Podcast Summary

Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast

Host: Scott Becker
Guest: Alyssa J. Rapp, CEO, Empower Aesthetics
Release Date: October 15, 2025
Episode Title: CEO of the Month: Alyssa J. Rapp of Empower Aesthetics 10-15-25

Overview

This episode features Alyssa J. Rapp, the CEO of Empower Aesthetics and author of the book Leadership in Life. Scott Becker and Alyssa engage in a lively and deeply insightful discussion on leadership, private equity, rapid growth businesses, building and mentoring teams, work-life balance, innovation, and the practical application of AI. Alyssa shares candid stories and actionable advice, reflecting on her multifaceted career journey and commitment to developing leaders, especially women, in modern business.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Alyssa J. Rapp’s Leadership Journey

[01:15 - 05:05]

• Startups vs. Turnarounds: Alyssa contrasts the excitement of building startups (“selling rainbows and butterflies and dreams…”) with turnaround leadership in private equity, highlighting the need for “mission, vision, values, goal alignment, very clear focus on prioritization.”
• Experience with SPACs: Discusses the unique leadership and learning from raising a SPAC, noting the mix of Silicon Valley tech investment and traditional multisite healthcare, and the challenge of market timing.
• Empower Aesthetics: Describes transitioning from board member to CEO, leading a growth “reset,” and guiding the company from 3 to 20 practices in 20 months—a true “rocket ship” experience.

Notable Quote:

“Both trying to build this mergers and acquisition rocket ship ... as well as, you know, managing and growing the enterprise ... you’re kind of flying the plane and changing the engine at once.”
— Alyssa J. Rapp [04:54]

Balancing Vision and Execution in High-Growth Companies

[05:05 – 08:19]

• The Rocket Ship Analogy: Alyssa compares launching and scaling a business to moving from “leaving Earth” to “orbiting the atmosphere,” emphasizing that the playbook and strategic focus evolve at each phase of company growth.
• Alignment: Success at rapid speed requires “crisp clarity of alignment” with both sponsors and internal teams, and maintaining transparency and focus on the mission through shifting priorities.

Notable Quote:

“The clarity of communication and the clarity of expectations and alignment of what winning looks like at each of those journeys is really what’s ... key to success for any growing enterprise...”
— Alyssa J. Rapp [07:38]

Building & Nurturing High-Performance Teams

[08:44 – 11:14]

• Talent Development: Alyssa derives satisfaction from “planting and growing talent” and believes in a hands-off approach, empowering teams and supporting executives as they develop their own playbooks.
• Values-Driven Leadership: Maintains a Zen-like attitude toward team changes, seeing organizational loyalty and “boomerang” hires as a reflection of a healthy, growth-focused environment.

Notable Quote:

“Our job is to be a steward of people’s careers, not limit them in a singular place.”
— Alyssa J. Rapp [10:48]

Modern Mentorship & Developing Future Leaders

[12:15 – 15:01]

• Stewardship, Not Ownership: Both Scott and Alyssa agree mentorship is about supporting people’s full potential, even as they advance to opportunities outside the company.
• Empowering Women Leaders: Alyssa hopes her daughters inherit a world where leadership is gender-equal and believes the best way to change the system is to embody change herself.
• Advice for Mentees: Make it easy for mentors, communicate follow-up, and show respect for their time and insights.

Memorable Story & Quote:

“She made it easy for me to show up. And then when she had advice about introductions or boards to join ... now I want to pick up the phone and shake the trees.”
— Alyssa J. Rapp [14:08]

Personal Sustainability: Staying Sharp Physically & Mentally

[16:12 – 17:48]

• Self-Care as Responsibility: Advocates for “episodic versus daily balance” and prioritizes her morning exercise routine as non-negotiable.
• Advice: Putting your own “oxygen mask” on first is necessary for leadership resilience, and leaders must find (and protect) their own restorative routines.
• Health and Travel: Alyssa maintains clean eating and discipline, even while traveling intensely, to ensure she’s always able to perform.

Notable Quote:

“I do something for myself between 5 and 6:30 every morning to stay sane … through my sanity, not just vanity.”
— Alyssa J. Rapp [16:37]

Innovation, Academic Engagement, & Angel Investing

[18:41 – 21:33]

• Academic Perspective: Teaching at universities helps Alyssa “think about things at a hundred thousand foot level,” enriching her strategic thinking as a CEO and board member.
• Angel Investing: Remaining active as an investor provides valuable exposure to market trends and innovation, and “learning from losses” is essential:

“I have learned more from my losses than my wins. They are hard and they are painful ... but the learning was awesome.”
— Alyssa J. Rapp [21:36]

Focus Areas and Excitement: Artificial Intelligence and Personal Productivity

[22:47 – 24:22]

• AI for Personal and Company Productivity: Currently exploring how AI tools like Perplexity can enhance her productivity, and considering future applications for company-wide process improvement.
• Challenges: The biggest question is how to “leverage this to really drive productivity without losing creativity and humanity.”
• Academic View: In her classes, Alyssa enforces AI use as an enhancer, not as a replacement for creative work.

Notable Quote:

“The in between is probably the most nebulous to me and what I’m trying to figure out the most, which is how do we leverage this to really drive productivity without losing creativity and humanity...”
— Alyssa J. Rapp [23:27]

Closing Thoughts

Alyssa’s journey spans entrepreneurship, private equity, academia, and mentorship, with core themes of value-driven leadership, continual learning, and people development. The conversation closes with both Alyssa and Scott reflecting on the promise and challenge of integrating AI in leadership and operations—an area of focus for the next chapter in both of their careers.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Intro & Alyssa’s Background: [00:00 – 05:05]
• Vision vs. Execution in Growth: [05:05 – 08:19]
• Building Teams & Talent: [08:44 – 11:14]
• Mentorship & Developing Leaders: [12:15 – 15:01]
• Work-Life Balance & Self-Care: [16:12 – 17:48]
• Innovation, Teaching, Investing: [18:41 – 21:33]
• AI, Focus Areas, What’s Next: [22:47 – 24:22]
• Conclusion and Acknowledgments: [25:08 – End]

Memorable Quotes

• “Both trying to build this mergers and acquisition rocket ship ... you’re kind of flying the plane and changing the engine at once.” — Alyssa J. Rapp [04:54]
• “The clarity of communication and the clarity of expectations ... is really what’s ... key to success...” — Alyssa J. Rapp [07:38]
• “Our job is to be a steward of people’s careers, not limit them in a singular place.” — Alyssa J. Rapp [10:48]
• “I have learned more from my losses than my wins ... but the learning was awesome.” — Alyssa J. Rapp [21:36]
• “How do we leverage [AI] to really drive productivity without losing creativity and humanity...” — Alyssa J. Rapp [23:27]

Episode Tone & Style

The conversation is energetic, candid, thoughtful, and authentic, with both host and guest weaving together personal anecdotes, leadership philosophy, and actionable business insights. The tone is genuinely positive, focused on growth, stewardship, and innovation.