In this episode of Small Business School, Staci Millard sits down with entrepreneur and coach Catherine Dahl to unpack what it truly takes to scale a business successfully. From her early days in hospitality management to leading a tech company through a nine-figure exit, Catherine shares the systems, strategies, and leadership insights that transformed her approach to business. This conversation dives into the power of KPIs, the importance of hiring A-players, and why systems (not hustle) are the key to sustainable growth.

Key topics covered:

How to identify and implement the right KPIs for growth
Why many entrepreneurs struggle without clear metrics and scorecards
The importance of building and maintaining an A-player team
Why team dynamics and leadership structure impact business growth
The concept of running your business like a sports team
Common challenges female entrepreneurs face with risk and scaling
How coaching and mentorship accelerate business success
When and why to transition team members as your company grows
The balance between data-driven decisions (“hard edge”) and leadership/culture (“soft edge”)
The biggest lesson from a nine-figure exit: implement systems early

Connect with Catherine:

Website: https://www.athena.coach/

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.