Anchored Leadership: For Business Owners Ready to Lead and Not Just Manage

I’m inviting you to look at what’s happening on your side of the fence when it comes to hiring, keeping and growing great people.

Every client I work with eventually talks about hiring challenges. And in almost every case, the first step isn’t about the team member. It’s about us.

I often say business is an amplifier. Your strengths get bigger, and so do the things you’d rather not look at. The trickiest part is when a strength quietly becomes a liability. The scrappy, figure-it-out-myself independence that got you through the startu...

This is a tea episode. Softer, slower, and a lot more vulnerable than I usually get.

It started in my hairdresser's chair. She's a young mom, runs her own business, and this year decided she's going to become an ultra-marathon runner. We ended up talking about something I've been feeling for months and hadn't said out loud: what happens when your life is genuinely good, you're grateful for all of it, and something inside you still says, "This isn't the end."

There's more. You can feel it. But it doesn't feel solid or certain. It...

Kari sits down with Behrad Bayanpour, a leader whose career has taken him from Iran to Canada to Dubai, China, and the US, for a conversation about what makes Canadian small and medium businesses strong, and where that same strength quietly becomes a ceiling. Kari and Behrad dig into the three pillars of scalable infrastructure (people, culture, and process), the "admin vs. ad hoc vs. strategic" triangle every owner should be running their time through, and why AI is a productivity partner, not a cost-cutting shortcut. The conversation closes on curiosity, ownership, and what it really means to stay...

Theresa Lynn spent 17 years climbing the ranks at TELUS, from field manager to GM Alberta South to strategic programs director. Then in 2022, a mysterious illness took her out of the corporate world entirely. Kari and Theresa talk about the messy middle of that transition - the shower floor, the fights with a husband who wanted to help, the guilt of relying on someone else's paycheque - before getting into how that unraveling led Theresa to Oxford, to a new industry, and eventually to founding Clarity at Work, an HR and AI governance practice serving business owners across Western Canada...

Kari's been noticing something in herself lately: the busier she gets, the harder it is to access the easy, flowing creativity she used to count on. In this episode, she gets honest about wondering if she'd simply "lost her groove", and walks through the three things she's found that actually bring it back: space, focus, and foundation.

This isn't a productivity hack episode. It's a look at why your own brain, your ability to solve problems, spot opportunities, and think clearly is one of the most valuable assets in your business, and why most of us are...

Rochelle Hildebrand didn't come up through the clinical ranks, she came in through marketing and communications and now oversees five divisions as Vice President of EHN Guardians and Outpatient Services, part of a network that has grown from a handful of employees to over a thousand in just over a decade. Kari and Rochelle dig into why clinical excellence and business leadership are two different skill sets, how EHN built a diversified revenue model that keeps expanding access to care, and what it actually takes, as a leader and as a person, to stay grounded while helping run an...

In this episode, Kari Lotzien explores how business owners can effectively introduce change to long-standing team members while maintaining a cohesive and motivated team. Learn a practical framework to communicate vision, manage resistance, and implement sustainable systems that support business growth.

Key topics 

The challenge leaders face when long-term team members resist new systems and standards

Most business owners assume that if their business is profitable, it's automatically valuable to a buyer. Robert Welke, Calgary-based Mexit advisor, business growth transformation coach, and a three-decade veteran of starting, scaling, and selling his own companies, joins Kari to explain why that assumption is wrong, and why it matters far beyond any one owner's retirement plans. With 76% of Canadian business owners planning to exit by 2030, this conversation is about what actually makes a business transferable, and why so few are ready.

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You know the business is going to work. You're past the startup grind, you have paying clients, and you've built something real. But it still feels heavier than you expected, and the strategies that got you here aren't cutting it anymore.

In this episode, Kari gets honest about what actually moves the needle at this stage of business, and why most established owners are missing at least one of the three things she covers. None of them are loud. None of them are complicated. But most established owners are missing at least one of these foundations and...

What if the way you get dressed in the morning is quietly affecting how you show up as a leader? In this conversation Kari sits down with Shelby Eloria - identity coach, image consultant, and founder of All Set Style, to explore the connection between personal style, self-perception, and confidence. Shelby shares how she left a decade-long corporate HR career to build a business around something she had always known mattered but had never let herself take seriously: the way clothing communicates who we are to ourselves and to the world.

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If your business is following you into the rooms it has no business being in (the dinner table, the vacation, the quiet corner at a family gathering) this episode is for you. Kari opens with a personal story that stopped her in her tracks: showing up for her sister's newborn, physically present but mentally still at work, managing a contract negotiation and a client situation that "really couldn't wait." It wasn't a crisis. It was just Tuesday.

This episode goes deeper than the usual advice. Not better boundaries. Not just put your phone away. This is about...

In this episode of Anchored Leadership, Kari Lotzien sits down with Kelly Kennedy, founder and CEO of Capital Business Development, host of The Business Development Podcast, creator of the Catalyst Club Community, and founder of the Business Development Mastery Coaching Program. With nearly two decades of experience in sales and business development, Kelly brings a grounded, practical perspective on what it really takes to grow a business with consistency and confidence.

Kari and Kelly explore why great service alone is not enough, how business owners can move past the discomfort of direct outreach, and why structure, follow-up...

Most business coaching falls into one of two camps.

Hustle culture: scale faster, push harder, your only limit is your mindset.

Affirmation culture: you're amazing, you've got this, here's your permission slip.

Neither one asks the hard question. And for established owners who have already done the work of building something real, neither one is actually enough.

In this episode, Kari gets honest about the gap she sees in the coaching and leadership development space, why the hardest person to lead in your business is you, and what it actually looks...

There comes a point in business where the question quietly shifts. It’s no longer just about growth, efficiency, or what the next opportunity is, it becomes something deeper: is this still right for me?

In this episode, Kari reflects on a pattern she’s seeing across experienced business owners, and in herself. Beneath conversations about time, systems, and leadership, there’s a quieter layer emerging. A shift from building and pushing forward…to listening, adapting, and intentionally designing what comes next. This is not about starting over. It’s about recognizing that the version of success you built...

What happens when you’re leading a business, supporting a team, and suddenly stepping into the role of caregiver for an aging parent?

In this episode, Kari sits down with nurse advocates Pam and Linda of Nurse Advocate Consulting to unpack one of the most emotionally and logistically complex seasons many business owners face.

This is not just about healthcare; it’s about leadership under pressure.

They share real stories from decades of experience supporting families through Alzheimer’s, cancer, and unexpected health crises. You’ll hear what most families aren’t prepared for, why t...

If you pride yourself on being available, responsive, and always there for your clients and team… this episode might challenge you.

Because what feels like great leadership - being approachable, overdelivering, always saying yes, might actually be the reason you feel constantly pulled, behind, and unable to step into true leadership.

In this episode, Kari breaks down the subtle (and very human) ways business owners train their clients and teams to treat their time, and how those patterns quietly create overwhelm, inconsistency, and even resentment.

This is not about becoming rigid or unavailable. It...

One of the most common things small business owners say is: “I just need more time.”

But what if the real issue isn’t the big commitments on your calendar, it’s the small moments that quietly steal your attention throughout the day?

In this episode of Be the Anchor, Kari invites you to take a closer look at where your time is actually going. Many entrepreneurs plan well, set priorities, and build thoughtful to-do lists, yet still end the day feeling like nothing meaningful moved forward.

The truth is that the biggest drains o...

In this conversation, Kari sits down with keynote speaker and author Steven Langer to challenge the idea that work-life balance is the goal. Steven makes the case that balance is a trap: it frames work and life as competing forces, sets an unrealistic 50/50 standard, and leaves high performers stuck in guilt and pendulum-swinging.

Instead, Steven introduces work-life coherence, a practical way of living and leading where your work and life fit together and make sense for the season you’re in. Using relatable analogies (the seesaw, the sailing captain, and the hill vs. plateau), they unpack how to...

If you tend to avoid conflict, smooth things over, or jump in to fix problems yourself, this episode is for you.

As your business grows, tension and discomfort don’t mean something is broken; they’re signs that your business is evolving. In this episode of Be the Anchor, Kari explores the critical (and often uncomfortable) shift from being a capable problem-solver to becoming a true leader.

You’ll learn why avoiding hard conversations keeps you stuck in reaction mode, how fixing problems for your team actually limits their growth, and what leadership looks like when r...

If you’ve built a strong reputation, hired good people, and still feel like everything runs through you - this episode is for you.

In this continuation of last week’s conversation, Kari dives into what happens after you realize you’ve become the bottleneck in your business. Not because you’re doing something wrong, but because leadership has quietly been squeezed into the margins of your day.

This episode explores why clarity doesn’t come from trying harder, working faster, or stacking better systems on top of an already full plate. It comes from something...

If you’ve built your business by being reliable, responsive, and indispensable but now feel like things won’t move unless you do, it may be time for a leadership shift.

In this powerful solo episode, Kari speaks directly to business owners who are feeling stretched thin, not quite burnt out, but heavy with responsibility. You’ll hear stories, practical insights, and compassionate coaching about what to do when you realize you’ve become the bottleneck in your business.

This episode gives you permission to step back, reassess, and redesign your leadership, without guilt.

Key To...

What if the secret to better leadership, team culture, and resilience isn’t more hustle but more play?

This week, we welcome the dynamic and deeply inspiring Brandy Heather, a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and internationally recognized expert on the science of play. Brandy brings the fire, compassion, and neuroscience to back her mission: restoring playful intelligence in a world that’s overworked and underplayed.

From boardrooms to classrooms to burnt-out entrepreneurs, Brandy’s work shows us why play isn’t the opposite of productivity; it’s the fuel for it. In this emotional, laugh-out-loud, and gooseb...

In this heartfelt final episode of 2025, Kari Lotzien, business and leadership coach, invites listeners into a deep year-end reflection filled with honesty, resilience, and grace.

If you're feeling tired, overwhelmed, or unsure how you made it through the year, this episode is for you.

Rather than a highlight reel, Kari gets real about what happens when life doesn’t go to plan. From struggling with unexpected health challenges during a milestone birthday year to rediscovering the power of strong systems, support, and data-driven truth, this episode is an intimate look behind the curtain of entrepreneurship.

As a seasoned business and leadership coach, Kari Lotzien takes listeners behind the curtain of 2025 to reveal the real patterns shaping small business and where the biggest opportunities (and caution flags) lie in 2026. Drawing from private coaching sessions, the Anchored Leadership Academy, and her trusted membership community, Kari brings together powerful insights from across industries.

If you're a small business owner looking for clarity, connection, and direction as you plan for the year ahead, this is the episode you cannot afford to miss.

Key Topics Discussed:

2025 in Review:

In this eye-opening episode of Be the Anchor, Kari is joined by Meg Clarke, founder of Clapping Dog Media, an SEO and AI visibility agency helping small businesses get found by Google and recommended by AI. If SEO has ever felt overwhelming or if AI feels like it’s changing too fast to keep up, this conversation is your new best friend.

Meg breaks down the shifts from traditional Google search to AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. More importantly, she explains how AI is holding us accountable to show up consistently and authentically across platforms an...

In this powerful and timely episode of Be the Anchor, Kari Lotzien dives into a conversation that many are having behind closed doors but it’s time to bring it into the light.

Are we raising and employing a generation that lacks grit, resilience, and accountability? Or are we missing a deeper opportunity to lead differently?

Kari explores the cultural shift from hyper-independence to overprotection and how both employers and young professionals are caught in the middle. Drawing from her 25 years of experience working with youth and leaders, Kari challenges business owners and leaders to re...

In this heartfelt and deeply insightful episode of Be the Anchor, Kari Lotzien welcomes Carolyn Mulholland - wife, mother, grandmother, and founder of the Tide Center for Counseling and Health. Together, they unpack the invisible weight entrepreneurs carry and the slow drift from joy and alignment into exhaustion and burnout.

If you’ve ever felt like you're just “pushing through,” this episode is for you. From signs of burnout to understanding the window of tolerance, Kari and Carolyn explore how our nervous systems are impacted by chronic stress, and what we can do to come home to oursel...

In this deep, vulnerable, and powerful episode of Be the Anchor, Kari welcomes her long-time friend and financial powerhouse, Jillian, for a raw conversation about success, identity, and what it really means to thrive as a woman in today’s world.

From money mindset and family dynamics to philanthropy, partnership, motherhood, and ambition - this episode is a call for women to stop playing small, to own their power unapologetically, and to be seen for the impact they’re making in the world.

Key Topics Discussed:

Replay - This is one of our listeners all time favorite episodes.  Be sure to sign up for our newsletter for all the latest updates, resources and more.

Leadership goes far beyond managing people, having the most knowledge, or the most experience. Leadership is a completely separate skill from what most of us learn in traditional schooling. In this episode, I am delving into the key principles of leadership and the foundations of the Anchored Leadership Academy. Leadership is about fostering true collaboration and finding the best in people. It starts with the ability to self-reflect and s...

You started your business for freedom. Freedom to set your own schedule, work from anywhere, and create something meaningful. But does it really feel like freedom anymore?

In this episode, Kari Lotzien dives deep into the hard truth that many entrepreneurs face: When your business relies completely on you, it’s not scalable. Kari walks you through the mindset shift required to evolve from business owner to true leader and why now is the perfect time to make that shift.

This is a powerful conversation for solopreneurs and online business owners who are starting to fe...

In this episode, Kari shares a personal reflection on her own journey from traditional brick-and-mortar work to fully embracing the virtual business model. What started as a simple appreciation for cozy mornings and slippered workdays turns into a deep dive into the massive opportunities opening up for virtual business owners today.

She unpacks why more professionals are moving into online spaces and why many are never going back. Kari explores the trends, the research, and the mindset shifts that are redefining how we work, hire, and lead.

If you’re building a remote-first business or th...

In this episode, Kari explores the hidden challenges that come with the very freedoms that attract us to working online. Whether you’ve transitioned a traditional team to remote work or started your business virtually from day one, you’ll learn why flexibility, low overhead, and casual hiring processes can actually create roadblocks to scaling your team and how to overcome them. Kari draws from her own experience leading in-person, hybrid, and fully virtual teams to offer practical tips for building structure, fostering connection, and maintaining strong communication in a remote environment.

You’ll discover the five key ar...

In this inspiring and refreshingly candid episode, Kari is joined by longtime colleague and friend, Melanie Harris—CEO and physiotherapist at Functional Therapy, a thriving pediatric practice in Alberta. Melanie shares her journey from reluctant entrepreneur to confident business leader, opening up about the emotional and practical challenges of leaving behind secure employment, scaling a purpose-driven business, and redefining leadership in healthcare.

Together, Kari and Melanie reflect on the real, behind-the-scenes experiences of transitioning from clinician to entrepreneur: the late nights, the self-doubt, and the joy work that keeps them going. If you’re a healthcare provider thin...

Is your summer slipping away while you’re still glued to your business? If you dreamed of afternoons with your feet up, reading a book, or spending unrushed time with family—but instead feel constantly interrupted by client calls, emails, and shifting schedules—this episode is for you.

Kari shares practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you reclaim the rest of your summer without sacrificing your business. From setting clear boundaries with clients to adjusting your summer hours based on actual client behavior, Kari walks you through simple, actionable steps to give yourself permission to truly step a...

Welcome to Part 3 of Kari Lotzien’s special mini-series designed for healthcare professionals navigating the world of business. In this episode, Kari—business and leadership coach and former occupational therapist—guides listeners through one of the most crucial decisions in private practice: when and how to scale.

Drawing from over two decades of firsthand experience building and selling a multidisciplinary healthcare practice, Kari opens up about the strategic thinking and mindset shifts required for sustainable growth. Whether you're overwhelmed as a solopreneur or eager to take your next step, this episode delivers practical frameworks and grounded advice.

K...

In this episode, Kari Lotzien continues her miniseries for healthcare professionals transitioning into business ownership. Drawing from over two decades of experience as an occupational therapist and successful private practice owner, Kari dives into the crucial topic of sales—a frequently overlooked but essential aspect of healthcare entrepreneurship.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your client onboarding process, this episode is packed with insights you can use today.

Key Topics Discussed:

In this powerful kickoff to her special mini-series, Kari Lotzien, business and leadership coach and former occupational therapist, shares how her personal journey from solopreneur to successful healthcare business owner and eventual seller informs her mission to support others on the same path.

This episode focuses on the foundations healthcare providers need to build a sustainable, scalable business. Drawing from both real-world experience and formal training, Kari shares the mindset shifts and five core systems that lay the groundwork for growth—without burnout.

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In this episode, Kari Lotzien opens up about a growing desire many entrepreneurs feel—but rarely voice: the longing for a slower pace in life and business. As summer approaches, Kari explores the deep benefits of embracing “slow leadership”—a philosophy that allows you to lead with clarity, presence, and purpose, without sacrificing profitability or success.

She dives into her personal journey from hustle to intention, and shares practical signs of “speed creep” that may be costing you more than you realize. From high blood pressure and fractured relationships to poor business decisions and burnout, Kari reveals the hidden c...

In this heartfelt and timely episode, Kari reflects on the emotional weight of recent events—including the divisiveness surrounding the Canadian federal election—and extends a warm, empowering message to the often-overlooked "quiet leaders." These are the behind-the-scenes anchors of our families, communities, and businesses. Through personal insight and grounded storytelling, Kari outlines the five powerful traits of quiet leadership, how they’re making a difference, and why now more than ever, we need them to step forward. If you’ve ever felt too quiet to lead or worried your impact isn’t big enough, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Be the Anchor, Kari Lotzien invites you into her recently decluttered workspace to explore the power of spring cleaning your business—physically, digitally, and with your time. If you've been feeling buried by the "stuff" of entrepreneurship—sticky notes, digital files, or calendar clutter—this episode delivers tangible steps to create space and welcome in new energy and opportunities.

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