Posts by Sarah MacLellan
CEO Mode Starts With One Hard Boundary
Being “good in chaos” doesn’t mean you’re meant to live there. In this powerful solo episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater invites studio owners into a leadership reset that goes far beyond productivity hacks. If you’ve been stuck in survival mode, constantly reacting, exhausted by meetings, and feeling like your time…
Read MoreReclaim Your Time: Fixing the Most Chaotic Day of the Dance Season
What would change in your studio if picture day actually gave you time back instead of taking it away? Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with Lisa Mallis, Co-Founder and COO of PhotoDay, to unpack one of the most underestimated (and misunderstood) moments in the dance studio year: recital portrait day. What’s often treated as a logistical…
Read MoreI Fell Out of Love With My Business — Here’s How I Found My Way Back
In this raw, honest solo episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater shares something many studio owners feel, but rarely say out loud: she fell out of love with her business. After years of leadership, growth, and responsibility, the joy that once fueled her work quietly faded into exhaustion, pressure, and misalignment. In this episode, Olivia opens up about the…
Read MoreBuilding a Career from Dancer to Artistic Director with Alicia Graf Mack
Dance education is evolving , and studio owners are standing right at the center of it. As our industry evolves, the studios that will thrive are the ones willing to look beyond technique and toward something deeper: leadership, curiosity, collaboration, and belonging. In this powerful conversation, Olivia Mode-Cater and Inner Circle Program Director Lisa DeMaio sit down with Alicia…
Read MoreHow Studio Owners Can Strengthen Their Visibility and Capacity in 2026 with Lisa Fabrega
You don’t need more strategy. You need more capacity. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re working harder than ever but not seeing the growth you expected, this episode will feel like a deep exhale. Leadership mentor and capacity expert Lisa Fabrega returns for a conversation that every studio owner needs to hear before stepping into…
Read MoreWhat 2025 Taught Us — And Where Dance Studios Are Headed in 2026
In this reflective solo episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater takes studio owners on a powerful journey through the biggest lessons of 2025—and the mindset shifts required to thrive in 2026. From the collapse of one-size-fits-all marketing to the rise of authentic content and the return of belonging, Olivia breaks down…
Read MoreThe Offer Blueprint Every Studio Owner Needs (Part 2) with Roland Frasier
This episode is Part 2 of our powerful two-part series with global business strategist and offer-creation expert Roland Frasier. And if Part 1 cracked open what studio offers can be, Part 2 is the masterclass that shows you how to actually build them. In this jam-packed final installment, Olivia Mode-Cater and Roland go deep into…
Read MoreThe Offer Blueprint Every Studio Owner Needs (Part 1 ) with Roland Frasier
In this practical and powerful episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with strategic growth expert Roland Frasier to unpack the science, structure, and psychology behind offers that actually convert. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the “feast or famine” cycle, struggled with free trials, or wondered why some offers…
Read MoreForget 20% Off — Create an Experience They’ll Never Forget
In this powerful episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, CEO and DSOA mentor Olivia Mode-Cater dives into the Black Friday strategies that actually work for dance studios and why most studio owners miss this massive opportunity. Using the nostalgic example of Build-A-Bear’s holiday marketing genius, Olivia breaks down how to shift from forgettable…
Read MoreWhat Families Remember Most (and Why It Keeps Them Enrolled)
In this inspiring episode of Transform My Dance Studio, Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with Inner Circle mentor and long-time studio owner Loren Specht to explore how the holiday season can be your biggest opportunity to build connection and loyalty. Together they unpack Barrett Brooks’ framework of trust and excellence—and how those two words can…
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