CEO School with Suneera Madhani

If you are a seven-figure female founder ready to scale to eight, our Millionaire Founder's Club has a few spots left. Apply here: https://bit.ly/MFCApplication Welcome back to the CEO School Podcast! This week on CEO School, I had the honor of sitting down with Dr. Arleen Lamba, founder of GLO300, a membership-based, medical-grade skincare franchise that has grown 1600% and is now one of the fastest-growing skincare studios in the nation. Dr. Arleen Lamba took us behind the scenes of her journey: from working as a full-time anesthesiologist while launching her first studio, to pushing through doubt, judgment, and “cringe” moments, all the way to nationwide franchise success. Here are my top 3 takeaways: Start with a Personal Problem: The most impactful businesses often solve a pain point you know intimately. Dr. Arleen Lamba built GLO30 out of her own frustrating skincare journey and turned it into a replicable, high-growth model. Embrace the Cringe & Push Forward: Every entrepreneur will face moments of doubt, external judgment, or feeling “cringe.” Dr. Arleen Lamba was handing out flyers 9 months pregnant, hearing “how’s your little spa?”—and every time, she pushed forward rather than retreating. Double Down on Systems & Execution: Scaling past your first location means obsessing over people, process, and customer experience. Dr. Arleen Lamba credits GLO30’s success to a relentless focus on quality and process, and on building a community that truly believes in the vision. If you’re sitting on an idea or in the “grind” phase, let this be your push. Sometimes the only permission you need is from yourself. Time Stamps: (00:00) Intro + Key Takeaways (01:00) Meet Dr. Arleen Lamba & GLO30 (03:42) From Anesthesiologist to Founder (06:52) Building While Working Full Time (08:12) Embrace the Cringe & Push Forward (12:15) The Moment She Went All In (16:28) The Opportunity that Changed the Trajectory (18:06) The Decision to Franchise (20:42) How to Scale Without Losing Your Standards (26:20) The Three A's: Approachable, Accessible, Affordable (28:18) What's Next for GLO30 & How to Support Them Share this with a woman who's building something real while everyone's asking, "How's your little business? "Follow Dr. Arleen Lamba and discover Glo30: Glo30's website: https://glo30.com/ Dr. Lamba's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drarleenlamba/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you're a female founder who's built serious revenue but knows your business needs a real CEO, our CEO Accelerator Certification gives you the framework to make that shift in 12 weeks. Secure your spot today: https://accelerator.theceoschool.com/join-now. Only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue. We’re on a mission to change that. Subscribe to the CEO School and join the movement. Watch and listen to us at: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast//id1525261018 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money: Website: https://theceoschool.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for powerhouse female CEOs like you to take center stage, not just in your industries but in your whole life. Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ This episode was produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOCIAL Hashtags: #GLO30 #skincarefranchise #medicalgradeskincare #facialtreatments #AItechnology #membershipmodel #accessibleskincare #womenentrepreneurs #franchisegrowth #businessbootstrapping #work-lifebalance #buildingabusinesswhileemployed #overcomingego #entrepreneurshipmindset #personalproblemsolving #DrArleenLamba #businessfunding #scalingabusiness #risk-taking #franchiseprocess #customerexperience #self-fundedbusiness #product-marketfit

Are you a 7-figure founder ready to be in a room like this? MFC has a few spots left. Apply here: bit.ly/MFCApplication Welcome back to the CEO School Podcast!  On today’s episode, Suneera dives deep into the powerful lessons and raw realities uncovered at the recent Millionaire Founders Club Spring Wellness Retreat in Phoenix. After gathering with 50 high-achieving, seven- and eight-figure women entrepreneurs, Suneera shares the themes, breakthroughs, and unfiltered truths that emerged when leaders let their guard down and reconnected with themselves (and each other). From the challenge of letting go of people-pleasing and perfectionism, to redefining the roles of feminine and masculine energy in building successful businesses, to confronting the pressures of social media and personal branding, this episode offers an unfiltered look at the evolving journey of women founders. Suneera also addresses the lonely side of leadership, sharing why your circle gets smaller as you grow, and the surprising importance of giving yourself permission to disconnect. Whether you’re craving growth, authenticity, or practical takeaways for your own leadership path, tune in for a candid, thought-provoking conversation that will challenge your perspectives and encourage you to reflect on the armor you wear, and what it could mean to finally set it down. Topics covered in this episode include: Female entrepreneurship and emotional burnout Millionaire founder mindset shifts The pressure of personal branding and social media Feminine vs masculine energy in business High-achieving women and people-pleasing Entrepreneurship loneliness and friendship shifts Why not everyone wants to see you win Leadership, identity, and personal growth Building profitable businesses without emotional overwhelm Wellness retreats and founder healing If you are a founder, CEO, business owner, ambitious woman, or entrepreneur trying to navigate success without losing yourself in the process, this episode is for you. Time Stamps: (00:00)  Intro + key takeaways (01:00)  How the MFC Retreats started (04:24)  How to Join MFC + What Makes It Work (08:14)  Setting the Scene: 50 Women in the Desert (13:00)  Inside The Boardroom: Board-Level Accountability (14:56)  Lesson 1: Letting the Armor Down (18:10)  The People Pleasing Confession (21:00)  What Would Happen If You Let Your Armor Down? (21:30)  Lesson 2: Rethinking Feminine vs. Masculine Energy in Business (22:54)  Why Business Might Actually Belong in the Masculine (28:52)  Lesson 3: The Social Media Pressure Nobody Talks About (33:29)  Lesson 4: You Are Allowed to Disconnect (35:21)  Lesson 5: Not All Women Want You to Win (36:45)  Your Circle Will Get Smaller...And That's Okay (39:47)  Recap of All 5 Lessons (40:20)  Let's Keep This Conversation Going Share this with a woman in your life who’s building something big... and carrying more than she needs to. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Our podcast has a new home! Follow @ceoschoolpodcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschoolpodcast/ --- Only 2% of women founders ever break $1 million in revenue. We’re on a mission to change that. Subscribe to the CEO School and join the movement. Watch and listen to us at: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast//id1525261018 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money: Website: https://theceoschool.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for powerhouse female CEOs like you to take center stage, not just in your industries but in your whole life. Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ This episode was produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SOCIAL Hashtags: #femaleentrepreneurpodcast#womeninbusinesspodcast#femininevsmasculineenergyinbusiness#entrepreneurburnout#foundermindset#millionairefoundersclub#business leadership for women#highachievingwomen#womenentrepreneurmotivation#CEOSchoolPodcast#SuneeraMadhanipodcast#entrepreneurshipandsocialmedia#peoplepleasingasafemalefounder#founderwellnessretreat

What does success actually look like for women entrepreneurs in 2026? In this powerful episode of the CEO School Podcast, Suneera Madhani sits down with Deepica Mutyala, founder and CEO of Live Tinted, for an unfiltered conversation about entrepreneurship, burnout, founder identity, femininity, relationships, and redefining the “girl boss” era. Deepica opens up about: -Building Live Tinted into a nationally recognized beauty brand -Scaling through retail partnerships with Ulta Beauty -The emotional cost of entrepreneurship and founder burnout -Why women founders feel pressure to “do it all” -Going from founder → CEO → founder again -Dating, love, and intentionally building a personal life -Therapy, anxiety, inner work, and protecting your peace -Entrepreneurship vs corporate life for women -What investors, boards, and social media don’t tell founders -Why representation and inclusivity still matter in beauty and business This episode is a masterclass on leadership, ambition, balance, emotional intelligence, and building a life that actually feels aligned — not just impressive online. If you’re a founder, entrepreneur, creator, CEO, aspiring business owner, or ambitious woman navigating career growth and personal fulfillment, this conversation will deeply resonate with you. Time Stamps: (00:00) Learning to delegate effectively (06:37) Balancing career and family life (10:12) Personal growth and self-reflection (18:35) Finding fulfillment beyond success (22:47) Balancing leadership and delegation (26:46) Finding personal fulfillment (34:41) Finding balance in work and family (37:52) Trusting your own intuition (42:40) Trusting your gut instincts (50:19) Frustrations with misleading advice (53:10) Inspiring the next generation (01:00:22) Laying groundwork for future generations (01:03:47) Finding the right support system (01:08:02) Wrapping up and joining the conversation Lock in your spot for the Unicorn CEO Summit today at https://theceoschool.com/ceo-school-summit Share this with a woman in your life who’s building something big — and carrying more than she needs to. --------------------------------------------------- Learn more about Deepica at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepica/ Website: https://deepica.com/ & https://www.livetinted.com/ Join the CEO School’s Millionaire Founders Club: https://theceoschool.com/join. We're building a table where every female founder has a seat. Subscribe to the CEO School podcast because only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue, and we’re changing that: Watch and listen to us at: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast//id1525261018 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money: Website: https://theceoschool.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for badass female CEOs like you to take center stage not just in your industries but in your whole life. Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ This episode was produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/

If you’re an ambitious woman building a business, growing your career, or chasing big goals, you're probably constantly battling guilt. Spoiler: this one cuts close to home. In this episode of the CEO School Podcast, we break down the concept of the “Guilt Tax”: the real, measurable cost that high-achieving women pay when balancing ambition, motherhood, business, and personal freedom. Today, we’re skipping the usual “work–life balance” talk. Instead, we’re talking about: Why women experience career guilt and mom guilt differently from men The hidden mental load of ambition for female entrepreneurs How gender expectations shape confidence, pricing, and visibility Why ambitious women feel pressure to downplay success and soften their ask The battle between freedom vs. ambition in entrepreneurship How to stop paying the emotional cost twice We also explore themes inspired by Start With Yourself by Emma Grede and expand on what’s usually left unsaid: the exhausting middle between building a big life and actually living it. If you’re a founder, CEO, working mom, or woman in business trying to “have it all,” this episode will finally put words to what you’ve been feeling. Key Takeaway:You can’t eliminate the cost of your choices. But you can stop overpaying for them. Time Stamps: 00:00 The Real Reason You Feel Guilty Working Late 02:00 Introducing the “Guilt Tax” 04:00 Why Women Pay More Than Men 06:00 Paying the Guilt Twice (The Hidden Cost) 08:00 Ambition vs Freedom Explained 10:00 The Tension No One Talks About 12:00 Why Women Downplay Their Ambition 14:00 Visibility, Money, and Owning Your Ask 16:00 The Messy Middle of Building Success 18:00 Why This Doesn’t Have a Clean Solution 19:45 Stop Paying the Guilt Tax Twice 21:00 The Question You Need to Sit WithShare this with a woman in your life who’s building something big... and carrying more than she needs to. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you are a trailblazing $1M+ female founder looking for a room where you don't have to dim your shine to make others comfortable, join the CEO School’s Millionaire Founders Club: https://theceoschool.com/join. We're building a table where every female CEO has a seat. ---Only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue. We’re on a mission to change that. Subscribe to the CEO School and join the movement. Watch and listen to us at: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast//id1525261018 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money: Website: https://theceoschool.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for powerhouse female CEOs like you to take center stage, not just in your industries but in your whole life. Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ This episode was produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/.

Get access to THE room and apply to the MFC Spring Retreat here → bit.ly/MFCSpringRetreat What does it really take to build a billion-dollar company, and what happens after you do? In this powerful CEO School episode, Suneera sits down with Sarah Chen Spellings for a raw, unfiltered conversation about entrepreneurship, scaling, and identity. From being rejected by investors to building a fintech company that processed billions in payments, Suneera shares the full journey behind founding Stax (formerly Fatt Merchant), scaling past $100M in revenue, and navigating a complex exit. This episode dives deep into: Suneera's background and the values that shaped her entrepreneurial mindset How to build a startup without venture capital when all odds are against you The hits and the misses of scaling from startup to $1B valuation What no one tells you about selling your company Why women must own their wealth and take bigger financial risks Lessons from launching her second fintech company, Worth Time Stamps: 00:00 Intro + Why This Episode Is Different 03:45 Meet Suneera: Immigrant Roots & Early Entrepreneurship 08:10 “You Have It” — The Confidence That Shaped Her 12:30 Risk, Fear & Breaking Family Beliefs Around Stability 17:05 The Idea That Changed Everything (Fat Merchant Origin) 22:20 Getting Rejected & Walking Away From Corporate 27:40 Building From Scratch + First Revenue Wins 33:15 Scaling to $100M+: What Actually Breaks 38:50 Raising Capital as a Minority Female Founder 44:10 The Exit: What No One Tells You 49:30 Losing Control & Founder Identity Shift 55:00 Building Worth + The Next Billion-Dollar Vision 59:30 Final Lessons: Money, Ownership & Funding Women Whether you’re a founder, an entrepreneur, or building your personal brand, this conversation will challenge the way you think about success, ownership, and what comes next. Subscribe for more conversations on building wealth, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Lock in your spot for the Unicorn CEO Summit today at https://theceoschool.com/ceo-school-summit Thank you to Sarah Chen for interviewing our host, Suneera! --------------------------------------- Learn more about Sarah at: Podcast: https://billiondollarmoves.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahchenglobal/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahChenGlobal We're building a table where every female founder has a seat. Join the CEO School’s Millionaire Founders Club: https://theceoschool.com/join. Only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue. We’re on a mission that. Subscribe to the CEO School and join the movement. Watch and listen to us at: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast//id1525261018 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money: Website: https://theceoschool.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for powerhouse female CEOs like you to take center stage, not just in your industries but in your whole life. Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ This episode was produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/ #femalefoundersuccessstory#howtobuildabilliondollarcompany#startupgrowthstrategy#fintechstartupjourney#howtoscaleabusinessfast#founderexitstory#whathappensaftersellingacompany#venturecapitalforwomen#entrepreneurmindsetmotivation#businesspodcastforfounders#CEOschoolpodcast#suneeramadhaniinterview#startuplessonsfrombilliondollarfounders#buildingwealthasawomanentrepreneur