344. 6 Things Holding You Back from Success—And What to Let Go of Now

In this episode, host Suneera Madhani chats with powerhouse entrepreneur Ailsa Navarro, the inspiring founder of HILI Studios. Starting with just one reformer in her garage during COVID, Ailsa scaled her Pilates empire to eight thriving studios across Central Florida. In this episode, Ailsa shares the mindset shifts, smart strategies, and unwavering commitment that made her rapid growth possible. In this episode, you’ll learn: 💪 How Ailsa turned her garage workouts into an award-winning Pilates empire 🌟 The power of building a strong community and loyal clientele 🙌 Why giving your team the confidence to lead can transform your business 🔥 The mindset shift that helped Ailsa balance motherhood with building a successful business 🚀 The importance of trusting your gut and embracing risk to scale confidently This conversation is your reminder that success is built on grit, consistency, and believing in yourself—even when others doubt you. If you’re ready to unlock your next level of growth, you won’t want to miss this inspiring episode. 💬 Your Turn: What’s one bold move you’re making in your business this year? Tag @ceoschool and @hili.fitness on Instagram and let us know! 📢 Loved this episode? Share it with a fellow entrepreneur and leave a review to help us inspire more women to scale with confidence. (00:01:19) Ailsa Navarro's Inspiring Pilates Studio Expansion (00:03:39) From Home Garage to Multiple Locations (00:09:30) Pilates Empowerment: From Injury to Strength (00:15:55) Empowering Mothers Through Pilates Practice (00:24:33) Transforming Lives Through Women Entrepreneurship (00:27:34) Collaborative Partnerships for Community Impact in Business (00:34:32) Power of Supportive Networks in Success (00:36:42) Platform Transition: Importance of Sticking with Success (00:40:51) Embracing Growth Through Perseverance and Determination Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like you're spinning your wheels? The secret to growth isn’t just about adding more to your plate—it’s about letting go of what’s holding you back. In this solo episode, host Suneera Madhani shares 6 things you must quit to create space for success, wealth, and true fulfillment. Whether you're a CEO, entrepreneur, or ambitious woman ready to level up, this episode will challenge you to break free from bad habits, reframe your mindset, and step fully into your power. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🚫 The #1 habit that’s keeping you stuck (and how to break it) 📌 Why saying “yes” too often is hurting your growth—and how to set boundaries 💡 How to ask for help without guilt (this one is a game-changer!) ⏳ The biggest time-waster in your business (and how to fix it today) 🔥 Why playing small with your goals is sabotaging your success ⚡ How to ditch fear and take bold action—even when it’s scary This episode is your permission slip to stop settling and start thriving. If you’re ready to clear the clutter, focus on what truly matters, and build the business and life of your dreams, tune in now! 💬 Your Turn: What’s one thing you’re quitting in 2025? Tag @ceoschool on Instagram and let us know! 📢 Loved this episode? Share it with a business bestie and leave a review to help more women scale with confidence. (00:08:34) Fearless Growth: Celebrating Path to Success (00:16:20) Delegate for Strategic Growth and Success (00:22:44) Strategic Task Prioritization for Goal Achievement (00:27:06) Significance of Select Validation Sources (00:32:29) Empowering Ambitious Goal-Setting without External Validation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Struggling to get your team to take ownership? Feeling stuck in the weeds instead of leading like a CEO? In this episode, host Suneera Madhani sits down with Lia Garvin, aka The Team Whisperer, to reveal how to manage like a CEO, delegate with confidence, and build a high-performing team that drives results. With experience leading teams at Google, Microsoft, and Apple, Lia shares the exact strategies that help business owners get out of the day-to-day and turn their employees into profit-generating machines. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ The #1 leadership mistake keeping you stuck in the weeds (and how to fix it) 📌 How to delegate without micromanaging so your team takes ownership ⚡ The simple mindset shift that makes team accountability effortless 🚀 Why operational cadences (aka meetings) are the secret weapon of high-performing teams 💡 How to lead without burnout—so you can scale without doing everything yourself 🔥 FREEBIE ALERT! 🔥 Lia is giving away her Action Tracker—a simple tool to help you track, delegate, and keep your team accountable.Grab it here: freebie.liagarvin.com/actiontracker (00:08:52) Strategic Task Prioritization for Optimal Efficiency (00:12:46) Empowering Teams through Delegation Processes (00:19:40) Enhancing Team Performance Through Unstoppable Framework (00:24:17) Punctuality in One-on-One Meetings for Engagement (00:27:48) Structured Meeting Framework for Accountability and Progress (00:30:05) Operational Excellence for Scaling Business Growth (00:39:51) Aligning Employee Roles with Company Goals (00:41:29) Empowering Women Leaders Through Empathy 💬 Your Turn: What’s your biggest leadership challenge? Tag @ceoschool and @lia.garvin on Instagram and let us know! 📢 Loved this episode? Share it with a business bestie and leave a review to help more women scale with confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feeling frustrated with your team or struggling to lead with confidence? You’re not alone—and this episode is exactly what you need. In this solo episode, host Suneera Madhani opens up about the real, messy, and rewarding journey of leadership. From scaling a team from 0 to 400 employees to starting from scratch again with Worth, Suneera shares her biggest wins, hard lessons, and practical tips to help you build a team you love and lead like the CEO you’re meant to be. In this episode, you’ll learn: ❤️ Why leadership is the hardest (and most important) job you have as a CEO 🤝 How to build trust, loyalty, and morale within your team 🎯 The 5 leadership habits that will reignite your connection with your team 🚩 The #1 hiring mistake women CEOs make—and how to avoid it ✨ Why your highest self leader holds the key to unlocking your full potential Whether you’re a solopreneur managing a VA or scaling a multi-million dollar team, this episode will help you step into your power as a leader and build a team that fuels your business growth. 💬 Your Turn: Who’s a leader that’s inspired you? Tag them on Instagram @ceoschool and spread the gratitude! 📢 Loved this episode? Share it with a business bestie and leave a review to help more women scale with confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on CEO School, host Suneera Madhani sits down with Tamara Munoz-Whilden, CEO of Behind the Screens and the ultimate operations expert, to break down how smart systems, automation, and delegation can transform your business from chaos to control. 💡 In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ The #1 mistake business owners make that kills profitability 📌 Why failed payments are costing you thousands (and how to fix it ASAP) 🛠️ The top tools to streamline your business and eliminate busywork ⚡ How to delegate like a CEO and finally let go of control 🔑 The secret to scaling: designing systems that work without you Tamara has helped hundreds of CEOs reclaim their time, build efficient operations, and scale with ease. Now, it’s your turn. Tune in to discover how to stop spinning your wheels and start running a business that actually works for YOU. www.behindthescreensinc.com 💬 Your Turn: What’s one system in your business that needs an upgrade? Tag us on Instagram @ceoschool and @behindthescreensinc and let us know! 📢 Loved this episode? Share it with a business bestie and leave a review to help more women scale with confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most businesses are stuck in a never-ending cycle of chasing new customers, but what if the real secret to growth was right in front of you? In this episode of CEO School, host Suneera Madhani shares a game-changing perspective on business success: instead of constantly chasing new customers, focus on deeply serving the ones you already have. With over five years of running this podcast and building multiple businesses, Suneera has learned that loyal customers are the foundation of sustainable growth—and it all starts with making them feel valued. In this episode, you'll learn:  ❤️ Why customer retention is more powerful than customer acquisition 🎯 The #1 mistake businesses make that drives customers away 📣 How to turn existing customers into raving fans who promote your brand 💡 Five actionable ways to deepen relationships and build long-term loyalty 💌 The unexpected power of small, personal touches in business This episode is a wake-up call for CEOs: The secret to scaling isn't always more—it’s better. Tune in as Suneera breaks down the strategies that every entrepreneur should implement to create a loyal customer base that keeps coming back (and bringing others with them!). 💬 Your Turn: What’s one way you’re showing love to your customers this month? Tag us on Instagram @ceoschool and let us know! 📢 Loved this episode? Share it with a business bestie and leave a review to help more women scale with confidence. Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this empowering episode of CEO School, host Suneera Madhani sits down with Michelle Taylor, founder of Women in Wealth and host of the Talk Wealthy to Me podcast, to discuss all things money, wealth, and financial empowerment for women. From personal money stories to actionable tips, Michelle shares her journey from launching ventures in Florence to becoming a trusted wealth advisor for women entrepreneurs. Together, Suneera and Michelle tackle essential financial topics: 💸 How to develop a winning money mindset 🗂️ The importance of having a financial plan and knowing your numbers 🛠️ Top tax-saving strategies and leveraging your business as a tax vehicle 🏦 When to hire a wealth advisor (hint: the answer is yesterday!) 🌱 Setting goals and creating a personalized "Accumulation Plan" Michelle and Suneera discuss why women must take control of their finances and break through the emotional and societal barriers often tied to money. With humor, honesty, and practical advice, this episode is your guide to financial confidence and building sustainable wealth. 🌟 Don’t miss this transformative conversation filled with strategies to help you thrive in 2025 and beyond! 📲 Share this episode with a Business Bestie who needs to hear it, and tag us on Instagram @ceoschool and @women_in_wealth Connect with Michelle and Learn more at: https://www.talkwealthy.com/ Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ 🎧 Subscribe, leave a review, and stay tuned for more CEO insights next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feeling overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list? In this solo episode, host Suneera Madhani dives into her top five time-saving hacks guaranteed to give you back at least 10 hours a week. From resetting your schedule with a time audit to embracing delegation, automation, and mindful boundaries, Suneera shares actionable strategies for CEOs to reclaim their time and focus on what truly matters in business and life. In this episode, you'll learn: How to perform a time audit to identify inefficiencies. The power of batching tasks and shortening meeting durations. Tips for setting boundaries and protecting your energy as a leader. Hacks for optimizing daily routines, from Sunday planning to beauty shortcuts. Why automation and delegation are game-changers for CEOs. Suneera also shares her insights on creating systems that stick, planning like a CEO, and finding balance amid a packed schedule. Whether you're juggling business, family, or personal goals, this episode is your roadmap to a more productive and intentional 2025. Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Don’t forget to share this episode with your fellow CEOs and tag @suneeramadhani on social with your biggest takeaway! 🎉 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first guest interview of the year, host Suneera Madhani sits down with Brielle Cotterman, CEO of the Influential Leader Agency and President of CEO School. Brielle shares her expertise on personal branding, leveraging PR, and creating impactful thought leadership in 2025. Discover actionable strategies to build your influence, align your personal mission with your professional goals, and elevate your brand to attract soulmate clients and opportunities. In this episode, you'll learn: The foundational steps to crafting an authentic personal brand. How to identify and leverage your unique stories to connect and inspire. The power of local and niche media for building PR credibility. Why aligning your mission, vision, and values is crucial for sustainable success. Tangible tips for earning media and avoiding common mistakes CEOs make in building influence. Brielle also shares her journey as a publicist, equestrian world champion, and advocate for women alongside her role at CEO School. Tune in to start 2025 with a roadmap to meaningful impact and influence. DM Brielle on Instagram with the message “CEO School” for an exclusive takeaway: https://www.instagram.com/briellecotterman Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025 and the first episode of the year on the CEO School Podcast with your host, Suneera Madhani! In this inspiring episode, Suneera shares her 5 New Year’s Rituals Every CEO Should Start to Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet. These aren’t resolutions—they’re sustainable, simple, and sacred habits designed to fuel your success in both business and life. Here’s what we dive into: ✨ Prioritizing rest and recovery for peak performance ✨ The power of daily movement for mental and physical health ✨ Hydration and nourishment as the ultimate energy boosters ✨ Bringing fun and connection into your calendar intentionally ✨ Aligning with your purpose through mindset work and reflection Whether you're out for a walk, commuting, or relaxing at home, this episode will inspire you to embrace these rituals and create a more intentional, balanced, and impactful year.  This year marks five incredible years of the CEO School Podcast, and we’re thrilled to have you join us on this journey. Share this episode with a fellow CEO, leave a review, and let us know which ritual resonates most with you! Together, let’s make 2025 unforgettable.  Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices