A Conversation With Susan Lintonsmith, President/CEO, Regis Corporation
Susan Lintonsmith has built a career by saying yes to opportunities that stretched her leadership. From marketing roles at Pizza Hut and Coca-Cola to leading Quiznos as CEO and now serving as President and CEO of Regis Corporation, her journey reflects a commitment to learning, enterprise thinking, and leading through change. Along the way, she has also served on multiple boards, bringing a broad perspective to leadership across industries. One lesson is clear: if you want the next role, start leading like you're already in it. It's easier to ask for the marker when you've already been sketching the future.
Episode Takeaways:
- Think beyond your function. Enterprise leaders stand out by understanding how decisions ripple across the entire business, not just their own department. Silos might keep your inbox organized, but they rarely grow great companies.
- Alignment requires clarity, not just agreement. Teams move faster when everyone understands the why, their role, and how progress will be measured. Getting in the boat is agreement. Picking up the oar is alignment.
- Create a culture where respectful challenge is expected. Strong leaders invite pushback, reward curiosity, and make it safe for people to question ideas in the room, not after the meeting in the hallway.
- Look for the real source of resistance. What appears to be reluctance is often a communication gap or an operational concern. Leaders who stay curious uncover the invisible barriers instead of assuming people simply dislike change.
- Courage starts with the leader. Alignment grows when leaders model openness, ask thoughtful questions, encourage healthy debate, and build an environment where the best ideas win, regardless of whose idea they were.
Susan's perspective reinforces that leadership is less about having every answer and more about creating the conditions for better conversations. Enterprise leaders who make the invisible visible, stay curious, and invite honest dialogue build stronger alignment and achieve results that no single function can deliver alone. The work is not always easy, but as Susan reminds us, progress usually starts with someone willing to pick up the marker.
To connect with Susan Lintonsmith outside of this episode, connect with her on LinkedIn here.
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Is misalignment holding your organization back?
Aligned teams deliver better results more consistently, and they have deeper connections to each other and their organizations.
To connect with Susan Lintonsmith outside of this episode, connect with her on LinkedIn here.
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Is misalignment holding your organization back?
Aligned teams deliver better results more consistently, and they have deeper connections to each other and their organizations.
Download our free Leadership Alignment Evaluation Tool and take the first step toward transforming how your team works together.
Learn more about Julie and Karrikins Group:
Learn more about Julie and Karrikins Group:
Creators and Guests
Host
Julie Williamson, PhD
Julie Williamson, PhD is the CEO and a Managing Partner at Karrikins Group, a Denver-based, global-serving business consultancy. Author, Keynote Speaker, and Host of The Failure Gap Podcast, Julie is a leading voice in how alignment can transform leaders and organizations.
Guest
Susan Lintonsmith
Susan Lintonsmith is President and Chief Executive Officer of Regis Corporation (Nasdaq: RGS), a leading haircare company with nearly 4,000 salon locations across North America and a portfolio of well-known brands including Supercuts, Cost Cutters, SmartStyle, and Roosters. Prior to becoming CEO in March 2026, she served as Chair of the company's Board of Directors. Susan has spent more than 35 years leading growth, brand transformation, and operational excellence across public and private companies. She previously served as CEO of Elements Massage and Quiznos and has held senior leadership roles with organizations Red Robin, Horizon Organic Dairy, Coca-Cola, and Pizza Hut. In addition to her executive leadership, Susan serves on the boards of ONE Group Hospitality (Nasdaq: STKS), Checkers & Rally's Drive-In Restaurants, and Pet Supplies Plus. Susan is also the author and publisher of the Under the Couch children's fantasy series, inspired by her two sons and created to spark a love of reading in reluctant readers.
