Kris welcomes Vance Morris, former security guard turned Disney leader and successful entrepreneur, for a trip to the happiest place on earth — great customer service! Vance helps business owners get, serve, and keep clients for life through creating experiences and response-required marketing. He shares real-world strategies to delight customers, build community buzz, and drive word-of-mouth referrals.

In this episode, Vance breaks down Disney's hiring and training magic and the "why" behind it, how it transforms the customer experience, the role of linertainment, and how to make operational consistency actually fun, all with a lens on how these lessons can translate to the early education business. He also walks through the steps to Disney-fy your business and opens up about how to navigate loneliness in leadership.

Key Takeaways:

[2:53] Kris and Vance agree — no cell phones out in the water, unless you are playing music!

[7:11] Vance talks about the changes at Disney, including the increase in employees and the impact on customer service.

[15:22] The importance of addressing leaky holes in the business process and improving customer experience through small changes.

[15:30] Gifting and reciprocity in building customer loyalty and trust.

[16:57] Disney's "linertainment" or the entertainment that helps people stay energized and happy while they wait in line.

[19:09] The "what, how, and why" at Disney and the importance of running things on a system and process.

[20:07] Systems give you freedom, and the importance of consistency and efficiency.

[26:43] What we can learn from the hamburgers at McDonald's!

[27:07] Having an engaged team and empowering people.

[32:23] Building trust and reciprocity through gifting and special "thank you" treats.

[37:03] Vance Morris introduces his coaching program and the concept of systematic magic, which helps businesses map out the customer journey.

[39:50] Finding your community when you are an entrepreneur, and the downside to isolation.

[41:50] Vance's Disney event business and the unique experiences he offers, including a nine-course wine pairing dinner.

[50:06] What's next for Vance in the future?

Quotes:

"I much prefer to work with the mom and pop, Main Street business, where we can have an immediate, noticeable impact, not only on the experience, but on the finances and how profitable customer experience can be." — Vance [10:55]

"What is the company doing to entertain you during that wait period and make it not feel so bad?" — Vance [18:08]

"The secret sauce behind all of the experience stuff at Disney is that Disney runs on systems. And literally runs on three words: what to do, how to do it, and why do we do it that way? And everything has a what, how, why behind it, and the reason for this." — Vance [18:39]

"Systems give you freedom. You're not locking down creativity." — Vance [20:07]

"The boss doesn't always have the answers, and asking your employee, well, what would you do? And you'll be surprised a lot of times, because, you know, they're pretty smart." — Vance [25:57]

"Isolation kills entrepreneurs." — Vance [39:18]

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

Vance Morris

52 Ways to Wow Your Customer Without Breaking the Bank

Deliver Service Now Institute

Kris welcomes Ashanti Ordone, the Founder and CEO of Gifted & Talented Academy, and the 2025/26 Child Care Rock Star Award winner! They talk about expanding from a home daycare to three locations, transforming her school's culture, and overcoming challenges in the early childhood education landscape. Ashanti shares her powerful story of building a thriving early learning center, detailing how she developed rock-solid core values and poured into her leadership team, implemented innovative leadership strategies, and turned her school's culture into a model of excellence.

Key Takeaways:

[6:02] Ashanti shares her background, starting Gifted and Talented Academy in Indiana with her mom in 2002. They are family-owned and family-focused.

[6:21] Fun fact! They started with a home daycare and expanded to a center within three months due to high demand.

[14:31] Ashanti discusses her transition from practicing law to early childhood education, driven by her passion for working with children.

[17:07] How Ashanti's legal training and education background have been instrumental in her success in the child care industry.

[18:21] Ashanti talks more about her family and personal life, along with her love of a good beach!

[21:53] What led Ashanti to Kris and the Child Care Success family in 2018.

[23:47] Ashanti implemented strategies from the academy, focusing on core values and culture, which led to significant improvements.

[25:42] Ashanti explains how they crafted their core values: family, education, respect, excellence, and fun.

[31:30] Teachers were involved in the interview process to ensure a good cultural fit, and core values were incorporated into interview questions.

[36:19] They have a core value of the month award to recognize team members who exemplify each value.

[38:21] Ashanti gets candid about the struggles that providers are facing, and the importance of staying focused on your mission and staying on the course.

[42:30] The power of keeping a positive mindset and building with consistency and focus.

Quotes:

"I don't think there's anything more important as a cornerstone, a foundational element to your culture, than core values that you actually live and breathe." — Kris [4:55]

"She is absolutely my why. She is the reason that family and education are so important to me." — Ashanti [10:13]

"I think that that combination of just that core value of education, growing up with a mom who is an educator, and having a passion for young children, combined with the legal training, is what helps me to be successful in business." — Ashanti [17:33]

"For me, I think the biggest game changer that first year was focusing on our core values and really starting to turn our culture around." — Ashanti [26:40]

"If family is one of our core values, then you have to fit into this family." — Ashanti [35:26]

"Excellence, again, means we're a culture of continuous improvement, so we don't settle for where we are right now. Our culture is amazing, but culture is living and breathing, and so we're always working on it, and we're always striving to make it better." — Ashanti [35:47]

"When you feed yourself with a positive mindset and you really spend time working on your spirituality and your growth mindset, it helps you actually prepare for the challenges, be grateful for them, and work through them." — Ashanti [42:43]

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

Gifted & Talented Academy

Ashanti Ordone LinkedIn

Want to stop the revolving door of teachers and create a rock-solid childcare team? Kris talks with Jami Hartmann from Trainual about how the right systems can transform your center's operations. They dig into practical strategies for finding great staff, training them effectively, and keeping them motivated. Jami shares some great insights on getting your whole team aligned, creating smooth onboarding, and using technology to make documentation easier. If you're struggling with staff turnover and want to build a more consistent, high-performing center, this episode is packed with real-world solutions that can help you level up your team.

Key Takeaways:

[5:00] Kris launches her new book, The Antidote to Fear!

[9:02] Alignment is at the core of what Trainual offers, and to think of it as a digital version of your childcare center.

[10:05] The need for operational consistency to deliver exceptional customer service and meet parent expectations.

[10:35] Jami shares her professional journey, including her transition to Trainual, impacting the maternity leave policies, and the challenges of balancing work and motherhood.

[12:35] The beauty of Trainual's supportive work environment.

[17:33] Fun fact — Jami was on Wheel of Fortune as a teenager!

[19:30] Jami explains how Trainual helps childcare centers by providing a centralized platform for documenting and training staff.

[22:09] Graduating from Google Docs and how Trainual allows for the creation of standard operating procedures and having a well-documented and accessible playbook for childcare centers.

[26:33] Successful documentation needs everyone on the leadership team to contribute and take ownership of their processes.

[28:54] More about the AI component of Trainual, including the content creation piece.

[33:31] Jami identifies the top challenges in the childcare industry, including finding and retaining staff and managing parent communication.

[35:47] It can be a red flag when a center has constant turnover and a revolving door of staff.

[41:55] Jami shares Trainual's plans for future product development, including enhancing AI capabilities and integrating with other tools.

[44:33] The feature of a public share link that parents can always refer back to.

Quotes:

"At the core of what we do is really about alignment." — Jami [9:06]

"The inconsistency, or consistency in operations based on how your staff knows the playbook, is the cornerstone for going towards great customer service and giving parents that exceptional experience. It's very difficult to do that if you aren't all on the same page together." — Kris [10:19]

"At the core of that growth is that we genuinely care about our customers, and our success is dependent on our customers' success." — Jami [13:17]

"Trainual works really well for any people-powered business." — Jami [30:42]

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

Trainual

Jami Hartmann LinkedIn

Kris welcomes Josh and Pamela Hernandez, owners of Montessori Kids Universe Stone Oak. The duo talks about their path into early childhood education and opening up MKU, tips for starting out with cash flow out of the gate, and enrollment strategies that worked for them. They also chat with Kris about using referral rewards, how they balance family and business, marketing tools that help them build trust and stand out in their community, the need for the industry to collaborate more, and how they keep their staff happy and inspired.

Key Takeaways:

[5:04] Joshua and Pamela talk about the history of MKU of Stone Oak, and how they got into the ECE field.

[8:58] They currently have 37 team members.

[9:27] The wins and challenges of creating (and keeping) great employees.

[14:50] Joshua and Pamela discuss their marketing strategies, including Google and Facebook ads, and their active presence on social media.

[15:19] The importance of referrals in their business model, offering bonuses for both staff and families who refer new enrollments.

[21:06] Working as a husband-wife team and the importance of dividing responsibilities based on their strengths.

[26:04] Pamela shares her inspiration from her mother, who was a social worker and professor, and her own passion for education, while Joshua talks about his mother's influence and the importance of hard work and dedication.

[30:03] Thinking long-term with employees and getting them in a mindset to stay with the company for years to come.

[34:48] Will an expansion be in the future?

[38:14] Remembering that building something new takes persistence, but it is one step at a time, so keep going!

[40:24] The need for better collaboration.

Quotes:

"At this stage in both of our businesses, we're more firefighters right now. So wherever there's fire, that's where we go." — Joshua [5:11]

"We have a beautiful culture that we've built, and we go above and beyond to show our teachers how much we care and love them, and want them to be a part of the team." — Pamela [10:40]

"We both bring our strengths to the table, and we have created what I feel is a beautiful team of husband and wife." — Pamela [21:39]

"Growth is a process, and sometimes the best lessons come from challenges." — Joshua [35:05]

"Building something meaningful takes time, persistence, and a lot of heart, but it's worth every step." — Joshua [38:03]

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

Montessori Kids Universe Stone Oak

Kris welcomes "The Jens", aka Jennifer House (CEO) and Jenni Grawvunder (COO) of Children's Choice Preschool, to share the remarkable story behind their 12-center child care empire in San Diego County. What started as a nonprofit program with 25 children has grown into a thriving operation serving nearly 1,300 kids across 11 centers (with a 12th on the way) and supported by a team of over 300 staff.

From pet chickens to RV-based school openings, the Jens talk about blending practical business strategy with fun, managing both nonprofit and for-profit centers, building culture through grace and accountability, and how a vivid vision exercise helped reawaken their passion (and their animal sanctuary dreams). They also share some great advice on marketing, building a community, and not staying stuck as a leader.

Key Takeaways:

[8:24] The Jens join Kris from sunny San Diego.

[9:37] Jen House reflects on starting Children's Choice in 1998 as a nonprofit with 25 children.

[10:11] They now operate 11 schools, with the 12th in escrow.

[11:27] Jenni G shares how she started as an aide in 2008 and worked her way up.

[12:28] The hilarious Yellow Pages story of how Jenni found her job and showed up with a posse.

[13:35] They now care for nearly 1,300 children and manage over 300 employees.

[14:25] The pet mascots of Children's Choice.

[17:29] How a vivid vision exercise during a mastermind reignited Jen's goals.

[18:08] Why events, parent engagement, and low ratios keep them nearly full.

[19:56] How they separate their nonprofit and for-profit businesses.

[22:55] Culture tips: give grace, hold accountability, and never stop training.

[23:51] Why adaptability has been key to their continued growth.

[24:05] Their dynamic: Jen is the visionary; Jenni is the implementer and numbers brain.

[26:34] Jenni recalls stepping up as a leader during COVID after Jen's family loss.

[28:18] Jen reflects on shedding the nonprofit scarcity mindset and embracing self-worth.

[30:15] Their marketing strategy includes events, banners, mailers, and constant hustle.

[33:38] Why they gave up enrollment specialists and returned to director-led tours.

[36:02] Jenni's personal journey of staying in California and building a life she never imagined.

[37:33] Their next move? An RV to launch school #12 on the road.

[39:12] The Jens share their fun facts, including chasing cows and running a puppet business.

Quotes:

"I told her, when I interviewed with her the first day, I said, 'I'm gonna run one of your schools one day.' And here I am." — Jenni Grawvunder [11:43]

"You say give grace, but we also have to hold accountability." — Jennifer House [23:13]

"Everything that we do, we learn from, we grow from, and who I am today is because of the things that I went through." — Jennifer House [35:17]

"You're always marketing. Even when you're full, you keep marketing." — Jennifer House [32:52]

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

LocaliQ

Trainual

Children's Choice Preschool

Children's Choice Academy

Kris welcomes Dominique Gill, heart-centered leader and owner of Unique Kids Childcare in Nashville and Smyrna, Tennessee, to share her journey to multi-site child care leader. Dominique opens up about starting as a young mother seeking affordable child care, working in exchange for tuition, and eventually moving from home-based care to two thriving centers. Dominique built her program around love, family, and celebrating every child's uniqueness. She discusses the challenges of opening during the pandemic, shifting into leadership, raising tuition for the first time, and creating a supportive culture where both children and staff can thrive.

Key Takeaways:

[7:00] Dominique talks about her two centers, and more about her background, starting as a teen parent and transitioning to in-home child care due to financial constraints.

[8:41] She describes the evolution of her business, eventually expanding to a licensed center during the pandemic.

[12:28] Dominique is a busy woman! She has a large, beautiful family, including four foster children.

[14:02] Dominique explains the origin of her center's name, "Unique Kids," and its significance in embracing diversity among students.

[15:21] She describes the family-oriented atmosphere at her centers, with herself and her mother actively involved daily.

[15:25] Building a family-centered culture that supports both staff and parents.

[19:37] Dominique's struggle shifting from home-based provider to confident leader of a team.

[19:52] A game changer from joining the Academy — surveys! Dominique talks about how the surveys conducted with parents and staff revealed areas for improvement, particularly in management and fairness.

[20:18] Dominique reflects on the importance of setting clear expectations and contracts to maintain order and respect within the organization.

[21:33] How parent and staff surveys humbled her, revealed blind spots, and strengthened her leadership.

[24:36] Going from people-pleasing to people leading.

[26:37] The hardest challenge she faced was raising prices, and how accountability helped her push through.

[30:23] Dominique explores additional revenue streams, such as hosting birthday parties, offering in-house field trips, and partnering with external providers.

[32:33] Dominique's fun fact: she's shy and introverted, even though she's often on the dance floor at Academy events!

[34:42] How an accountability partner from the Academy kept her on track and boosted her confidence.

[37:34] Dominique's vision: building legacies for her children and creating lasting impact through her centers.

Quotes:

"Find your uniqueness in a world of differences. Our kids are from different areas of the world, the city, and situations, but they're still unique in some type of way." — Dominique [14:39]

"Treat people fairly, but not the same." — Academy Coach Tamina [24:55]

"Having accountability partners was just amazing." — Dominique [27:38]

"Everywhere I'm going is where I need to be, so I appreciate where I'm going and how I'm getting there, and all the obstacles that are putting me through. So I'm grateful for the company and everybody around, because without anybody here, I don't know how I would be able to just get up and keep going, but we are headed to creating legacies for my kids, and that's my biggest thing." — Dominique [37:50]

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

Unique Kids Child Care Center

Kris sits down with Tea Shong and Trina Romanowski, the powerhouse mother-daughter duo behind a thriving, multi-site early childhood business in Michigan. Winners of the Partnership of the Year Award at the Child Care Success Summit, Tea and Trina share how they scaled from an in-home daycare to three high-quality centers, all rooted in purpose and shared vision. They discuss navigating family dynamics, leading with clarity, embedding nature-based learning, and using creative systems like coaching calls and color-coded lanyards, to keep their team culture strong across every location.

Key Takeaways:

[3:26] Kris starts to shift to all things Summit prep!

[7:03] Tea and Trina talk about their family's involvement in education and coaching, blending their expertise in both fields.

[9:03] The business has grown from a small in-home center to a high-quality program with three locations, serving approximately 250 children.

[11:24] Tea and Trina talk about winning the Partnership of the Year award at the Childcare Success Summit, and what that meant to them.

[12:49] Tea and Trina share their impressive fun facts!

[15:55] Their family dynamics and the challenges and rewards of working together in a family-owned business.

[17:08] How they incorporate natural elements into their centers, including outdoor nature trails and using natural materials.

[20:02] Their coaching structure, including weekly Zoom meetings and collective coaching calls.

[21:19] Having a VA to help them with administrative tasks.

[22:13] How joining the Academy helped them.

[27:57] Using a color-coded lanyard system to reinforce core values, and other techniques that have become culture drivers.

[31:52] Running a business that empowers both the staff and the children and their families.

[33:24] Investing in a CRM system.

[34:05] ECE owners are very sometimes reluctant and shy about telling their story, and it's important to know and share yours!

[39:44] Tips for moving away from a fear-based mindset and being able to separate from people that aren't a fit for your business.

[41:27] The importance and beauty of self-love.

[44:08] What's next for Tea and Trina?

Quotes:

"Sharing your vision with your team sets the course, and it gets everybody excited and enthused and energized and in a positive mindset around where you're headed, and that can reduce fear, anxiety and that questioning that goes on in people's minds." - Kris [2:44]

"From being a small in-home center to just basically keeping everyone alive and healthy and learning basic stuff to now a company that's doing all of this curriculum just being that next notch of a childcare center, that's where we're at now." - Trina [10:09]

"Our mission is to ignite the spark. So if that speaks on the passion and all that goes with it, I think that's what truly sets us apart from other programs, and then just really valuing nature as an aspect of our program as well." - Trina [17:08]

"I think we need to give shout outs to this organization. If Tea hadn't talked me into joining here, I would still be the director and drowning and trying. I could never be in the position where I am coaching and inspiring people." - Trina [19:10]

"Be patient with yourself. Do little by little, and keep reaching for those higher goals." - Trina [21:05]

"I think if there's one thing that I can say made a huge difference, the biggest difference would just be investing in a CRM system." - Tea [33:40]

"Knowing that whatever happens to me is happening for me, not to me." - Tea [44:08]

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

Birth Toddlers & Beyond

Kris is joined by longtime friend, business visionary, and rockstar early childhood leader Rachel Supalla. Rachel is the founder of Vision Tree, a TEDx speaker, and the author of The Playful Leader's Toolkit, a book packed with wisdom on leading with joy, grounding, and energy. With 10 schools across Montana and Utah, Rachel shares how she's scaled her business while embracing what she calls "ruby slipper leadership." They talk about managing energy instead of time, why remote teams need tight leadership structures, and how playfulness is more than just dress-up — it's a strategy for productivity. Rachel also opens up about living with ADHD and how it shapes her leadership style, creativity, and drive.

Key Takeaways:

[5:26] Rachel shares her evolution from center owner to coach and consultant, and how joining the Child Care Success Academy changed her career path.[6:36] She talks about scaling rapidly across three regions and how Vision Tree emerged as her consulting and leadership training brand.[9:05] Rachel loves lake life and is a proud mom of four kids and grandma to baby Zeke.

[10:39] Fun fact: Rachel's trip with her grandma (who some thought was her sister) to Ireland at age 13, including a spontaneous solo in a pub, was an early clue that she'd someday take the stage.[12:46] Rachel explains how The Playful Leader's Toolkit came out of her ADHD-fueled trial-and-error experiences, and why she believes burnout is not a badge of honor.

[14:12] Ruby slippers became a metaphor for grounding, confidence, and leadership clarity, especially in high-pressure seasons. Once you've got the right shoes on, you can do anything!

[16:41] Managing energy (not just time) helps Rachel structure her day and lead effectively, especially as a neurodivergent leader.

[20:24] She breaks down the "max of 10" rule for direct reports and why it protects leadership bandwidth across large teams.[24:34] Rachel gives a deep dive into her favorite systems: Playground, JotForm Enterprise, Teachable, and Zapier.[27:16] Playfulness isn't fluff — it's a mindset that supports innovation, brain-based leadership, and mental reset when teams are stressed.[32:03] Rachel walks through her M.A.G.I.C. framework, the five pillars of playful leadership.

[35:40] Doing a TEDx Talk was terrifying and transformational; the unexpected outcome was a deeper conversation about ADHD and leadership.

[39:15] Rachel shares her seasonal schedule, non-negotiables like football and summer in Montana, and the power of team infrastructure.

[41:48] She teases her upcoming course, focused on helping women scale their culture without losing their soul.

Quotes:

"I think that's probably where I learned the most about how to run a remote team, was being an employee for the Child Care Success Academy." — Rachel [7:46]

"You go up the ladder in life when you're succeeding and you're accomplishing, and you get to this level of contribution, and that's the level that I feel like I'm at. And I want to give back. I want to help people do it faster, the right way, from my mistakes. So that's what inspired me to write my book." — Rachel [13:46]

"That's when I'm most productive, when my energy is managed. It doesn't have anything to do with time. You can have time blocked. You can have all the time in the world. But if your energy sucks, you're not going to get anything done." — Rachel [17:46]

"I think that's been the biggest thing, learning to manage my energy." — Rachel [18:29]

"From the beginning, we have learned to automate, delegate, eliminate." — Rachel [21:10]

"Play is not just, let's dress up and have a potluck. It's a mindset."— Rachel [26:15]

"I am very passionate about this playful leadership concept. It's an idea. It's silly to some, it's weird to others, and it's powerful to others. And I really do think that if you embrace it, it's going to change the way we teach children, it's going to change the way we lead our companies, and it's going to make the world a more happy, innovative, creative place, which is what we're lacking right now, and so I am very passionate about that." — Rachel [36:48]

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 Playful Leader's Toolkit

A Quest of Creative Culture Building with Rachel Supalla

The power of play for better leadership | Rachel Supalla | TEDxParkland

Vision Tree

Kris welcomes Gigi Schweikert, CEO of Lightbridge Academy, to explore what it takes to lead at scale and stay grounded in the human side of early childhood education. With 85 centers across the U.S., Gigi shares how she thinks about quality, culture, and decision-making at the organizational level, and why trust is still the best metric. They discuss industry trends, mentorship, and the habits that help leaders grow. Gigi also reflects on what she's learned after publishing 18 books, raising four children, embracing grandmotherhood, and showing up consistently for her team and community.

Key Takeaways:

[6:52] Gigi explains how Lightbridge Academy evaluates quality across its network and why it comes down to trust more than checklists.

[8:52] Gigi talks about her passion for mentoring women in leadership, her new role as a grandmother, and how watercolor painting gives her space to recharge.

[10:54] Both Kris and Gigi reflect on the importance of creating safe spaces where women can speak openly about challenges and goals.

[13:42] Gigi breaks down the balance of running a business with high accountability while preserving joy and mission-driven work.

[16:08] Lightbridge is made up of 20% company centers and 80% franchise centers.

[20:38] The Serene Seedlings rollout program.

[23:50] Gigi reflects on how technology, when used intentionally, can improve connection and enhance the customer experience in early childhood environments.

[25:45] She shares a (funny) standout memory from a speaking engagement in China and what it taught her about cultural differences and the universality of leadership challenges.

[33:51] Kris and Gigi talk about the upcoming Child Care Success Summit, with Gigi returning as a main stage speaker, and why she's especially excited for this year's event.

[41:22] Why you have to spend money to make money, and you can't save your way to success.

Quotes:

"I really see ECE so much as that quality piece, that education piece, that opportunity to make sure that every child gets the best start, from zero to three, zero to six, etc. And so I've always said that early childhood education is the trust business." — Gigi [6:52]

"At the end of the day, when I am out in the field and looking at quality, my judgment of quality is trust." — Gigi [7:56]

"Being a mentor for women is one of the most meaningful and fulfilling things that I do." — Kris [10:37]

"I just want to make sure that I can create a safe space wherever I go, where people can feel like they can be themselves and talk about their vulnerabilities and talk about their aspirations with equal enthusiasm to overcome whatever barriers and boundaries they might have." — Gigi [11:45]

"Families are about love, reconciliation, understanding, and about getting through tough times together, and about having each other's backs and all those things. I think childcare centers are the same. They just look different all over. So my desire, my personal desire and passion, is that every child has access to affordable, quality childcare. I just think it's paramount." — Gigi [19:36]

"I want people to recognize that in so many ways, when you think you can't, you can." — Gigi [35:19]

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

Lightbridge Academy

Kris welcomes the joy-inducing and magnetic Regina Miller, a nationally recognized trainer, author, and owner of Trailblazers Academy in Wichita, Kansas. With nearly five decades in early childhood education and 35 years in leadership, Regina shares fantastic insight into what it really takes to lead a team, stay connected as an owner, and build lasting impact in your center.

Regina shares some great takeaways from her new book Leadership Lessons, including how to hire smarter, mentor without ego, and avoid becoming an absentee owner. Kris and Regina also talk about how to stay engaged, inspire your staff, and create a culture that works, starting at the top.

Key Takeaways:

[5:05] Some exciting new info about the Summit! [7:06] Regina brings more than 47 years of experience in early childhood and 35 years in leadership, with a clear focus on mentorship, literacy, and building long-term community impact.

[8:58] After losing her daughter in 2022, Regina downsized her center to honor her daughter's dream and now focuses on a smaller, literacy-driven program model. [11:46] She has no plans to retire and emphasizes purpose-driven longevity in leadership, reinforced by consistent self-care and boundaries.

[14:13] The beauty of an early wake-up time. [17:02] Her newest book, Leadership Lessons, was years in the making and centers on transparency, personal growth, and lessons from mistakes made as a leader. [20:34] Regina encourages leaders to stop being intimidated by talented hires. She views strong team members as a resource to grow the organization, not as a threat. [23:18] New directors often assume the title alone is enough. Regina challenges them to build systems, listen to input, and avoid siloed decision-making. [25:59] Veteran leaders can become disconnected. She emphasizes the importance of owners remaining present and actively involved in culture-building. [30:18] Regina is deeply involved in policy advocacy and stresses the need for early educators to be consistently vocal with legislators, not just during funding crises.

[34:04] Fun fact: You may catch Regina on the dance floor, and she moved for four hours at her own birthday party! [34:24] Joy and energy are core to Regina's leadership style, and she believes team morale can be shifted through presence, celebration, and meaningful connection.

[36:13] The connection between dancing and leadership. [39:03] For introverted leaders, Regina recommends finding trusted allies, preparing in writing, and participating in leadership through small, strategic actions. [41:54] Regina uses creative, real-world training exercises, like immersive people-watching in Las Vegas, to help emerging leaders build confidence and self-awareness. [45:04] Her upcoming literacy program not only supports child development but also functions as an enrollment strategy by drawing families back into the center.

Quotes:

"I believe that all of us have a part. So there's no better school, bigger school, best school. There's all of us, and then there are all of these children that need us." — Regina [8:43]

"Hire someone smarter than you." — Regina [22:08]

"As a new leader, be willing to listen." — Regina [24:14]

"Leaders cannot ask of their people what they're not willing to do themselves. And a lot of times you can't just delegate that down." — Regina [29:28]

"Once I dance, I make everybody dance. I can boogie off anything you give me." — Regina [39:29]

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

Leadership Lessons

Trailblazers Academy

Funding and Advocacy for ECE, Across All 50 States with Cindy Lehnhoff

Sasquatch music festival 2009 — Guy starts dance party