1541: Building Harmony: A Founder's Guide to Value-Driven Leadership w/ Dr. Mariela Feldman
Dr. Mariela Feldman shares her incredible journey from moving to the U.S. from Argentina to co-founding, scaling, and successfully exiting her first company, which served thousands of families. Now, with her new venture, Armonía Coaching, she’s taking her expertise global. This episode is a masterclass in scaling a service-based business with integrity, expanding into overlooked international markets, and leading with unshakable core values. Dr. Mariela’s story proves that you can build a highly profitable business while making a profound, positive impact on the world, offering a powerful roadmap for any entrepreneur who wants to merge passion with profit.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- How to identify and serve massive, untapped international markets that are desperate for your expertise.
- A brilliant talent retention strategy that turns employee moves into organic business expansion opportunities.
- The critical lesson of when and how to delegate effectively to break through growth plateaus and empower your team.
- How to balance deep, specialized knowledge with the sharp business acumen required to run a successful company.
- Why grounding your business in core values like trust and accountability is the ultimate long-term growth strategy.
- A practical framework for leveraging AI as a powerful tool without falling into the trap of replacing essential human judgment.
- The secret to creating a powerful brand name that perfectly encapsulates your company's mission and resonates with your ideal customer.
📝 About Dr. Mariela Feldman
Dr. Mariela Feldman is the founder of Armonía Coaching, a company dedicated to providing training and certification for behavior analysts and autism professionals worldwide. She previously co-founded A Change in Trajectory (ACT), an organization she grew over 16 years to include 8 locations, serving thousands of families before its successful acquisition. Originally from Argentina, Dr. Mariela combines her deep clinical expertise in applied behavior analysis with a doctorate in organizational leadership, giving her a unique perspective on building mission-driven businesses that scale globally and serve underserved communities.
🎯 Mariela’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"There's no perfect time to start a business... just go for it... It's important to stick to your values, and that will go really far."
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “I think for the first 7 years of my company, I did so much myself and I realized, ‘I think I need to delegate now.’ That helps me be available for other important business things... and that also helps others grow.” – Dr. Mariela Feldman
- “It's about seeing the potential in other people when maybe they don't see themselves yet, believing in people and giving them opportunities. I think that's really huge for leadership.” – Dr. Mariela Feldman
- "If something doesn't happen the way it's supposed to be, it's no one's fault. It's just that someone didn't follow the protocol... It's not about anyone's fault, it's just that the processes didn't work as well as we thought they would." – Dr. Mariela Feldman
💡 Actionable Takeaways
- Define your non-negotiable core values. Write them down and use them as a filter for every major business decision you make this week.
- Identify one recurring task you're currently doing that you can delegate. Create a simple process document and hand it off to a team member to free up your time for high-impact activities.
- Look for an underserved community within your niche. Is there a geographic, demographic, or language-based group that is being overlooked by your competitors?
- Create a clear protocol for one recurring process in your business. This will improve communication, reduce errors, and remove blame from the equation when things go wrong.
🔗 Links & Resources
