961 Luba Patlakh: Scaling Pediatric Therapy

Challenges Scaling a Service Business to Multi-Millions

It is a rare business that doesn’t have to grapple with circumstances and challenges beyond their control, whether economic headwinds, the impact of tariffs, regulatory changes, or myriad other sometimes unexpected headwinds that make the already challenging life of an entrepreneur even harder.

Entrepreneurial success comes down to a business’s ability to learn and adapt, and despite healthcare and education funding cuts and insurance reimbursement hurdles, Kidology CEO Luba Patlakh remains focused squarely on her mission—making sure underserved families have that they need to ensure their children can get a good education no matter the learning disabilities they face.

More than 7.5 million American children have Individualized Education Plans—IEPs—because they suffer from anything from misarticulation to cognitive delay, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and with education budgets being cut, it is getting more challenging for the Luba’s award-winning pediatric therapy company empower children to overcome speech and development issues. 

Today Luba talks about her challenges scaling her business from a one-woman contract business, sometimes operating out of a Starbucks a decade ago, to a multimillion-dollar company with two sensory play gyms, a staff of 16, and a mobile therapy bus that brings services direct to families. She shares the real-life challenges and wins of scaling a healthcare company—from securing state provider status to navigating the ongoing complexities of insurance, funding cuts, and system-wide uncertainty. We talk about the practical steps she’s taken to future-proof her business, the resilience and creativity it takes to succeed in today’s turbulent environment, and why she sees education, advocacy, and parent empowerment as core pillars of Kidology’s mission.

More about Luba Patlakh at kidologyinc.com

Create and share clips of your favorite moments of this or any other podcast episode on across social media via Podopolo, and join the conversation with Luba and me in the Wings episode comments section.

More about Luba at Kidology Inc

Luba Patlakh, a passionate and dedicated speech language pathologist, is the founder and director of Kidology, Inc., a pediatric practice specializing in speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and ABA services. With over 15 years of experience in the field, Luba’s expertise and compassion have shaped her approach to child development. She has built a thriving private practice over the past decade, where her innovative and client-centered approach has empowered families to help their children achieve significant milestones in speech and development. Her deep commitment to fostering inclusive and community-rooted services has earned her recognition as a winner of the Entreprenista 100 Award, and in 2024, she was named to the Inc. 5000 list for growing her business at an impressive rate.

Listen to Luba’s podcast, The Growth Lab 

 

Get the Transcript HERE