When it comes to medical aesthetics, one entrepreneur saw beyond the clinical approach that dominated the industry. Nicci Levy, Founder and CEO of Alchemy 43, has transformed the medical spa experience into something more approachable, lifestyle-focused, and empowering.


Starting from her early days at makeup counters to building a national brand with nice locations across six markets, her journey offers valuable insights for wellness business owners looking to scale while maintaining quality and brand integrity.


In this episode of Growth Diaries, Nicci joins host Sudheer Koneru to share her journey from working at cosmetics counters to building a revolutionary medical aesthetics brand. Discover how she scaled from a $7,000 investment to creating a membership-based beauty empire, leveraging strategic locations, strong referral programs, and consistent customer experiences.


What You’ll Learn:

• How to transform industry experience into a scalable business model
• The strategic approach to launching a medical aesthetics business
• Why membership models work in medical aesthetics and how to build a program that drives 70% of revenue
• How to maintain brand consistency and service quality across multiple locations in different markets
• Why location selection in retail corridors rather than medical districts can differentiate your aesthetic business
• The approach to balancing rapid growth with sustainable business practices in the aesthetics industry
  
  

Nicci Levy is the Founder and CEO of Alchemy 43, a pioneering aesthetic wellness brand transforming the medical spa experience. With a rich background in beauty and aesthetics, including roles at MAC Cosmetics, Calvin Klein Beauty, and Allergan, Nicci identified a gap in the cosmetic injectables market for a more approachable, lifestyle-focused experience.


Starting with just $7,000 in funding in 2016, she has grown Alchemy 43 from a single Beverly Hills location to nine studios across six markets, building a national brand known for its focus on micro-treatments and exceptional customer experience. Her innovative approach to combining clinical excellence with lifestyle branding has disrupted the medical aesthetics industry, while her membership model has proven highly successful, with over 70% of revenue coming from members.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here.


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Tommy Nielsen didn’t set out to run a salon empire. With a finance and consulting background, the beauty industry wasn’t on his radar until an unexpected partnership led him to Rodeo, a bold new salon concept in Denmark.


Under Tommy’s leadership, Rodeo has expanded to 11 locations, attracted over 20,000 members, and redefined what a salon experience can be. In this episode of Growth Diaries, host Sudheer Koneru sits down with Tommy to explore how approaching the salon business like an entrepreneur, not a hairdresser, changed everything, from building an in-house academy and training stylists from day one to creating a membership experience that keeps 95% of clients coming back.


What You’ll Learn:

• How Rodeo turned a simple loyalty card into a membership program with a 95% adoption rate
• Why making salon data transparent to staff became a game-changer for culture and performance
• How creating an in-house training academy solved the stylist shortage and built loyalty from day one
• The role of “The Big Five,” Rodeo’s secret framework for unforgettable client service
• Why efficiency matters more than endless expansion when scaling service brands
• How being an industry outsider can help you see opportunities insiders miss

Tommy Nielsen is the CEO and Partner at Rodeo, one of Denmark’s fastest-growing salon brands. With no hairdressing background, Tommy brought an auditor’s precision and an entrepreneur’s mindset to Rodeo, helping turn it from a scrappy startup into a respected brand with 11 salons, 100+ employees, and one of the most successful salon membership programs in the world.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here. 


Growth Diaries by Zenoti is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Jason Yeats didn't start out in the grooming industry. With no background in hair or beauty, launching a men's barbershop chain wasn't the obvious path. But when a friend voiced his frustration with the lack of great options for guys, a spark was lit. What began as a side hustle quickly became G.O.A.T. Haircuts: a bold, membership-based grooming experience built for modern men.


In this episode of Growth Diaries, host Sudheer Koneru chats with Jason about scaling from one store to over twenty, why unlimited haircuts were a gamble that paid off, and how G.O.A.T. is redefining confidence, from fresh fades to hormone therapy. From creating a culture where stylists stick around for years to expanding into med spas with the same loyal customer base, Jason shares what it takes to grow a brand rooted in service, systems, and a whole lot of swagger.


What You’ll Learn:

• How to successfully implement a membership model in the salon industry
• Why choosing high-visibility locations over lower-cost alternatives can reduce long-term marketing expenses
• How to build employee loyalty through performance metrics, incentives, and clear career growth opportunities
• Why solving a specific customer pain point leads to stronger brand differentiation and market success
• How to expand from core services into complementary offerings while maintaining brand consistency
  
  

Jason Yates is the Co-founder of G.O.A.T. Haircuts & Athletic Spa, an innovative men's grooming brand that has revolutionized the traditional barbershop experience across Arizona and Utah. With a background in systems and process optimization, he has successfully scaled the business to 20 haircut locations and two med spas, pioneering a unique membership-based model that has transformed customer loyalty and staff retention in the industry.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here.Growth Diaries by Zenoti is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Lynn Heublein didn't always know she would lead one of the nation's most trusted aesthetic skin clinics. With roots in tech and consulting, launching SkinSpirit wasn't the obvious next step. However, blending medical expertise with real human care turned out to be exactly where she belonged.


Today, SkinSpirit is redefining what it means to feel good in your own skin, combining clinical rigor with a personal touch that keeps clients coming back. In this episode of the Growth Diaries podcast, host Sudheer Koneru sits down with Lynn to explore how she's scaling a brand built on trust, from investing in the best training and safety practices to creating an experience in the best training and safety practices to creating an experience that goes far beyond the treatment room.


What You’ll Learn:

• How to build customer loyalty through exceptional service delivery and honest expectations management
• Why focusing on the 10-year customer relationship outshines short-term revenue gains
• The strategic approach to selecting prime retail locations that align with target customers' lifestyles
• How to create a sustainable growth model by balancing expansion with consistent service quality
• Why employee retention becomes a critical marketing tool
• How to develop a data-driven framework for evaluating new technologies and treatments
  
  

Lynn Heublein is the Co-Founder and CEO of SkinSpirit, the nation's leading provider of Botox and fillers with over 50 locations. With a background in consumer marketing at Procter & Gamble and Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurship, Lynn pioneered the medical spa concept in 2003 before it became an industry trend. Starting with a single clinic and a $600,000 SBA loan, she has grown SkinSpirit into a national brand backed by firms like GreyLion and KKR.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here.Growth Diaries by Zenoti is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Lucan Salem never planned to follow in his father's footsteps. After studying chemistry and auditing at PwC, the last place he imagined landing was back at the salon his father founded nearly 50 years ago. But when legacy called, Lucan answered. Today, HARI’s Hair and Beauty Salon is a multi-location London brand blending old-school craftsmanship with modern leadership. In this episode of the Growth Diaries podcast, host Sudheer Koneru sits down with Lucak to unpack how he's keeping the tradition alive while evolving the business, from building a training-first culture and empowering stylists as entrepreneurs to introducing wellness practices and a grassroots content movement.


What You’ll Learn:

• How to create a sustainable growth model focused on staff development
• The "Voices of Harry's" framework for empowering staff
• Why continuous learning and personalized career paths are crucial for long-term staff retention
• How to implement a flexible pricing strategy that encourages an entrepreneurial mindset among stylists
• The power of building an authentic community through wellness initiatives and personal development
• Why investing in training academies creates sustainable talent pipelines and organic growth
  
  

Lucan Salem is the Managing Director of HARI’s Hair and Beauty Salon, a prestigious London-based salon brand founded by his father Harry in 1976. With a background in chemistry, business management, and chartered accountancy at PwC, Lucan brought his corporate expertise to revolutionize the family business. Under his leadership, HARI's has expanded to five luxury locations across London while maintaining its reputation for excellence in personalized service and staff development.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here.Growth Diaries by Zenoti is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

When Marilyne Gagné opened her first clinic in Sherbrooke at age 30, she wasn't chasing industry domination; she just saw doctors struggling to manage the business side of medicine and knew she could help. What started as a single clinic with a hands-on founder answering phones has grown into Dermapure, Canada's largest network of premium aesthetic clinics, with 75+ locations and backing from L’Oréal. In this episode of the Growth Diaries podcast, host Sudheer Koneru sits down with Marilyne to discuss her journey from sales to skin, how "positive aging" became her brand philosophy, why empathy is her #1 hiring metric, and how leading with values helped her scale without losing her spark.


What You’ll Learn:

• How to build a successful medical aesthetics business
• Why social media presence should focus on education rather than self-promotion
• The framework for creating a strong company culture that attracts and retains both doctors and staff
• How to balance rapid growth with maintaining local community connections
• Why empathy should be the primary criteria when hiring in the aesthetics industry
• The "Positive Aging" approach to marketing that targets clients 35+ for sustainable business growth
  
  

Marilyne Gagné is the Founder of Dermapure, Canada's largest network of premium aesthetic clinics, which she grew from a single location to over 70+ clinics, generating $200 million in revenue. With a background in business and marketing, she revolutionized the medical aesthetics industry by creating an integrated approach that combines clinical excellence with exceptional business operations. Known for pioneering the concept of "positive aging" and building a patient-centric culture, Marilyne led Dermapure to become the first aesthetic clinic network to receive investment from L'Oréal.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here.Growth Diaries by Zenoti is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

When Shabana Karim launched The Nail Spa in Dubai in 2002, she wasn't thinking about scale. She just wanted to create a better experience for women like herself. What began as a single-location nail spa quickly evolved into House of Enspa, a multi-brand beauty empire with nearly 20 luxury locations and over 500 staff. In this episode of the Growth Diaries podcast, host Sudheer Koneru speaks with Shabana about how she went from educator to entrepreneur at age 40, why empathy shaped her customer philosophy, and how she unknowingly scaled long before she knew the term.


What You’ll Learn:

• How to identify and fill market gaps by approaching business from a customer-centric perspective
• The power of documented processes and standardized training in scaling a beauty business
• Why location strategy must evolve with changing market conditions and digital capabilities
• How to maintain service excellence while expanding from one store to multiple locations
• The critical role of continuous staff development and creating a family-focused culture
• Why staying connected to customer feedback remains crucial even as your business grows
  
  

Shabana Karim is the founder and driving force behind House of Enspa, a multi-brand beauty powerhouse in the UAE. Starting with The Nail Spa in 2002, she transformed her vision for elevated beauty services into a thriving enterprise encompassing nearly 20 luxury locations and over 500 professionals across brands, including Marquee, Ardpar, and Espai. With a background in education and an innate entrepreneurial spirit, Shabana revolutionized the UAE's beauty industry by establishing the region's first dedicated spa for hands and feet, setting new benchmarks for customer service excellence and operational standards.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here.Growth Diaries by Zenoti is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In an industry often driven by quick wins and trendy treatments, Silver Mirror Facial Bar exemplifies the value of a long-term approach. The result? From a single location in New York, it has grown to a successful multi-market business. What's their secret? In this episode of the Growth Diaries podcast, host Sudheer Koneru is joined by Matt Maroone, Co-founder and CEO of Silver Mirror Facial Bar, to explore the company's successful facial bar concept that's revolutionizing skincare services.


What You’ll Learn:

• How to build a successful membership model in the beauty industry
• Why location strategy and smart real estate decisions are crucial for service business success
• How to innovate in a traditional industry by combining technology with personalized service
• Why bootstrapping and taking debt over equity can lead to more sustainable business growth
• How to create a simple, focused service menu that drives customer understanding and business efficiency
• The importance of building community connections and giving back while maintaining business profitability
  
  

Matt is the Co-founder and CEO of Silver Mirror Facial Bar, a pioneering facial services company revolutionizing the skincare industry. With an unconventional background transitioning from the music industry and armed with a Wharton MBA, Matt identified an opportunity to make high-quality facials more accessible, efficient, and results-driven. Since launching in 2015, he has grown Silver Mirror from a single New York location to ten stores across multiple markets, introducing innovative concepts like AI-powered skin analysis and a successful membership model.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here.Growth Diaries by Zenoti is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

What began as a modest clinic founded by his parents is now a 17+ location strong brand built on trust, tech, and tenacity. In this episode, Arpit Goel, CEO of Berkowits Hair & Skin Clinic, shares the inside story of the brand’s evolution—from its humble roots to becoming a go-to name in India’s fast-growing aesthetic market.Arpit discusses how he introduced newer treatments, invested in technology to streamline operations, and built a team focused on performance and empathy. He also opens up about franchise expansion, consumer trust in clinical results, and the future of AI in personalized skincare.Growth Diaries by Zenoti is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

After a back injury left her in constant pain, Shane Evans set out to build the wellness experience she wished existed—affordable, consistent, and high-quality self-care. In this episode, the Co-founder & CEO of Heights Wellness Retreat (formerly Massage Heights) shares how she turned personal pain into a 100+ location brand. From launching a disruptive $49.99 membership model to leading through crises and rebranding, Shane’s story is a powerful lesson in purpose-driven growth. Growth Diaries by Zenoti is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so