The Connector

Cosmetology education is facing major changes. Penny Burns, founder and CEO of Beautycast Network, joins us to discuss the challenges facing cosmetology schools, the growing role of public education, and why stronger connections between schools and salons are essential to developing the next generation of beauty professionals.

ICA's Gordon Miller explores five trends shaping the salon industry, drawing on the KIM Report’s transactional data. This episode connects the ever-changing data to business trends, plus a look at changing consumer behavior and what it means for salon owners.

Salon owner and employment-based salon evangelist Phil Santos joins Gordon for a candid conversation about commissions, leadership, and growing stronger businesses. Passionate and outspoken, Phil challenges industry narratives and explains why investing in people creates opportunity for everyone.

What does the next generation of salon leadership look like? Jenna Noel of NYC’s Sam Brocato Salon joins Gordon to talk about mentorship, building a team that stays, and putting AI to work. From her front desk beginnings to becoming a director and partner, Jenna shares how technology creates more time for people.

Sheri Doss, VP of Global Education for Bumble and bumble., joins Gordon to talk about education as a driver of salon growth, culture, and careers. She shares how professional education has changed over the past decade and what stylists and salon leaders need from it today.

Heather Harris, founder and CEO of Spark Pro Global, joins Gordon to explore how strategic delegation can transform salon ownership. From virtual assistants and smarter systems to stronger leadership and increased profitability, Heather shares how salon owners can reclaim their time, empower their teams, and focus on growing their businesses.

Salon Today’s Stacey Soble joins Gordon to explore what sets great salons apart. They discuss 30 years of the Salon Today 200, changing business trends, recruitment and retention, culture, technology, profitability, education, & the power of community. Plus, Stacey shares what today’s most successful salon owners are doing to build stronger, more sustainable businesses.

Renowned salon business educator and coach Antony Whitaker returns for a practical conversation about the numbers every salon owner should understand. Drawing on Zenoti’s 2026 Beauty & Wellness Benchmark Report: Salon Edition and Antony’s recent @GrowMySalonBusiness podcast episode, “The Numbers Don’t Lie,” we explore profitability, rebooking, and client retention, plus how existing clients are driving much of the industry’s growth and why that second visit matters so much.

What does great education look like in an industry increasingly shaped by social media, independent work, and fewer opportunities for mentorship? Seven-time NAHA winner and 22-time NAHA nominee Ruth Roche joins us for a candid conversation about the future of education and why mastering the foundations still matters. Drawing on four decades in professional beauty, Ruth shares her perspective on mentorship, creativity, social media, and the importance of understanding the “why” behind great hairdressing.

Sudheer Koneru, founder and CEO of Zenoti, joins Gordon for a forward-looking conversation about AI, data and the changing salon business. At the center of the conversation is a bigger idea: AI isn’t about replacing the human side of beauty. It’s about removing friction, strengthening teams and giving salon leaders new tools to build better businesses.They also dig into Zenoti’s industry benchmark data, including slowing guest traffic, the surprising growth of salon membership models, changing consumer behavior and the importance of protecting the lifetime value of every client.