BCBAs Who Build

What does good leadership actually look like in ABA?

In this episode of BCBAs Who Build, Dr. Sara Feldman sits down with Megan Shauna Jones, BCBA and Director of Customer Success at AlohaABA, for a candid conversation about leadership, community, burnout, and building a more sustainable future for the field.

Meg shares her unconventional path from aspiring actress to BCBA, clinical leader, and eventually a leadership role in ABA technology. Along the way, she and Sara unpack some of the lessons that come with stepping into leadership, including learning to delegate, admitting when you don’t know the answer, giving better feedback, and creating an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions.

The conversation also tackles some of the bigger challenges facing ABA today, from overwhelming caseloads and clinician burnout to organizational red flags and the importance of looking beyond billable hours when determining what a BCBA can realistically manage.

Meg also shares why she believes BCBAs should stop viewing one another as competition and start treating the field more like a “hive mind,” where clinicians share resources, knowledge, and support.

Finally, Sara and Meg discuss what ABA organizations should look for when choosing practice management software, the role clinician feedback plays in AlohaABA’s development, and why ongoing support matters long after the initial demo.

In this episode:

• Meg’s unexpected journey from Hollywood to ABA
• Learning to delegate and let other people make mistakes
• Why leaders don’t need to have every answer
• Creating a culture where asking questions feels safe
• Giving corrective feedback AND recognizing great work
• Why community matters for BCBAs
• Breaking out of the scarcity and competition mindset
• Recognizing organizational red flags
• High caseloads, burnout, and realistic capacity
• Questions BCBAs should ask potential employers
• What to look for when evaluating ABA software
• How clinician feedback can shape better technology
• Meg’s biggest leadership lessons

About Meg Jones

Megan Shauna Jones is a BCBA and Director of Customer Success at AlohaABA. After years working clinically and in leadership roles, Meg now helps ABA organizations navigate the operational side of running a practice while bringing a clinician’s perspective to the development and support of ABA technology.

Building and growing an ABA practice means managing a lot more than clinical care. From scheduling and authorizations to billing, payroll, data collection, and reporting, the right systems can make a major difference in how efficiently a practice operates.

AlohaABA is a cloud-based practice management and electronic medical records (EMR) platform built specifically for ABA therapy providers and autism clinics. By bringing clinical and administrative workflows together in one centralized system, AlohaABA helps providers spend less time managing disconnected processes and more time focused on their teams, clients, and quality of care.

With tools for scheduling, billing and invoicing, authorization management, payroll integration, clinical data collection, and operational analytics, AlohaABA is designed to support ABA practices as they grow.

Want to learn more about AlohaABA and how it can support your practice? Visit AlohaABA.com.

What does marketing look like when you approach it like a behavior analyst?

In this episode of BCBAs Who Build, Dr. Sara Feldman sits down with Matt Harrington, BCBA andq marketing entrepreneur, to explore how the science of behavior change can be applied to marketing, referral generation, client acquisition, and entrepreneurship.

Matt shares his journey from a traditional BCBA career to building businesses outside of direct autism services and breaks down some of the biggest marketing challenges facing new and growing ABA practices.

They discuss why early-stage practice owners may want to invest their time before investing heavily in paid advertising, how to build authentic relationships with referral sources, why trust is at the center of effective marketing, and how systems and consistent follow-up can turn outreach into sustainable growth.

Matt also shares his perspective on overcoming the discomfort many BCBAs feel around marketing themselves, common mistakes practices make when generating and converting leads, the importance of speed during intake, and how BCBAs can use data to make smarter marketing decisions.

Whether you're starting an ABA practice, trying to grow your caseload, or considering how your BCBA skill set could translate into entrepreneurship outside of traditional clinical services, this conversation offers a behavior-analytic approach to thinking about business growth.

In this episode:
• Applying the science of behavior change to marketing
• Marketing strategies for new ABA practices
• Referral generation and authentic relationship building
• Building trust with families and referral partners
• When to invest time vs. money in marketing
• Common ABA marketing mistakes
• Systems and processes for consistent outreach
• Improving speed and follow-up during client intake
• Overcoming imposter syndrome around marketing
• Using data to guide marketing decisions
• Scaling and replicating ABA practices responsibly
• Exploring entrepreneurship beyond traditional BCBA roles

Connect with Matt Harrington:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-harrington-bcba-8157b11b9/
ABA Digital Marketing: https://abadigitalmarketing.com/

What happens when representation becomes real influence—and professional connection feels more human?

Dr. Sara Feldman sits down with Jeron Trotman and Jordan Gipson to explore how community, culture, and authentic connection can move the field of applied behavior analysis forward. They discuss the experiences that shaped their ABA careers, the importance of seeing yourself represented in professional spaces, and why inclusion must go beyond simply having diverse voices in the room.

Jeron and Jordan also share lessons from building the Black Men in ABA Summit and ABA Versus, including how culturally responsive spaces can create stronger relationships, meaningful mentorship, and new opportunities. The conversation examines the need to invest in RBTs, the leadership skills BCBAs do not learn from passing an exam, and the role joy and vulnerability can play in strengthening the profession.

Whether you are a BCBA, RBT, student, business owner, or ally, this episode offers an energizing look at what becomes possible when people feel seen, supported, and empowered to lead.

In this episode:

• Why community building matters in ABA
• How representation affects professionals and the families they support
• Moving from representation to measurable influence and impact
• Creating professional spaces where people can show up authentically
• Supporting RBTs as the backbone of the field
• Leadership lessons rooted in coaching, feedback, and empowerment
• How sports shaped Jeron’s and Jordan’s approaches to teamwork
• What makes the Black Men in ABA Summit a different kind of professional experience
• Why connection, culture, and joy belong in ABA

BMBA Summit 2026: https://bmbanetwork.org

Jeron Trotman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeron-trotman-644b1b69/

Jordan Gipson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-gipson-bcba-1aa74353/

In this episode, Dr. Sara Feldman interviews Rebecca Womack, BCBA and Director of ABA at Optum, to explore how quality is viewed from the payer perspective, the importance of treatment planning, and how BCBAs can align with systemic standards to improve care sustainability and outcomes.

Topics Covered

• Payer perspective on ABA quality
• Treatment planning and assessment
• Standards of care and systemic alignment
• Data-driven quality measurement
• Provider and payer collaboration
• Site visits and organizational trust
• Impact of systemic standards on clinical practice
• Future of value-based care in ABA

Guest:

Rebecca Womack

Director, Optum Health

LinkedIn

Resources

BACB - Behavior Analyst Certification Board

Optum - Healthcare Service

Summary

In this episode, Dr. Sara Feldman speaks with Kendra Little about the emotional realities families face when navigating autism services, the importance of real-life skills, and how clinicians can build trust and connection with families.

Key Topics

• Family emotional weight and stress
• Importance of real-life skills for independence
• Building trust and connection with families
• Delivering data with hope and positivity
• Parent advocacy and empowerment
• Community-based life skills training
• Navigating IEPs and school systems
• Provider-family relationship dynamics

Guest:

Kendra Little, Founder of Hope & Faith Autism Life Skills

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the podcast and guest

00:27 Meet Kendra Little and her journey

01:25 Families' emotional weight and struggles

03:23 What families need from providers

05:22 Surprises in the autism journey

06:50 Hope during difficult times

08:12 Positive impacts of professionals

10:03 Being seen versus being just an appointment

11:06 Discovering the diagnosis and initial reactions

13:35 Receiving the autism diagnosis

15:40 The mindset of resilience and hope

18:36 Advice to newly diagnosed parents

19:17 Building trust with providers

23:06 Asking the right questions as a family

26:37 Language and communication with families

27:48 Avoiding title-heavy approaches

31:56 Delivering data with hope

33:34 Setting goals and hope for progress

35:23 Community outings and real-life skills

38:44 Parent workshops and advocacy

39:50 Empowering parents in IEP meetings

41:25 Finding your voice as a parent

48:12 Understanding family worries and fears

48:56 Permission to bring authenticity and whole self

51:35 The importance of bringing humanity into therapy

52:20 How families can connect with Kendra

53:41 Closing remarks and contact info

Kendra Little Contact:

Linkedin

Instagram

Autism Life Skills

Summary

This episode tackles the critical issues facing the ABA industry, including recent media reports of unethical practices, profit-driven motives, and the importance of ethical standards. BCBAs share insights on maintaining integrity, navigating ethical dilemmas, and advocating for high-quality, ethical care.

Key topics

Media reports on unethical ABA practices

Profit motives and industry accountability

Ethical standards and oversight in ABA

Strategies for ethical decision-making in practice

Role of BCBAs in advocating for quality care

Chapters

00:00 Addressing Concerns in Autism Services

05:33 The Impact of Growth on Service Quality

10:15 Profit Over Children: Ethical Dilemmas in ABA

14:47 Billing Practices and Their Consequences

19:12 Out of Network Strategies and Their Implications

23:53 The Role of BCBAs in Ethical Practices

27:25 Allegations of Abuse and Accountability

28:19 Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in ABA

33:08 Interviewing for Ethical Practices

37:49 Identifying Quality ABA Providers

43:39 Empowering Families and BCBAs

45:53 Ethics in Practice: Real-World Scenarios

Summary

Dr. Sara Feldman shares her insights on leadership development, emotional intelligence, and creating a positive organizational culture in ABA. She discusses practical strategies from her entrepreneurial journey, book recommendations, and how to foster independent thinking within teams.

Takeaways

Leadership starts with self-awareness and self-leadership.

Ask more questions, tell less, to foster critical thinking.

Create a psychologically safe environment for innovation.

Use curiosity and questions to develop team members.

Promote humility, hunger, and smartness in hiring.

Chapters

00:00 The importance of leadership in ABA

01:18 Leadership as a mirror for personal development

03:00 High turnover and leadership responsibility

04:15 Creating humans, not just ABA providers

05:03 Books that shaped my leadership approach

05:51 The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stainer

06:43 Overcoming the advice monster

08:03 The importance of questions over answers

11:03 Asking the right questions to empower teams

13:13 Psychological safety and trust

14:30 Building leaders, not followers

15:37 Brene Brown's Dare to Lead

19:30 Emotional maturity and vulnerability

21:07 The concept of rumbling and honest conversations

23:14 Creating a culture of psychological safety

24:25 Encouraging respectful dissent

24:50 Patrick Lencione's Ideal Team Player

26:06 Self-awareness and team growth

31:05 Hiring, firing, and promoting with purpose

31:58 The importance of humility, hunger, and smartness

36:08 Final thoughts on leadership and self-awareness

36:24 Permission slip: Curiosity over answers

36:52 Closing remarks and resources

Summary

This episode features Dr. Kristen Byra (BCBA-D) discussing the importance of clinical quality in ABA, sharing her journey, insights on training, mentorship, and practical steps for BCBAs to improve their practice.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to ABA Entrepreneurship

01:08 Journey into ABA: Personal Stories

03:26 The Importance of Clinical Quality

12:39 Navigating the ABA Landscape

17:05 Defining Quality in ABA

22:32 Advice for New BCBAs

28:57 Building a Supportive ABA Business

31:13 Navigating Job Offers and Sign-On Bonuses

32:05 Empowering BCBAs in Interviews

34:24 Difficult Decisions for Quality Assurance

40:52 Taking Action for Quality Improvement

46:29 Building a Supportive Community for BCBAs

50:20 Rapid Fire Reflections and Insights

Takeaways

• Prioritize clinical quality over compliance for better outcomes.
• Seek mentorship and community support to grow professionally.
• Use self-assessment tools to identify and address gaps in practice.
• Treat your first two years post-certification as a pro-tum experience to build competence.

Guest Host

Dr. Kristen Byra

Upskill ABA

Headstart Health

Kristen Byra Linkedin

Summary

This episode features Dr. Sara Feldman, Breanna Holm, and Janelle Wade discussing the journey of building independent ABA practices, the support systems available through Headstart Health, and the transformation of providers from clinicians to entrepreneurs. They share insights on starting, scaling, and sustaining successful ABA businesses, emphasizing community, systems, and provider empowerment.

Hosts

Dr. Sara Feldman, Breanna Holm, Janelle Wade

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to BCBA's Who Build Podcast

06:00 Meet the Team Behind Headstart Health

11:57 The Journey to Building an ABA Company

15:09 The Movement Towards Independent BCBAs

20:32 Overcoming Barriers to Independence

25:55 The Role of Head Start Health in Supporting BCBAs

29:15 Training and Onboarding for New Providers

35:35 Navigating Insurance Complexities

39:06 The Importance of Delegation in Business

40:54 Delegating to Elevating: The RBT Recruitment Process

42:58 Client Acquisition and Support: Simplifying the Process

46:17 Transformations in Leadership: From Provider to Entrepreneur

46:17 Success Stories: Real Transformations in the ABA Community

53:05 Building a Legacy: The Impact of Leadership in ABA

resources

Headstart Health Website - https://headstarthealth.com

Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) - https://www.bacb.com

Guest Links

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarafeldmanphd/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/holmbreanna/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenelle-wade-bcba-744aa1a4/

Keywords

ABA, BCBA, independent practice, entrepreneurship, Head Start Health, provider support, business scaling, insurance management, clinician empowerment

Key topics

Pathways from clinician to business owner

Support systems for independent BCBAs

Scaling and managing an ABA practice

Insurance and billing support for providers

Community and mentorship in ABA entrepreneurship