Selling the practice is a big deal, but don’t panic just yet – you’re probably not getting fired! Doctors sell for a variety of reasons, and freaking out at first is normal. But a growth mindset beats a scarcity mindset every time and this is your chance to grow.

An advocate for doctors through complex financial transactions, Bill Walker shares what you should and shouldn’t stress about when private equity steps in, which staff they will want to keep, and what new benefits you can expect from being part of a larger organization.
 
Whether this big change is happening to you now or there’s even a hint of it on the horizon, hear what you might expect throughout the long process of acquisition and the key performance indicators that make investors take notice (and want to promote you). 

GUEST

Bill Walker
Founder & CEO of Aesthetic Brokers

Bill Walker is a seasoned mergers & acquisitions executive and former Marine. As the founder & CEO of Aesthetic Brokers, he helps medical spas, cosmetic dermatology practices, and plastic surgery centers find investors or sell. With experience in due diligence and M&A, Bill has facilitated deals worth millions. 

• Learn more about Aesthetic Brokers
• Connect with Bill on LinkedIn
• Follow Aesthetic Brokers on Instagram @aestheticbrokers

SHE DID WHAT?
Got a wild customer service story or a sticky patient situation to share? If your tale makes it into our "She did what?" segment, we'll send a thank you gift you'll actually love. Promise, no cheap swag here. Send us a message or voicemail at practicelandpodcast.com.

SUBSCRIBE
Are you one of us? Subscribe for new episode notifications and more at practicelandpodcast.com. 

HOSTS

Blake Lucas, Senior Director of Customer Experience at PatientFi

Blake Lucas is all about creating great customer experiences and making things easier for both businesses and their clients. As Senior Director of Customer Experience at PatientFi, he helps medical practices offer seamless financing options to their patients. With a background in training, account management, and leadership, he’s passionate about motivating teams and improving processes. When he’s not working, he’s busy being a proud dad to his twin boys, finding joy in the everyday chaos of fatherhood.

Learn more about PatientFi

Andrea Watkins, VP Conversion Consulting, Studio 3 Marketing

Andrea’s journey in the aesthetics industry began as the COO of a thriving plastic surgery practice, where she gained firsthand experience in optimizing operations and driving growth. Today, as the Vice President of Conversion Coaching at Studio III Marketing, her mission is to make proven best practices in aesthetics accessible to everyone from the front desk to the back office. Through implementation of the right people, systems and processes, she guides practices across the nation to streamline workflows, increase revenue, and have fun along the way! Her true passion is equipping women with the right tools to make the most of their roles and empower them to serve patients and doctors, while creating stable and rewarding careers for themselves.

Learn more about Studio III Marketing

Co-hosts: Andrea Watkins & Blake Lucas
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Aron Devereaux
Theme music: Full Time Job, Mindme
Cover Art: Dan Childs

Practiceland is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Kelcy Heringer asks us to change the way we think about giving direct feedback, especially to those “above” you and even the boss. 

Sure, that sounds really scary. But you’ll find out why you shouldn’t be afraid of it and how to do it in a way that doesn't make anyone think you’re a jerk. After all, it’s called giving feedback because it’s a gift.

Hear Kelcy, Blake, and Andrea’s takes on when and how to ask for a raise (and when NOT to), how to make the tricky shift from employee to manager, and more. 

From navigating the messy world of office relationships to stepping up confidently as a leader, Kelcy’s hard-earned wisdom is invaluable for anyone working in aesthetics from the front desk to the administrator.

• Download Kelcy’s cheat sheet for giving feedback
• Fast-track your promotion & secure executive roles

GUEST

Kelcy Heringer
Business & Exec Accelerator

Kelcy helps high-growth companies and top-impact leaders fast-track growth. Her approach has helped 847+ people get promoted within 3-12 months, and helps hundreds of high achievers confidently grow their careers.

• Connect with Kelcy on LinkedIn
• Follow Kelcy on Instagram @kelcy_heringer

SHE DID WHAT?
Got a wild customer service story or a sticky patient situation to share? If your tale makes it into our "She did what?" segment, we'll send a thank you gift you'll actually love. Promise, no cheap swag here. Send us a message or voicemail at practicelandpodcast.com.

SUBSCRIBE
Are you one of us? Subscribe for new episode notifications and more at practicelandpodcast.com. 

HOSTS

Blake Lucas, Senior Director of Customer Experience at PatientFi

Blake Lucas is all about creating great customer experiences and making things easier for both businesses and their clients. As Senior Director of Customer Experience at PatientFi, he helps medical practices offer seamless financing options to their patients. With a background in training, account management, and leadership, he’s passionate about motivating teams and improving processes. When he’s not working, he’s busy being a proud dad to his twin boys, finding joy in the everyday chaos of fatherhood.

Learn more about PatientFi

Andrea Watkins, VP Conversion Consulting, Studio 3 Marketing

Andrea’s journey in the aesthetics industry began as the COO of a thriving plastic surgery practice, where she gained firsthand experience in optimizing operations and driving growth. Today, as the Vice President of Conversion Coaching at Studio III Marketing, her mission is to make proven best practices in aesthetics accessible to everyone from the front desk to the back office. Through implementation of the right people, systems and processes, she guides practices across the nation to streamline workflows, increase revenue, and have fun along the way! Her true passion is equipping women with the right tools to make the most of their roles and empower them to serve patients and doctors, while creating stable and rewarding careers for themselves.

Learn more about Studio III Marketing

Co-hosts: Andrea Watkins & Blake Lucas
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Aron Devereaux
Theme music: Full Time Job, Mindme
Cover Art: Dan Childs

Practiceland is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

… And other lessons learned growing from a tiny 700 sq. ft. Pepto-Bismol-pink office with three employees to three locations and a team of 90 (with 60 hired in just 14 months!)

This week we flip the script as Andrea Watkins sits down with Austin plastic surgeon Dr. Johnny Franco to hear the doctor’s side of the story following our previous episode with two key members of his leadership team. 

From his unconventional interview tactics to the thinking behind his “champion” system, Dr. Franco lets us in on all the ways he empowers his staff to drive their own growth. 

Don’t miss the heartwarming “She Did What?” story that proves sometimes a little initiative and a trip to Hobby Lobby can save the day.

Subscribe now for more episodes that celebrate the real heroes behind the scenes in aesthetic practices—because this isn’t your doctor’s podcast!


Listen to Dr. Franco’s team on our previous episode: From the Front Desk to Leadership in Record Time

GUEST

Dr. Johnny Franco
Plastic Surgeon, Founder of Austin Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Franco is an award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeon with a distinguished career. He's an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and Austin Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.

Dr. Franco is Clinical Faculty at The University of Texas Dell Medical School and a reviewer for the Aesthetic Journal and Annals of Plastic Surgery.

Renowned for exceptional care and stunning results, Dr. Franco prioritizes the unique needs and desires of each patient.

Learn more about Austin Plastic Surgeon Dr. Johnny Franco

Follow Dr. Franco’s team on Instagram @austinplasticsurgeon

SHE DID WHAT?
Got a wild customer service story or a sticky patient situation to share? If your tale makes it into our "She did what?" segment, we'll send a thank you gift you'll actually love. Promise, no cheap swag here. Send us a message or voicemail at practicelandpodcast.com.

SUBSCRIBE
Are you one of us? Subscribe for new episode notifications and more at practicelandpodcast.com. 

HOSTS

Blake Lucas, Senior Director of Customer Experience at PatientFi

Blake Lucas is all about creating great customer experiences and making things easier for both businesses and their clients. As Senior Director of Customer Experience at PatientFi, he helps medical practices offer seamless financing options to their patients. With a background in training, account management, and leadership, he’s passionate about motivating teams and improving processes. When he’s not working, he’s busy being a proud dad to his twin boys, finding joy in the everyday chaos of fatherhood.

Learn more about PatientFi

Andrea Watkins, VP Conversion Consulting, Studio 3 Marketing

Andrea’s journey in the aesthetics industry began as the COO of a thriving plastic surgery practice, where she gained firsthand experience in optimizing operations and driving growth. Today, as the Vice President of Conversion Coaching at Studio III Marketing, her mission is to make proven best practices in aesthetics accessible to everyone from the front desk to the back office. Through implementation of the right people, systems and processes, she guides practices across the nation to streamline workflows, increase revenue, and have fun along the way! Her true passion is equipping women with the right tools to make the most of their roles and empower them to serve patients and doctors, while creating stable and rewarding careers for themselves.

Learn more about Studio III Marketing

Co-hosts: Andrea Watkins & Blake Lucas
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Aron Devereaux
Theme music: Full Time Job, Mindme
Cover Art: Dan Childs

Practiceland is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Growing an aesthetic practice from 30 to 100 team members in just one year is almost unheard of. Heather Hughes and Jenna Hennig, sisters and coworkers at Austin Plastic Surgeon, weren’t just witnesses to this growth—they were key players. 

Starting at the front desk, Heather rose to COO while Jenna became a high-performing aesthetic injector. But career growth like theirs doesn’t happen by chance. How did they seize the opportunity and rise through the ranks without getting left behind?

Discover how they identified opportunities, proactively solved the right problems, and contributed to building a powerhouse team. From spotting top talent to creating a performance evaluation system that drives results, Heather and Jenna share actionable tips you’ll want to steal to level up your own career.

GUESTS

Heather Hughes Hardy
Aesthetics Sales Specialist

Heather’s passion for making aesthetic practices run smoothly has led her to find ways to improve efficiency, simplify things, and build great relationships within the wellness world. As she's grown in her career, she's developed a unique mix of business and management skills, along with a deep understanding of how things work in the aesthetics industry.

Follow Heather on Instagram @heatherhugheshardy or connect with Heather on LinkedIn

Learn about Heather’s “Core It Method” for aesthetic injectors looking to confidently connect, close more treatments, and build the thriving practice they deserve.

Jenna Hennig, RN, Aesthetic Injector
Austin Plastic Surgeon

Now a seasoned aesthetic injector, Jenna’s career started in women's health as an L&D nurse. Her specialties include facial balancing, tackling cellulite, combining different treatments for high-impact results, reducing sweat, melting away fat, and using biostimulators to fight aging and tighten skin.

Follow Jenna on Instagram @austinbeautyboss or connect with Jenna on LinkedIn 

Follow Heather and Jenna’s team on Instagram @austinplasticsurgeon

SHE DID WHAT?

Got a wild customer service story or a sticky patient situation to share? If your tale makes it into our "She did what?" segment, we'll send a thank you gift you'll actually love. Promise, no cheap swag here. Send us a message or voicemail at practicelandpodcast.com.

SUBSCRIBE

Are you one of us? Subscribe for new episode notifications and more at practicelandpodcast.com. 

HOSTS

Blake Lucas, Senior Director of Customer Experience at PatientFi

Blake Lucas is all about creating great customer experiences and making things easier for both businesses and their clients. As Senior Director of Customer Experience at PatientFi, he helps medical practices offer seamless financing options to their patients. With a background in training, account management, and leadership, he’s passionate about motivating teams and improving processes. When he’s not working, he’s busy being a proud dad to his twin boys, finding joy in the everyday chaos of fatherhood.

Learn more about PatientFi

Andrea Watkins, VP Conversion Consulting, Studio 3 Marketing

Andrea’s journey in the aesthetics industry began as the COO of a thriving plastic surgery practice, where she gained firsthand experience in optimizing operations and driving growth. Today, as the Vice President of Conversion Coaching at Studio III Marketing, her mission is to make proven best practices in aesthetics accessible to everyone from the front desk to the back office. Through implementation of the right people, systems and processes, she guides practices across the nation to streamline workflows, increase revenue, and have fun along the way! Her true passion is equipping women with the right tools to make the most of their roles and empower them to serve patients and doctors, while creating stable and rewarding careers for themselves.

Learn more about Studio III Marketing

Co-hosts: Andrea Watkins & Blake Lucas
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Aron Devereaux
Theme music: Full Time Job, Mindme
Cover Art: Dan Childs

Practiceland is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Talking about money is awkward, right? It’s taboo, it’s uncomfortable, and everyone has unspoken baggage around it. But success in aesthetics requires confidently discussing costs with patients, and being great at it helps you advance your own career.

To help you get over it fast, we’ve invited Janelle Robinson, COO of La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, to confront the when, where, and how of talking about money. Find out how Janelle and her team navigate pricing conversations, build trust, and remove the fear factor from sensitive financial discussions for everyone.

In this deep-dive with Janelle, you’ll get *literally* valuable advice for talking about money with patients, including:

• How to answer those pesky “how much is it?” phone calls
• Why you shouldn’t be afraid to publish price ranges online 
• Exactly what to say to confidently discuss pricing and financing with prospective patients 
• What to do when a patient’s financing application is denied 

If you’re hoping to grow yourself and your aesthetic practice, mastering these communication skills is more crucial than ever  – and this episode will be your best-kept secret weapon.  

GUEST

Janelle Robinson, Chief Operating Officer at LJCSC

Janelle keeps things running smoothly at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre. She's in charge of the day-to-day operations, from handling patient financing to making sure everything is in place for patients to receive top-notch care.

Learn more about Janelle and connect with Janelle on LinkedIn, or hear her on the La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast talking directly to patients about financing 

SHE DID WHAT?
Got a wild customer service story or a sticky patient situation to share? If your tale makes it into our "She did what?" segment, we'll send a thank you gift you'll actually love. Promise, no cheap swag here. Send us a message or voicemail at practicelandpodcast.com.

SUBSCRIBE
Are you one of us? Subscribe for new episode notifications and more at practicelandpodcast.com. 

HOSTS

Blake Lucas, Senior Director of Customer Experience at PatientFi

Blake Lucas is all about creating great customer experiences and making things easier for both businesses and their clients. As Senior Director of Customer Experience at PatientFi, he helps medical practices offer seamless financing options to their patients. With a background in training, account management, and leadership, he’s passionate about motivating teams and improving processes. When he’s not working, he’s busy being a proud dad to his twin boys, finding joy in the everyday chaos of fatherhood.

Learn more about PatientFi

Andrea Watkins, VP Conversion Consulting, Studio 3 Marketing

Andrea’s journey in the aesthetics industry began as the COO of a thriving plastic surgery practice, where she gained firsthand experience in optimizing operations and driving growth. Today, as the Vice President of Conversion Coaching at Studio III Marketing, her mission is to make proven best practices in aesthetics accessible to everyone from the front desk to the back office. Through implementation of the right people, systems and processes, she guides practices across the nation to streamline workflows, increase revenue, and have fun along the way! Her true passion is equipping women with the right tools to make the most of their roles and empower them to serve patients and doctors, while creating stable and rewarding careers for themselves.

Learn more about Studio III Marketing

Co-hosts: Andrea Watkins & Blake Lucas
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Aron Devereaux
Theme music: Full Time Job, Mindme
Cover Art: Dan Childs

Practiceland is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Let’s be real—working in an aesthetic practice is a roller coaster. Phones that never stop ringing, leads stacking up, last-minute doctor requests, and the patient right in front of you.

Welcome to PracticeLand—where we get it because we’ve been there. So have our guests (your peers and the industry’s best). Each week, we share insider tips and straight talk to help you tame the chaos, get sh*t done, and gain the recognition you deserve.

Are you one of us? Subscribe for new episode notifications and more at practicelandpodcast.com. New episodes weekly, wherever you listen.

Got a wild customer service story or a sticky patient situation? Send us a message or  voicemail. If your tale makes it into our “She Did WHAT?!” segment, we’ll send a thank-you gift you’ll actually love (promise, no cheap swag here).