Child Care Rockstar Radio Podcast Por Kris Murray arte de portada

Child Care Rockstar Radio

Child Care Rockstar Radio

De: Kris Murray
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Early learning leaders around the globe are breaking through challenges, leading the way in innovation, testing new best practices, and impacting children and families in a much more powerful and positive way than ever before. Each week, tune in to top child care business guru Kris Murray on the Child Care Rockstar Radio podcast for interviews with early childhood leaders and experts that will leave you inspired to get to the next level of success, whatever that means for you. Kris Murray is President of Child Care Marketing Solutions, and the Founder of the Child Care Success Academy, the world’s largest and most comprehensive business coaching program for early childhood entrepreneurs and leaders. She is the author of two top-rated books on early learning business, and the mom of two great kids. She and her team are based in the mountains of Colorado. Listeners are encouraged to visit https://www.childcaresuccess.com/podcast/ and leave a message for a chance to have your questions/thoughts featured on a future podcast episode!©2021 All Rights Reserved
Episodios
  • Episode 207 with Gigi Schweikert – You Can't Save Your Way to Success

    Episode 207 with Gigi Schweikert – You Can't Save Your Way to Success
    Jul 31 2025

    Kris welcomes Gigi Schweikert, CEO of Lightbridge Academy, to explore what it takes to lead at scale and stay grounded in the human side of early childhood education. With 85 centers across the U.S., Gigi shares how she thinks about quality, culture, and decision-making at the organizational level, and why trust is still the best metric. They discuss industry trends, mentorship, and the habits that help leaders grow. Gigi also reflects on what she’s learned after publishing 18 books, raising four children and embracing grandmotherhood, and showing up consistently for her team and community.

    Key Takeaways:

    [6:52] Gigi explains how Lightbridge Academy evaluates quality across its network and why it comes down to trust more than checklists.

    [8:52] Gigi talks about her passion for mentoring women in leadership, her new role as a grandmother, and how watercolor painting gives her space to recharge.

    [10:54] Both Kris and Gigi reflect on the importance of creating safe spaces where women can speak openly about challenges and goals.

    [13:42] Gigi breaks down the balance of running a business with high accountability while preserving joy and mission-driven work.

    [16:08] Lightbridge is made up of 20% company centers and 20 and 80% franchise centers.

    [20:38] The Serene Seedlings rollout program.

    [23:50] Gigi reflects on how technology, when used intentionally, can improve connection and enhance the customer experience in early childhood environments.

    [25:45] She shares a (funny) standout memory from a speaking engagement in China and what it taught her about cultural differences and the universality of leadership challenges.

    [33:51] Kris and Gigi talk about the upcoming Child Care Success Summit, with Gigi returning as a main stage speaker, and why she's especially excited for this year's event.

    [41:22] Why you have to spend money to make money, and you can’t save your way to success.

    Quotes:

    “I really see ECE so much as that quality piece, that education piece, that opportunity to make sure that every child gets the best start, from zero to three, zero to six, etc. And so I've always said that early childhood education is the trust business.” [6:52] - Gigi

    “At the end of the day, when I am out in the field and looking at quality, my judgment of quality is trust.” [7:56] - Gigi

    “Being a mentor for women is one of the most meaningful and fulfilling things that I do.” [10:37] - Kris

    “I just want to make sure that I can create a safe space wherever I go, where people can feel like they can be themselves and talk about their vulnerabilities and talk about their aspirations with equal enthusiasm to overcome whatever barriers and boundaries they might have.” [11:45] - Gigi

    “Families are about love, reconciliation, understanding and about getting through tough times together, and about having each other's back and all those things. I think childcare centers are the same. They just look different all over. So my desire, my personal desire and passion is that every child has access to affordable, quality childcare. I just think it's paramount.” [19:36] - Gigi

    “I want people to recognize that in so many ways, when you think you can't, you can.” [35:19] - Gigi

    Sponsored By:

    ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)

    Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!

    Mentioned in This Episode:

    Kris Murray

    @iamkrismurray

    The Child Care Success Company

    The Child Care Success Academy

    The Child Care Success Summit

    Grow Your Center

    Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal

    Lightbridge Academy

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    43 m
  • Episode 206 with Regina Miller - Leadership Lessons in Child Care

    Episode 206 with Regina Miller - Leadership Lessons in Child Care
    Jul 17 2025
    Kris welcomes the joy-inducing and magnetic Regina Miller, a nationally recognized trainer, author, and owner of Trailblazers Academy in Wichita, Kansas. With nearly five decades in early childhood education and 35 years in leadership, Regina shares fantastic insight into what it really takes to lead a team, stay connected as an owner, and build lasting impact in your center. Regina shares some great takeaways from her new book Leadership Lessons, including how to hire smarter, mentor without ego, and avoid becoming an absentee owner. Kris and Regina also talk about how to stay engaged, inspire your staff, and create a culture that works, starting at the top. Key Takeaways: [5:05] Some exciting new info about the Summit! [7:06] Regina brings more than 47 years of experience in early childhood and 35 years in leadership, with a clear focus on mentorship, literacy, and building long-term community impact. [8:58] After losing her daughter in 2022, Regina downsized her center to honor her daughter’s dream and now focuses on a smaller, literacy-driven program model. [11:46] She has no plans to retire and emphasizes purpose-driven longevity in leadership, reinforced by consistent self-care and boundaries. [14:13] The beauty of an early wake-up time. [17:02] Her newest book, Leadership Lessons, was years in the making and centers on transparency, personal growth, and lessons from mistakes made as a leader. [20:34] Regina encourages leaders to stop being intimidated by talented hires. She views strong team members as a resource to grow the organization, not as a threat. [23:18] New directors often assume the title alone is enough. Regina challenges them to build systems, listen to input, and avoid siloed decision-making. [25:59] Veteran leaders can become disconnected. She emphasizes the importance of owners remaining present and actively involved in culture-building. [30:18] Regina is deeply involved in policy advocacy and stresses the need for early educators to be consistently vocal with legislators, not just during funding crises. [34:04] Fun fact: You may catch Regina on the dance floor, and she moved for four hours at her own birthday party! [34:24] Joy and energy are core to Regina’s leadership style, and she believes team morale can be shifted through presence, celebration, and meaningful connection. [36:13] The connection between dancing and leadership. [39:03] For introverted leaders, Regina recommends finding trusted allies, preparing in writing, and participating in leadership through small, strategic actions. [41:54] Regina uses creative, real-world training exercises, like immersive people-watching in Las Vegas, to help emerging leaders build confidence and self-awareness. [45:04] Her upcoming literacy program not only supports child development but also functions as an enrollment strategy by drawing families back into the center. Quotes: “I believe that all of us have a part. So there’s no better school, bigger school, best school. There’s all of us, and then there are all of these children that need us.” — Regina [8:43] “Hire someone smarter than you.” — Regina [22:08] “As a new leader, be willing to listen.” — Regina [24:14] “Leaders cannot ask of their people what they’re not willing to do themselves. And a lot of times you can’t just delegate that down.” — Regina [29:28] “Once I dance, I make everybody dance. I can boogie off anything you give me.” — Regina [39:29] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Leadership Lessons Trailblazers Academy Funding and Advocacy for ECE, Across All 50 States with Cindy Lehnhoff Sasquatch music festival 2009 — Guy starts dance party
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    49 m
  • Episode 204 with Whitney Burkman - From Home to Center: Young Leadership in Action

    Episode 204 with Whitney Burkman - From Home to Center: Young Leadership in Action
    Jul 3 2025

    Kris welcomes young inspiration and rising leader Whitney Burkman, owner of Magnolia Academy in Payson, Utah. Whitney shares more about her journey from in-home childcare to a full 125-spot center before age 30. She talks about building confidence as a young business owner, gives some great advice for hiring, marketing strategies, leadership challenges, and the critical role of mindset in growing her successful childcare business.

    Key Takeaways:

    [4:55] Whitney opened Magnolia in 2022, and they are currently at 122 enrollments.
    [7:43] Opening a center at age 27 and what inspired the move from home to center.

    [12:59] How is Magnolia Academy different from its competitors?

    [15:44] Becoming an off site owner and the shifts she had to make in her habits and mindset when going from in home to an actual center.

    [21:09] Whitney’s chaotic home life (in the best way) with a busy husband and four boys.

    [23:43] Whitney shares some of her best marketing and branding tips.

    [27:12] Enrollment and staffing is always cyclical.

    [28:42] Using organic content for social media to show the cool things going on at Magnolia Academy.

    [30:30] Lessons learned in leadership and building a team.

    [35:04] Reminding staff that there is always something that can be fixed, but they also must remember it is a business with parents and children depending on them.

    [38:06] Whitney shares challenges as a young leader and owner.

    [40:53] What’s next for Whitney in the rest of 2025 and beyond?

    [45:57] How joining the Academy and shifting her mindset helped change things for Whitney.

    Quotes:

    “I feel like I've really been able to pull that in-home feel into my center, which makes us stand out a lot.” [13:56] - Whitney

    “I feel like our program has just far exceeded just giving trust into my teachers and my directors and letting them do what they're supposed to do.” [20:08] - Whitney

    “You can't make everybody happy.” [30:56] - Whitney

    “To me, leadership is not for the faint of heart. It's not easy to do all those things. It's much easier just to smooth it over or pretend like everything's fine and shut your door, but that's not really serving people.” [37:02] - Whitney

    “Once I was able to change my mindset, then just everything else fell into place, my enrollments, my staffing, just everything. It's just weird how it works.” [46:02] - Whitney

    Sponsored By:

    ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)

    Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!

    Mentioned in This Episode:

    Kris Murray

    @iamkrismurray

    The Child Care Success Company

    The Child Care Success Academy

    The Child Care Success Summit

    Grow Your Center

    Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal

    Magnolia Academy

    Más Menos
    51 m
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