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Chris Eckels - Cyanna Education
01/11/2026
Chris Eckels - Cyanna Education
In this episode, Nora sits down with Chris Eckels, founder and CEO of Cyanna Education Services and Eckels Ventures. Chris shares how he built a thriving business by solving a problem most people didn't even know existed: translating complex regulatory compliance into streamlined digital systems for the education sector. With experience navigating 17 state regulators and scaling operations across 30 campuses, Chris reveals what it takes to turn paper-based chaos into efficient, compliant technology platforms. He discusses the critical role of strong "number twos" in scaling service businesses, why he evolved from a single-focus education company into a diversified holding company, and how he identifies opportunities worth pursuing outside his core expertise. Chris also shares hard-won lessons about building teams, the shifting expectations of younger workers seeking meaningful work, and why sustainable growth is built on referrals and relationships rather than traditional sales teams. This conversation is for founders scaling service-based businesses, leaders navigating heavily regulated industries, and entrepreneurs building portfolio companies. Key Topics: Transforming regulatory compliance into scalable digital systems Building and scaling service-based businesses Finding and empowering strong operational leaders Evolving from single company to holding company structure Managing workforce expectations across generations Sustainable growth through referrals vs. sales teams
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