You're working harder than ever… so why doesn't your studio feel more profitable?

If you've ever looked at your numbers and thought, "Where is the money?" this episode will shift the way you think about profit forever.

In this powerful solo conversation, Olivia Mode-Cater challenges one of the most uncomfortable truths in entrepreneurship: profit is not natural. Your business will always find ways to spend money, especially in the name of care, growth, new ideas, team, and upgrades. That doesn't make you bad at business. It makes you human.

But if you want long-term sustainability, profit must be protected on purpose.

Olivia introduces her "Three Climbs" framework: viability, stability, and profitability. She explains why most dance studio owners get stuck in survival or systemization without ever fully stepping into true margin-building leadership.

With summer approaching, she also breaks down why summer camps are one of the easiest places for profit to quietly disappear and how to build profitability into your planning before registration even opens.

This is about more than spreadsheets. It's about stepping fully into your CEO role.

Because you are not a teacher who happens to own a business. You are an entrepreneur.

• Why "profit is unnatural" — and why that's empowering

• The 3 Climbs of entrepreneurship: viability, stability, and profitability

• How survival mode keeps profit off your radar

• What "systems bloat," "tech bloat," and "team bloat" are really costing you

• The different types of ROI every studio owner should evaluate

• Why summer planning must start with expenses and profit margin

• The industry's average profit margin — and why 15% should be your minimum goal

• How to forecast summer camps with clarity and intention

• The mindset shift from "teacher who owns a studio" to "entrepreneur"

• Why progress over perfection is critical for financial growth

If you're ready to stop hoping for profit and start protecting it, this episode is your next climb.

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Register for Stop The Scroll on Wednesday, July 29 in Washington, D.C: https://www.dsoa.com/sts

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Does summer feel like the season where you hold your breath, cross your fingers, and hope fall enrollment fixes everything?

For so many studio owners, summer looks busy. Camps are running, kids are in the building, but behind the scenes, cash flow feels unpredictable, margins feel thin, and there's a quiet anxiety that summer might actually be hurting the business instead of helping it.

In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater is joined by Inner Circle coach and longtime studio owner Annie Leese to reframe summer completely. Annie shares how she stopped reacting to summer and started intentionally designing it, transforming what used to be a stressful season into a reliable, profitable part of her studio's year.

This conversation isn't about adding more programs or working longer hours. It's about meeting families where they actually are, making small strategic shifts, and building a summer structure that supports your studio year-round.

You'll hear:

• Why summer often feels financially unstable even when camps are full

• How Annie designed summer programs around real family needs

• Why small, data-driven tweaks outperform full program overhauls

• How flexibility, aftercare, and scheduling choices impact enrollment

• What it takes to stop taking low enrollment personally and start responding strategically

• How a thoughtful summer strategy can support both cash flow and freedom

If you've ever caught yourself saying "that doesn't work" when it comes to summer, this episode will challenge you to get curious and help you see what's actually possible.

Annie Leese is a seasoned studio owner and Inner Circle coach who has built an exceptional reputation in the dance industry. As the CEO and artistic director of Performing Arts Academy of Marin (PAM) in Mill Valley, California, she has turned her passion for dance and the performing arts into a thriving business that attracts students from all over the region. Through her work as an Inner Circle coach, Annie has helped countless studio owners achieve their goals and reach new heights of success.

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In this clarity-packed episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, host Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with DSOA's Social Media Coach and Manager Sophie Mckie to unpack what's actually broken about social media for dance studios and why working harder isn't the answer.

From Canva templates and "pretty feeds" to random posting and constant second-guessing, Olivia and Sophie reveal why most studio owners feel burned out by social media — even when they're doing "everything right." This episode reframes social media as a system, not a chore, and shows studio owners how to translate the incredible work happening inside their studios into content that builds trust, connection, and enrollment.

You'll hear:

• Why parents don't enroll based on aesthetics or templates

• The difference between having a content problem and a translation problem

• Why random posting leads to burnout (and poor results)

• How a simple content system removes decision fatigue

• What "human content" actually looks like for dance studios

• Why social media should support your business goals — not distract from them

• How systems make delegation possible without chaos

• What changes when you stop chasing trends and start building intention

If social media has ever felt like one more thing on your plate, or one more place where your effort doesn't match your results, this conversation will help you finally see why.

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Watch our video episodes and subscribe on YouTube here.

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Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation

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Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater

In this candid solo episode, Olivia Mode-Cater tackles one of the most stressful realities of studio ownership: summer cash flow.

If you've ever felt that pit in your stomach when June rolls around, this episode is your wake-up call. Olivia explains why summer doesn't create cash flow problems, it reveals the ones that already exist. Through real numbers, real talk, and zero sugarcoating, she walks studio owners through the simple math that determines whether your studio survives summer… or finally thrives through it.

This isn't about fear or hustle. It's about clarity, predictability, and stepping out of the financial hamster wheel once and for all.

You'll learn:

• Why summer exposes cash flow issues instead of causing them

• What your studio's burn rate actually is — and why most owners don't know it

• How weekly expenses quietly dictate your stress level

• The dangerous gap between being "open" and being profitable

• Why fewer summer classes make cash flow problems worse

• How to plan for a calm, flexible summer without panic

• The mindset shift required to stop avoiding your numbers

• How 10 minutes of math can change your entire year

If you want a summer that feels stable, intentional, and aligned with your life — this episode is your starting point.

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Watch our video episodes and subscribe on YouTube here.

Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association:

Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation

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Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater

Do you ever label yourself as "awkward" and then use that as a reason not to take a risk?

In the first episode of Season 6 of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater is joined by workplace performance expert Henna Pryor to unpack one of the biggest hidden barriers to studio growth: the fear of awkwardness.

Together, they challenge the idea that confident leaders "have it all together" and reveal that confidence isn't about avoiding discomfort, it's about recovering faster. From perfectionism and approval-seeking to emotional avoidance and leadership burnout, this conversation gives studio owners language, science, and permission to lead imperfectly and more effectively.

If you've ever delayed a hard conversation, second-guessed a decision, or felt like success still doesn't feel good, this episode will help you reframe discomfort as a skill you can train.

What You'll Learn:

• Why awkwardness is an emotion, not a personality trait

• How confident studio owners build a fast comeback rate

• The neuroscience behind social pain and why it feels so intense

• How perfectionism fuels shame cycles in dance studio leadership

• Why "positive mindset" can actually become emotional avoidance

• How to create psychological safety for yourself and your team

• The role of community in normalizing leadership missteps

• Why white space is essential for long-term resilience and clarity

• How reframing language (like "sacred time") changes behavior

• A simple reflection practice to uncover the stories driving your decisions

Henna Pryor, CSP, is a globally recognized Workplace Performance Expert, Inc. Magazine columnist, and award-winning author of Good Awkward. Known for her science-backed approach to performance mindset, communication, and leadership under pressure, Henna helps high-performing leaders embrace discomfort to drive meaningful, sustainable change.

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hennapryor/

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The Transform My Dance Studio Podcast is entering a new era and you're invited to join us.

This new chapter of the podcast is recommitting to studio owners who want to build businesses that are successful, sustainable, and supportive of a joyfull life.

This season brings a renewed focus on honest leadership, practical tools, and meaningful transformation, without pretending that running a studio is easy.

For the first time ever, you can now watch full episodes on YouTube with new episodes dropping every Monday.

• Thoughtful solo episodes that explore leadership, clarity, and long-term sustainability

• Real-life stories from studio owners, mentors, and coaches who've been in the trenches, sharing challenges and lessons that shaped their leadersip

• In-depth conversations with respected experts offering practical insight for studio owners at every stage

• A video-first experience designed to be more engaging, relatable, and bingeable

Success doesn't have to come at the expense of joy, energy, or fufillment. This podcast is here to help you move beyond survival mode and into a more grounded, intentional way of leading, where profitability and joy can exist together.

Welcome to the new era of Transform My Dance Studio.

Being "good in chaos" doesn't mean you're meant to live there.

In this powerful solo episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater invites studio owners into a leadership reset that goes far beyond productivity hacks.

If you've been stuck in survival mode, constantly reacting, exhausted by meetings, and feeling like your time is leaking everywhere, this episode is your permission slip to lead differently.

Olivia pulls back the curtain on how her calendar once trained her to stay busy but fragmented, and how intentional boundaries helped her step fully into CEO mode. This conversation isn't about squeezing more into your week. It's about aligning your time, energy, and leadership with the version of yourself you're becoming.

You'll hear why discomfort is part of growth, how small weekly decisions shape your capacity, and why studio owners need structure that supports clarity, creativity, and calm.

• Why survival mode becomes the default for so many studio owners

• How your calendar quietly trains you for who you're becoming

• The leadership cost of constant context switching

• Why protecting your time can feel uncomfortable and why it's necessary

• How to design a weekly rhythm that supports deep work and creativity

• The difference between productivity and alignment

• Why "being good in chaos" doesn't mean staying there forever

• How small, repeated decisions create CEO-level clarity and confidence

If you're ready to stop wearing survival mode as a badge of honor and start leading with intention, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

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What would change in your studio if picture day actually gave you time back instead of taking it away?

Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with Lisa Mallis, Co-Founder and COO of PhotoDay, to unpack one of the most underestimated (and misunderstood) moments in the dance studio year: recital portrait day.

What's often treated as a logistical headache is actually a powerful opportunity to elevate your brand, increase revenue, and reclaim your time. Lisa shares her journey from high-volume dance photography to building technology that transformed how studios and photographers handle picture day and why systems, transparency, and experience matter more than ever.

Together, Olivia and Lisa explore how outdated processes create unnecessary stress for studio owners, staff, families, and photographers and how the right workflows can turn one of the most chaotic days of the season into a smooth, confidence-building, revenue-generating experience.

This episode is a must-listen for studio owners who are tired of burnout, overwhelmed by logistics, and ready to grow their business while reclaiming their life.

• Why recital portrait day feels so overwhelming and why it doesn't have to

• The hidden revenue opportunity most studios are leaving on the table

• How systems and automation can dramatically reduce stress for owners and families

• Why "return on time" matters more than return on investment

• How transparency and feedback create stronger studio partnerships

• What recital photos really represent for families — and why that matters for your brand

• How to create an experience parents remember with love, not frustration

If you're ready to stop dreading picture day and start using it as a strategic advantage in your studio, this episode will change how you see it forever.

Discover how studios are upgrading picture day with PhotoDay at photoday.com

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In this raw, honest solo episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater shares something many studio owners feel, but rarely say out loud: she fell out of love with her business.

After years of leadership, growth, and responsibility, the joy that once fueled her work quietly faded into exhaustion, pressure, and misalignment. In this episode, Olivia opens up about the emotional weight studio owners carry, the shame that often comes with success, and the subtle signs that something needs to change before burnout forces your hand.

This conversation isn't about blowing everything up or chasing the next tactic. It's about creating space, listening differently, and rebuilding your studio in a way that supports clarity, sustainability, and self-trust.

If you've ever thought, "I love my studio… but something feels off," this episode will remind you that you're not broken, and you're not alone.

You'll hear:

• Why falling out of love with your studio doesn't mean you're failing

• The hidden emotional load studio owners carry as leaders

• How misalignment between effort and reward drains joy over time

• Why you don't need to burn everything down to rebuild

• The power of people, purpose, and perspective in restoring meaning

• What it actually takes to lead with clarity, sustainability, and self-trust

• How to give yourself permission to reset without guilt

This episode kicks off a new era of Transform My Dance Studio — one rooted in truth, humanity, and helping studio owners build businesses that work for them, not just because of them.

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Dance education is evolving , and studio owners are standing right at the center of it.

As our industry evolves, the studios that will thrive are the ones willing to look beyond technique and toward something deeper: leadership, curiosity, collaboration, and belonging.

In this powerful conversation, Olivia Mode-Cater and Inner Circle Program Director Lisa DeMaio sit down with Alicia Graf Mack, newly named Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, to explore what it truly means to prepare dancers for the future, not just the stage. This conversation was originally recorded earlier in the Transform My Dance Studio journey and is being re-shared to close out the year, as Alicia steps into this powerful new chapter of leadership.

This episode dives deep into what dance education must become in order to truly serve today's dancers and tomorrow's leaders. From pedagogical practices rooted in care and curiosity, to collaborative training models, to the role of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in dance spaces, Alicia challenges studio owners to think beyond technique and toward transformation.

This conversation is about legacy, not just in titles or institutions, but in the ripple effect studio owners create every single day through their teaching, leadership, and choices.

If you're ready to raise dancers who are confident, adaptable, and prepared for a changing industry, this episode will challenge and inspire you.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why pedagogical approach matters more than the steps you teach

• How curiosity and collaboration shape stronger, more resilient dancers

• What it means to prepare dancers for a 21st-century career

• How dance builds confidence, leadership, and life skills

• Lessons Alicia learned from iconic mentors Arthur Mitchell and Judith Jamison

• Why belonging is essential for excellence in dance education

• How studio owners can take practical steps toward equity and inclusion

• Where the dance industry is heading and how studios can lead the way

• Why longevity in dance requires becoming a multi-hyphenated professional

Alicia Graf Mack is the Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and a former principal dancer with the world-renowned company. She previously served as Dean and Director of the Dance Division at The Juilliard School from 2018 to 2025, becoming the first Black person and youngest individual to hold the role. A celebrated artist, educator, and leader, Alicia has performed with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and collaborated with artists including Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and John Legend. She is the host of the podcast Moving Moments and is dedicated to shaping the future of dance through leadership, education, and storytelling.

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