Qnity Lightbulb Moments

Hosted by Tom Kuhn

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May 2026

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About the show

For salon, spa, and beauty industry leaders who crave clarity, financial success, and real-world inspiration. Hosted by Tom Kuhn—Founder and CEO of Qnity, industry innovator, and former salon owner—each episode features powerful “lightbulb moments” that help leaders make smarter decisions, boost profitability, and unlock growth. From insightful solo episodes to candid conversations with top industry changemakers, you’ll walk away with practical tools, fresh ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose. 🎧 Tune in for your next lightbulb moment—because better business starts with better thinking.

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60 recent

June 16, 202641 min

Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Jared Sanders

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn and CPA Jared Sanders of Lightheart, Sanders and Associates reveal key findings from the 2025 Salon P&L Study, analyzing financial data from 61 salon companies across 13 states. Together, they explore profitability trends, benchmark metrics, labor costs, revenue growth, and the factors that separate the industry's top-performing salons from the rest.Discover why revenue growth alone isn't enough, the biggest drivers of profitability, and actionable insights salon owners can use to make better decisions and build stronger, more profitable businesses.💡 Better data. Better decisions. Better outcomes.#LightbulbMoments #SalonBusiness #Profitability #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #SalonOwner #BeautyIndustry #FinancialManagement #Qnity #PandLStudy

June 16, 202643 min

Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Micah Nickens

In this powerful episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Micah Nickens for a deeply moving conversation about trauma, healing, presence, and what it truly means to connect with people. After surviving a near-fatal brain injury in 2020, Micah shares how his life, work, and perspective were completely transformed.From rebuilding his life after months in the hospital to discovering deeper meaning behind the chair, Micah opens up about sobriety, stillness, human connection, and why “being seen” matters more than ever in today’s distracted world.This episode is filled with honesty, humor, wisdom, and unforgettable moments that will leave you thinking long after it ends.

May 14, 202636 min

Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Crystal Anderson

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Crystal Anderson of Babe Hair Extensions and Beauty Industry Group to explore the rapid growth of the hair extension category and the opportunities it is creating for salons, stylists, and cosmetology schools. Crystal shares how extensions have evolved from a luxury service into a mainstream solution for fullness, confidence, and recurring salon revenue.The conversation dives into the rise of express extension services, the importance of education in building stylist confidence, and how salons can use extensions to increase profitability and client retention. Crystal also discusses the growing role cosmetology schools are playing in preparing future professionals for modern salon services and shares insights on where the industry is headed next.From business growth to beauty education, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways for salon owners, educators, and stylists alike.

April 30, 202641 min

Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Sudheer Koneru

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn talks with Sudheer Koneru, CEO of Zenoti, about key insights from the 2026 Beauty & Wellness Benchmark Report.They break down flat industry growth, declining new guest traffic, and why “calendar inflation” is hurting bookings. The conversation also explores how top performers are driving results through better utilization, memberships, and online booking—not just more marketing.Plus, a look at how AI is transforming salon operations, from scheduling to smarter decision-making.

April 3, 202644 min

Lightbulb Moments | Featuring: Ameet Kallarackal

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Ameet Kallarackal co-founder and CEO of Glammatic, to explore how the salon industry is evolving and what it takes to stay competitive.Ameet shares insights from working with hundreds of premium salons, breaking down how search behavior is shifting and what that means for attracting new clients. From changes in web traffic to the growing challenge of getting guests to return for a second visit, this conversation highlights the trends shaping growth right now.They also discuss why your website remains the “mothership” for new client acquisition and simple ways salons can adapt in a rapidly changing digital landscape.The episode closes with a personal reflection from Ameet on growth and gratitude, proving that some of the most impactful lightbulb moments happen beyond business.

March 19, 202649 min

Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Ronan Perceval

This episode of Lightbulb Moments takes a practical look at how AI is showing up inside the salon business, beyond the hype.Host Tom Kuhn sits down with Ronan Perceval, founder and CEO of Phorest Software, for a real-world conversation on technology, growth, and the future of work in the beauty industry.They break down three powerful AI tools transforming salon operations:Front Desk AI to reduce friction and improve client communicationCheat Sheet to instantly prepare stylists with client insightsReporting AI to turn data into clear, actionable answersBeyond the tools, the conversation explores how AI fits alongside people and systems—and why human connection remains at the core of great salons. They also unpack the real story behind tech layoffs and what AI actually means for salon teams.Plus, Tom connects it all to Qnity’s upcoming 17% Growth Challenge, showing how these tools can drive real results in revenue and performance

March 6, 202613 min

Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Tom Kuhn

In this special mini-episode, Tom Kuhn takes a moment to connect with the audience live from Austin, Texas, and share updates on some exciting happenings in the beauty and salon industry. While our guest Micah Nickens is temporarily unavailable due to jury duty, Tom gives listeners a sneak peek of the incredible story to come—a New Orleans barber whose life was forever changed by a serious brain injury, inspiring resilience, mentorship, and personal growth.In addition to previewing Micah’s story, Tom covers:Updates on The FiLL Conference (May 18–20) and this year’s theme “AND”: combining people + profit, tech + touch, head + heart.Details about the 17% National Growth Challenge, helping service providers increase sales and elevate their business strategies.Early insights from the latest P&L study, highlighting trends in profit, labor costs, and top performers’ strategies.Recommendations for industry-focused content, including Wynn Claybaugh’s episode with Mike Rowe on Hairdressers Rule the World, showcasing the value and opportunities in cosmetology and trades.

March 6, 202644 min

Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Thanh Pham

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom Kuhn sits down with Austin-based AI operator Thanh Pham for a fast-paced, eye-opening conversation about how AI is already transforming salons, from marketing and retail to bookings, retention, and beyond.Thanh shares practical, real-world examples salon owners can use immediately, including:Turning messy before-and-after photos into polished, post-ready images in secondsConverting a single photo into high-engagement video contentUsing AI to drive more five-star reviews (hint: it starts with the stylist)Deploying AI “agents” to answer phones, confirm appointments, manage cancellations, and capture missed revenue 24/7Improving inventory management, retail recommendations, and personalized follow-upBoosting client retention through smarter, automated communicationThe conversation also dives into the bigger questions:Will AI replace people — or elevate them?How do we balance efficiency with humanity?And where’s the ethical line between helpful and hollow?If you’re curious, cautious, or completely overwhelmed by AI, this episode will stretch your thinking and give you tangible ideas you can test right away.The future of salons isn’t either human or technology, it’s human and technology.

March 6, 202636 min

Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Jodi Ohama

In this episode of Lightbulb Moments, Tom sits down with leadership coach and Circle facilitator Jodi Ohama for a candid conversation about what’s really happening inside leadership teams today.Drawing from insights in Qnity’s Circle groups and recent workplace research, they unpack the decline in manager engagement, especially among younger leaders and women — and what it means for performance, culture, and retention.They explore:Role overload and ambiguityThe shift from holding people accountable to holding them capableWhy coaching beats tellingThe importance of role clarity and KPI alignmentHow habits like triangulation erode trustIf you’re leading people in today’s fast-moving environment, this episode offers practical insight on building stronger, more engaged teams.

January 22, 202645 min

Lightbulb Moments | Featuring Alain Audet

“Data’s Like a Bag of Chips: Insights from the Kim Report”Ever wonder what’s really driving salon revenue, services, and staffing trends? Tom Kuhn sits down with Alain Audet of the Kim Report to reveal the latest anonymized data from thousands of U.S. salons. From revenue growth driven by price increases to why adding staff doesn’t always mean more profit, this episode shows why in the beauty industry, “data is like a bag of chips—you can’t just stop at one number.”Tune in for real insights, lightbulb moments, and the numbers that are shaping the industry.