In this episode of The Wealthy Practitioner Podcast, Steph opens up about one of the hardest—and most rewarding—parts of scaling a business: building a high-performing team.
Drawing from her experience growing multiple businesses and leading The Wealthy Practitioner to new levels, Steph gets raw about what it really takes to lead at a championship level. From firing team members you love to setting "Netflix-level" standards of excellence, she shares the mindset, structure, and culture shifts required to build a team that truly wins.
Steph walks through the evolution of her leadership over the last three years, the lessons learned from building teams across multiple companies, and how she's now creating her own TWP Culture Memo inspired by Netflix's Dream Team philosophy.
You'll learn how to recognize when someone isn't the right fit, how to elevate your expectations without guilt, and how to attract A-players who thrive under high standards. Whether you're managing your first hire or running a full operation, this episode will challenge you to lead with clarity, confidence, and conviction.
Episode Breakdown
00:00 Intro: why "team" is the real CEO game
00:35 Last 24 months: building team across clinics + TWP (hard + liberating)
01:10 TWP team build story: early hires + expanding key roles
01:45 "Championships" pep talk: playoffs mentality + standards going into Full Send
02:35 Letting someone go: culture fit vs performance fit
03:15 The emotional weight of firing + Kyle's tough-love perspective
03:50 Netflix culture memo: sports team vs family (performance standard)
04:45 Values excerpt: selflessness, feedback, adaptability, excellence
05:40 What she wants post-decision: ownership, initiative, "pick up the slack"
06:20 Complacency risk: when CEO steps back, team can coast
07:05 Leader standard: no waiting for permission—run with ideas
08:00 "MVP" mindset: collaboration + elevating the whole team
08:35 2026 focus: right people > more people (A-players only)
09:15 Reminder: team = freedom; mismatch means hard conversations
10:05 Reframe: letting someone go helps them find alignment too
10:35 "Stranded island" filter: who's resourceful enough for the mission
10:52 Outro
Key Takeaways
- Your team determines your freedom. You can't scale or lead without people who are fully bought into your mission.
- Set standards that feel uncomfortable. Leadership means making decisions most people won't.
- You attract what you embody. If you want A-players, show up like an A-player.
- Culture isn't perks—it's performance. Build a professional sports team, not a family.
- Letting go isn't cruel—it's kind. Releasing the wrong person creates alignment for everyone involved.
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