In this special episode of The Fierce Factor Podcast, I’m bringing you Part 1 of our Female Founder Forum, where I sat down with three powerhouse women in aesthetics—Lauren Grandanetti of Sunday Skin, Morgan Kraut of MK Esthetics, and Gabrielle Hudson of Onyx Medical Aesthetics—for a raw, unfiltered conversation about building loyalty programs that actually work. We’re talking about the truth behind memberships, what makes patients stay loyal, and how to design programs that build community, protect your margins, and grow recurring revenue without discounting your value. This...
info_outlineThe Fierce Factor with Kaeli Lindholm
As we round the corner to the end of the year, I know how hard it can feel to stay motivated — especially when you’re leading a business, a team, and a vision that never stops evolving. In this episode, I’m opening up about what it really takes to stay consistent and focused when your energy dips and motivation fades. I’m sharing the mindset shift that changed everything for me — the one that helped me evolve from a high-achieving entrepreneur into a disciplined, impact-driven leader. These are the habits that carried me through the highs and lows of building a business and continue...
info_outlineThe Fierce Factor with Kaeli Lindholm
In this episode of The Fierce Factor, I’m unpacking the truth about loyalty programs, and why so many in aesthetics are missing the mark. We’ve been sold the idea that memberships and loyalty programs are the secret to patient retention. But here’s the reality: most are designed backwards. They rely on discounts, lock patients in with contracts, and create operational chaos — all while eroding profit and burning out your team. I’ll share what the world’s most trusted brands, think Costco, Starbucks, and Peloton, understand about loyalty that most aesthetic practices overlook....
info_outlineThe Fierce Factor with Kaeli Lindholm
Loyalty programs are everywhere in aesthetics, but most of them are built backwards. In this episode of The Fierce Factor Podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on one of the industry’s most misunderstood business strategies: loyalty and membership programs. While consultants and conferences love to hype memberships as the silver bullet for retention, the truth is, loyalty isn’t built by locking patients in, it’s earned by investing in them. I’ll share how to design loyalty programs that actually drive growth, protect margins, and inspire long-term patient relationships, not...
info_outlineThe Fierce Factor with Kaeli Lindholm
Lately, I’ve felt the weight of uncertainty pressing in from every direction. Maybe you have too. The world feels unsettled, people are anxious, and as leaders, we’re left asking: What does this mean for my business? In this episode of The Fierce Factor Podcast, I’m opening up about the “elephant in the room”—the fear and doubt so many of us are facing—and I’m sharing the five strategies I’m leaning into to lead KLC through these times of external friction. From thinking bigger than my current circumstances, to upgrading my inner circle, to reframing obstacles as...
info_outlineThe Fierce Factor with Kaeli Lindholm
As we head into the final quarter of 2025, it’s worth the reminder that the decisions you make now will directly shape your results in 2026. With economic headwinds, from tariff-related inflation to tighter financial conditions, leaders in aesthetics and wellness must double down on smart strategy, not distraction. In this episode of The Fierce Factor Podcast, Kaeli shares why retail is one of the most underutilized yet powerful revenue streams for aesthetic practices. You’ll hear: How retail can create predictable, high-margin income—even in uncertain times The three most effective...
info_outlineThe Fierce Factor with Kaeli Lindholm
As a founder who’s been in business for over a decade, with a business degree, a passion for purpose-driven growth, and plenty of lessons from the school of hard knocks, I’ve learned something critical: entrepreneurship is the game of no finish lines. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really feels like to scale a service-based business when you are the product. From the constant cycle of solving one challenge only to meet the next, to the energy-draining “owner-as-the-product” dilemma, I want to talk about the part of scaling no one tells you about, and how to...
info_outlineIn this bonus replay episode, I’m diving into one of the most misunderstood—and let’s be honest, most avoided—topics in business: employee compensation.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to pay your team fairly while still growing your business sustainably, this episode is for you. I’m sharing why compensation is about so much more than just money, and how to position your business as a place where top talent wants to work—not just a paycheck.
You’ll hear my five best practices for building strategic, scalable compensation plans, and why it’s so important to think beyond just a pay rate. I’ll walk you through how to craft a full compensation package, and why slow, intentional hiring always outperforms overpaying in desperation.
Whether you’re bringing on your first team member or reevaluating your current structure, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to approach compensation in a way that actually supports your business growth.
Ready to refine your voice and lead with authority?
Join us June 17–19 for the Brand Authority Bootcamp, a 3-day immersive workshop designed to help founders like you align your message with the caliber of your work.
The bootcamp is free for members of the Fierce Factor Society—our private community for aesthetics and wellness leaders building with clarity, conviction, and real strategy.
👉 Not a member yet? Now’s the time to join. Society members receive access to the bootcamp, weekly resources, exclusive trainings, and so much more.
All links below—get registered and come find your voice.
Resources
→ Register for the Brand Authority Bootcamp
→ 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. Chat with KLC
- Subscribe to The Blueprint: Weekly insights for founders building magnetic, trusted, and wildly profitable brands. Subscribe here
Let’s rethink how we build teams—and create brands that people are proud to grow with.