Diamond Hands Podcast with Leslie Tracey

Note: This conversation is for educational purposes only. Consult qualified professionals before making organizational or capital decisions.   Why do so many practice owners and corporate leaders treat their teams as cogs in a machine, chase quick revenue, and struggle with turnover, yet wonder why they never build sustainable, high-growth organizations?   In this episode, Leslie Tracey sits down with Aaron Burton, CEO of Sciton. Aaron worked his way up through the ranks at Sciton before being appointed CEO in 2020. He explains why leadership is rarely taught in traditional academic settings and how running an aesthetic device manufacturer that serves more than 45 countries like a family creates a lasting competitive advantage.   Aaron outlines the core tenets of Sciton’s leadership philosophy and explains why servant leadership, candor, and a single overarching policy, “Do the right thing,” outperform rigid corporate bureaucracy. He also covers protecting culture during hypergrowth, letting go of a top-performing sales rep who did not fit the culture, and why practice owners must put team environment ahead of short-term revenue.   Together, Leslie and Aaron cover the four daily pillars of success (Mindset, Grit, Service, and Results) and how small practice owners can apply the same executive principles to build resilient teams and long-term business value.  🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube  🔗 Resources & Links 👤 Connect with Our Guest Aaron Burton 💼 LinkedIn: Aaron Burton on LinkedIn 🌐 Company Website: Sciton Official Site Sciton Credo and Sciton Values 📚 Recommended Reading Mentioned in Episode: No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins  Remember:  "Your team doesn’t work for you; you work for them. Focus on your people over money, build a culture rooted in doing the right thing, and the long-term results will follow." — Aaron Burton  Enjoyed This Episode? If this episode resonated with you, share it with a practice owner, executive, manager, or team leader looking to build an authentic culture, lead with gratitude, and elevate team performance. 🎙️ To connect with your host, Leslie Tracey (Founder, Diamond Hands Media | Author | GAIN Business Faculty): 📸 Instagram: @leslietracey_  Disclaimer: This conversation is for educational and informative purposes only and is not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Business strategies, executive leadership frameworks, human resource practices, and equipment investments vary by practice size, location, and regulatory jurisdiction, and individual results are not guaranteed. Views reflect the guest’s experience, and the businesses and books mentioned are not endorsements. Consult qualified legal, financial, and practice management professionals before restructuring an organization or making capital purchases. 

Note: This conversation is for educational purposes only. Consult qualified professionals before making operational or brand decisions. Why do so many aesthetic practices and solo providers chase new leads, run short-term discount campaigns, and stress over empty appointment slots, yet overlook the touchpoints that build long-term patient retention? In this episode, Leslie Tracey sits down with Chris and Victoria Boyle, the husband-and-wife team behind Optimized Aesthetics and Skin By You. Victoria is a master-level HydraFacialist with nearly a decade of clinical experience, a former HydraFacial Advisory Board member, and the founder of Skin By You in Arizona. Chris is Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy, with a background in business development, media, and cinematography. Chris and Victoria trace their journey from filming treatment clips in their Florida living room and working through early business debt to building a multi-entity aesthetic business. Victoria shares how front desk roles built her client management skills, while Chris explains how firm authority and clear expectations drive retention before a patient sets foot in the treatment room. Together, Leslie, Chris, and Victoria cover the shift from scarcity-driven upselling to abundance-driven rebooking, how to systematize soft skills and social awareness, and why protecting brand integrity over short-term cash preserves long-term community trust. 🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube   🔗 Resources & Links 👥 Connect with Our Guests Chris & Victoria Boyle 📸 Victoria's Instagram (Skin By You): @skinbyyouaz 📸 Optimized Aesthetics Instagram: @optimizedaesthetics 🌐 Official Website & Inner Circle Community: Optimized Aesthetics 🎙️ Listen to Their Show: Optimized Aesthetics Podcast (150+ Episodes) Remember: “Don’t ask your clients if they want to rebook; direct them on when they need to come back. Stop overselling out of scarcity, protect your community trust, and build a business that serves your clients for ten years, not two.” — Chris and Victoria Boyle Enjoyed This Episode? If this episode resonated, share it with an esthetician, practice owner, or team member looking to improve client retention, build consultation authority, and grow an authentic personal brand. 🎙️ To connect with your host, Leslie Tracey (Founder, Diamond Hands Media | Author | GAIN Business Faculty): 📸 Instagram: @leslietracey_ Disclaimer: This conversation is for educational and informative purposes only and is not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Business strategies, client management protocols, pricing structures, and educational offerings vary by practice size, location, and regulatory jurisdiction, and individual results are not guaranteed. Views reflect the guests’ experience, and the businesses, programs, and products mentioned are not endorsements. Consult qualified legal, financial, and practice management professionals before making operational or brand expansion decisions. If you understand brand, story, and distribution, you can build anything in this industry.Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly strategy for aesthetic founders & healthcare CEOs:🔗 https://www.leslietracey.com/Work with my team at Diamond Hands Media:🔗 https://diamondhandsmedia.com(Healthcare video marketing, executive brand strategy, and branded patient journeys for leaders who want to dominate their market.)––– My Book –––Be Intentional or Be Irrelevant🔗 https://a.co/d/fE8DuQoSource paper: https://arxiv.org/html/2510.14223v1

Note: This conversation is for educational purposes only. Consult qualified professionals before making capital, hiring, or operational decisions.   What does it take to move from high-stakes clinical decisions to a scalable, data-driven practice?   In this episode, Leslie Tracey sits down with Dr. Chris Croley: board-certified anesthesiologist, critical care specialist, co-founder of Skin & Tonic in Florida, Chief Medical Officer at Empire Medical Training, and author of The MedSpa Startup Playbook: From Injector to CEO. He shares his path from academic medicine and ICU residency simulation research to launching an aesthetic enterprise with his husband, Jerry.   He explains what clinical training leaves out, including pricing confidence, contribution margins, and the discomfort of cash-pay transactions, and how to structure visionary, managerial, and technical roles, balance room utilization against equipment investment, and align team goals with growth.   Together, Leslie and Dr. Croley cover the five key performance indicators (KPIs) every practice owner should track, how to build a business that supports personal freedom, and why early infrastructure prevents burnout and operational failure.  🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube     Resources & Links 👤 Connect with Our Guest Dr. Chris Croley 📸 Instagram: @drcroley 🌐 Practice Website: Skin & Tonic 👨‍⚕️ Personal & Consulting Website: Dr. Chris Croley Official 📖 Featured Book: The MedSpa Startup Playbook: From Injector to CEO (Available on Amazon & Kindle) Remember: "Treat your business metrics like vital signs on an ICU monitor. Take the emotion out of pricing, build systems that offset your personal blind spots, and never lose sight of the life you built your business to support." - Dr. Chris Croley  Enjoyed This Episode? If this episode resonated, share it with a clinician, injector, plastic surgeon, or practice owner looking to build sustainable infrastructure, track key metrics, and move from injector to CEO. 🎙️ To connect with your host, Leslie Tracey (Founder, Diamond Hands Media | Author | GAIN Business Faculty): 📸 Instagram: @leslietracey__  Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Business practices, pricing, compliance requirements, and clinical protocols vary by practice, location, and jurisdiction, and individual results are not guaranteed. Views reflect the guest’s experience, and the book and businesses mentioned are not endorsements. Consult qualified legal, financial, and practice management professionals before making capital purchases, hiring, or operational changes.   

Note: This conversation is for educational purposes only. Consult qualified legal, financial, and practice management professionals before making operational, branding, or marketing changes.   Why do so many aesthetic practices post consistently, invest in professional photography, and chase social media trends, yet see no increase in patient bookings?   In this episode, Leslie Tracey sits down with Libby Dysart: social media strategist, brand manager, co-founder of Resculpt Aesthetics in Georgetown, DC, brand architect for Injector Bunny, and member of the Moxie Aesthetics Business Advisory Board. Libby shares her journey from working the front desk and managing medspas in late 2017 to shaping multi-provider brand architectures and international speaking engagements.   Libby explains why a practice’s first impression has moved from the reception desk to digital touchpoints, and how to align online brand promises with real-world patient care. She shares her empathetic approach to patient resolution and service recovery, how to build an abundance-driven culture that supports each provider’s identity, and why AI-generated media threatens genuine human connection.   Together, Leslie and Libby explore the shift from broad, diluted posting to focused channel strategies, a clear blueprint for practice owners who want to turn social engagement into long-term patient trust and filled chairs.  🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube    🔗 Resources & Links 👤 Connect with Our Guest Libby Dysart 📸 Instagram: @socialbylibby 🏥 Practice Website: Resculpt Aesthetics  Remember: “Come to the table full. Stop trying to be on every platform under the sun, diluting your message and burning yourself out. Prioritize one or two channels, showcase your real human personality, and build a brand that aligns with who you actually are in clinic.”  — Libby Dysart  Enjoyed This Episode? If this episode resonated with you, share it with a practice owner, injector, or manager looking to cut through social media noise, protect patient trust, and build an authentic brand.  🎙️ To connect with your host, Leslie Tracey (Founder, Diamond Hands Media | Author | GAIN Business Faculty): 📸 Instagram: @leslietracey_  Disclaimer: The conversation in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Brand, marketing, and social media strategies, patient-resolution and service-recovery approaches, and team compensation and culture practices vary by practice size, geographic location, and regulatory jurisdiction. Business and brand views reflect the guest’s experience, and individual results are not guaranteed. Practices, brands, and organizations mentioned are included for discussion, not as endorsements. Always consult qualified legal, financial, and practice management professionals before making operational, branding, or marketing changes.  

 Note: This conversation is for educational purposes only. Consult qualified medical professionals before implementing any new injection techniques, treatment-planning approaches, or training programs.   Why does authority in medical aesthetics come from clinical outcomes, anatomical education, and consistent reputation rather than social media clout and vanity metrics? In this episode, Leslie Tracey sits down with dear friend Simone “Queen” Steele, PA-C, MHS: Founder and CEO of Queen Aesthetics Wellness and Beauty Studio in Houston, Texas, national trainer, medspa consultant, and creator of Simply Shady Sunscreen. Simone shares her path from collegiate basketball captain and class president to surgical PA and aesthetic practice owner, and how leadership and high standards shape every part of her patient care. Simone explains how she built a sustainable practice from the ground up, choosing “boots on the ground” community building over expensive, overpromised digital marketing. She walks through her patient-first consultation approach, why small-cohort training beats high-volume edutainment, and how she developed Simply Shady Sunscreen to address a gap in photoprotection for melanin-rich skin. Together, Leslie and Simone discuss the danger of chasing trends in aesthetic medicine, the need to master cadaveric anatomy, and why competence must come before clout.  🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube    🔗 Resources & Links 👤 Connect with Our Guest Simone “Queen” Steele, PA-C 📸 Instagram: @queen.aestheticshtx 🌐 Practice Website: Queen Aesthetics Wellness & Beauty Studio ☀️ Featured Product: Simply Shady Sunscreen  Remember: “Competence before clout, every single time. Trends come and go, but anatomy and consistency don’tchange. Focus on your craft, treat your practice with discipline, and your outcomes will outlast any algorithm.”  — Simone “Queen” Steele, PA-C  Enjoyed This Episode? If this episode resonated with you, share it with a clinician, injector, or practice owner committed to upholding high anatomical standards, patient safety, and genuine clinical competence. 🎙️ To connect with your host, Leslie Tracey (Founder, Diamond Hands Media | Author | GAIN Business Faculty): 📸 Instagram: @leslietracey_  Disclaimer: The conversation in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, medical, surgical, or financial advice. Techniques, standards, and scope of practice vary by provider, patient, and jurisdiction, and individual results are not guaranteed. Simply Shady Sunscreen is the guest’s product and is mentioned for discussion, not as an endorsement or recommendation. Consult qualified medical, legal, and financial professionals before acting on anything discussed.

Note: This conversation is for educational purposes only. Consult qualified medical professionals before implementing any new procedural techniques, laser safety protocols, or equipment purchases.  Why do clinical trials miss what combination therapies really do, and what separates evidence-based authority from influencer-driven visibility?  In this episode, Leslie Tracey sits down with longtime friend Dr. Joel Cohen, Director of AboutSkin Dermatology and DermSurgery, board-certified dermatologist, and fellowship-trained laser, aesthetic, and Mohs surgeon. With more than 320 published articles and book chapters, he shows clinicians how to turn the literature into long-lasting results.  Known as "Safety Joel," Dr. Cohen lays out the standards behind his practice and research unit, from optical wavelength verification to foot-pedal isolation, and how he evaluates new energy-based equipment.  They also get into running clinical trial days, vetting device updates, and spotting unmet patient needs, from green-tinted post-resurfacing sunscreens to new combination modalities.  🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube    🔗 Resources & Links 👤 Connect with Our Guest Dr. Joel Cohen 💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Joel Cohen on LinkedIn 🌐 Practice Website: AboutSkin Dermatology & DermSurgery Remember: “When you walk into the room with a patient, be completely present. Turn off the cell phone, eliminatedistractions, and focus on what matters to them. Real authority is built on evidence, patient safety, and delivering meaningful, reproducible outcomes.”  — Dr. Joel Cohen  Enjoyed This Episode? If this episode resonated with you, share it with a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, clinician, or practice manager looking to elevate their safety standards, evaluate capital equipment objectively, and incorporate evidence-based combination therapies. 🎙️ To connect with your host, Leslie Tracey (Founder, Diamond Hands Media | Author | GAIN Business Faculty): 📸 Instagram: @leslietracey_  Disclaimer: The content in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, medical, surgical, or financial advice. Clinical protocols, outcomes, and candidacy vary by provider, patient profile, and jurisdiction. Laser safety standards, device settings, and combination protocols vary by manufacturer, facility, and regulatory requirements. Individual results are not guaranteed. Always consult qualified medical, legal, and financial professionals before implementing new procedural techniques, purchasing equipment, or adopting business strategies.  

Note: For educational purposes only. Consult a qualified legal professional before negotiating or executing any contracts. What actually happens when a medical aesthetic provider or clinician signs a brand deal without understanding usage rights, exclusivity clauses, or the true value of their licensed credibility? In this episode, Leslie Tracey sits down with Kameron Buckner, Esq., attorney, content creator with over 200K followers across platforms, and founder of Social Docket. Over five years, Kameron has advised hundreds of creators on contracts, negotiations, and brand partnerships, helping them secure higher-paying deals and protect their work. She breaks down the legal fine print clinicians miss when partnering with device, skincare, and medical supply companies — how usage rights, paid-ad whitelisting, and broad exclusivity clauses lock providers out of future revenue, dilute brand equity, and create uncompensated liability. Together, Leslie and Kameron cover digital leverage, content ROI tracking across the full funnel, and how an AI-powered legal infrastructure protects intellectual property without the admin burden. 🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 🔗 Resources & Links 👤 Connect with Our Guest Kameron Buckner, Esq. 💼 LinkedIn: Kameron Buckner on LinkedIn 📸 Instagram: @kameronbuckner  Remember: “You are the leverage. The creator economy doesn’t run without creators. Never give away perpetual usage rights or broad exclusivity without getting paid for the future revenue you’re sacrificing.” — Kameron Buckner, Esq.  Enjoyed This Episode? If this episode resonated with you, share it with a clinician, injector, or creator looking to protect their content, understand usage rights, and negotiate brand partnerships with legal confidence.  🎙️ To connect with your host, Leslie Tracey (Founder, Diamond Hands Media | Author | GAIN Business Faculty): 📸 Instagram: @leslietracey_  Disclaimer:  The content in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, medical, surgical, or financial advice. Clinical protocols, outcomes, and candidacy vary by provider, patient profile, and jurisdiction. Individual results are not guaranteed. Always consult qualified medical, legal, and financial professionals before implementing new procedural techniques or business strategies. 

Note: This conversation is for educational purposes only. Consult qualified medical professionals before implementing any new procedural techniques.  What does it take to move beyond the needle, rethink how the face ages, and build entirely new aesthetic categories?  In this episode, Leslie Tracey sits down with Dr. Yan Trokel, board-certified maxillofacial surgeon, founder of the Y LIFT Network, and creator of the Y LIFT, SurgiLIFT, Chiseled, and Silhouette. Trained at Columbia University and UT Southwestern, his work in facial reconstructive surgery became the foundation for a different way of thinking about aesthetics. Dr. Trokel argues that surface-level filler was never the answer. He explains the bio-mechanical case for closed-space bone-level volumization and details how intramuscular biostimulators and GLP-1 shifts restore sculpted contours without surgery — not as trends, but as logical extensions of how the face actually ages. That thinking built VASTOZ, a conference designed not to inspire but to implement. Better judgment, better outcomes, and systems that actually scale. Leslie and Dr. Trokel get into what scaling really means and why quality control is the only answer — rigorous enough that any practitioner can reach a safe, repeatable standard before personal judgment ever enters the room.  🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube    🔗 Resources & Links 👤 Connect with Our Guest Dr. Yan Trokel 📸 Instagram: @yantrokelmd[Text Wrapping Break] 🌐 Y LIFT Official Website: ylift.com[Text Wrapping Break] 🏥 VASTOZ Conference: November 13–14 at The Pierre Hotel, New York City  Remember: "Outcomes are what we sell, not just products. Growth is pain, and failure is growth—if you learn from it. In aesthetics, 99% is scientific protocol and 1% is artistic flair. Real structural transformation happens when you restore the foundation from the inside out." — Dr. Yan Trokel  Enjoyed This Episode? If this episode resonated with you, share it with a clinician, surgeon, or practice owner looking to elevate their structural techniques, incorporate body harmonization, and deliver total-patient regenerative care.  🎙️ To connect with your host, Leslie Tracey (Founder, Diamond Hands Media | Author | GAIN Business Faculty): 📸 Instagram: @leslietracey__  Disclaimer: The content in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, medical, surgical, or financial advice. Clinical protocols, outcomes, and candidacy vary by provider, patient profile, and jurisdiction. Individual results are not guaranteed. Always consult qualified medical, legal, and financial professionals before implementing new procedural techniques or business strategies. 

What does it take to leave the helm of big-brand aesthetic marketing, walk away from corporate security, and co-found a practice that scaled into a multi-state, influential brand? In this episode, Leslie Tracey sits down with Jake Laban, former US Head of Aesthetic Portfolio Marketing at Allergan and co-founder of Skin by Lovely, alongside his wife, Lovely Laban, GNP-C, MSN. Jake shares the unfiltered story of leaving a senior corporate career during the 2008 financial crisis to build an injectable-only clinic in Santa Monica that grew into a multi-location powerhouse across California, Oregon, and Washington. Jake shares the true cost of taking the entrepreneurial leap, contrasting the illusion of corporate job security with the daily realities of running a P&L where revenue is vanity, and margin is sanity. He candidly shares the hard-learned lessons of scaling, including the operational mistakes of running a “20 million-dollar non-profit,” the nuances of transitioning to an employee-owned model, and why shifting from a culture of entitlement to joint accountability saved their business. Together, Leslie and Jake discuss the power of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), the critical need for documented SOPs, and why the future of aesthetic practice longevity lies in balancing high-touch patient trust with operational discipline.  🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube     Resources & Links 👤 Connect with Our Guest Jake Laban 💼 LinkedIn: Jake Laban on LinkedIn 🌐 Practice Website: Skin by Lovely 🎙️ Podcast: Injecting Leadership Podcast (Co-hosted with Todd Reed) 📚 Mentioned Literature & Frameworks: Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business (EOS) by  Gino Wickman | Uncommon Accountability by Brian P. Moran  Remember: "Revenue is vanity, and margin is sanity. Scaling and trust aren't mutually exclusive, they must be built together. Take emotion out of management by setting clear policies, written expectations, and joint accountability."  — Jake Laban  Enjoyed This Episode? If this episode resonated with you, share it with a clinician, practice owner, or aesthetic entrepreneur looking to scale sustainably, build strong operational systems, and foster a culture of accountability. 🎙️ To connect with your host, Leslie Tracey (Founder, Diamond Hands Media | Author | GAIN Business Faculty): 📸 Instagram: @leslietracey_ 

What is the actual financial cost when an aesthetic practice operates across five fragmented technology systems, and why do conventional lead follow-up workflows fail to capture modern consumer demand? In this episode, Leslie Tracey sits down with Shannon Blake, Director of Aesthetic Partnerships at Podium, who has spent over six and a half years leading Podium’s expansion into the medical aesthetics vertical. Shannon breaks down the operational reality facing practice managers and patient care teams who waste hours daily toggling between disconnected EMRs, CRMs, phone systems, and texting platforms. Shannon shares data from secret-shopping studies across hundreds of practices, contrasting average after-hours response times (over eight hours) with the modern consumer expectation of two minutes or less. She explains how AI-driven operating systems — when properly trained on practice-specific SOPs and brand voice — can convert cold leads, automate appointment reminders, and mine dormant patient databases for high-margin treatments without compromising patient experience. Together, Leslie and Shannon detail the dark work required for successful AI implementation, the boundaries between automated messaging and human clinical consultation, and the essential questions practice owners must ask technology vendors regarding HIPAA compliance, self-training capabilities, and platform maturity. 🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube   🔗 Resources & Links 👤 Connect with Our Guest Shannon Blake 💼 LinkedIn: Shannon Blake on LinkedIn 🌐 Company Website: Podium Aesthetics Solutions “AI employees don’t come out of the box ready to slay it for you. Garbage in, garbage out. If you take the time to document your SOPs, brand voice, and protocols, an AI agent will work tirelessly to capture every single lead and mine lost revenue sitting in your database.”   - Shannon Blake Enjoyed This Episode? If this episode resonated with you, share it with a practice owner, office manager, or patient care coordinator looking to eliminate fragmented software, decrease lead response times, and scale practice revenue with AI-driven workflows. 🎙️ To connect with your host, Leslie Tracey (Founder, Diamond Hands Media | Author | GAIN Business Faculty): 📸 Instagram: @leslietracey_