Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bridgette Finley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Bridgette, appreciate you joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I wouldn’t change my story, it has truly been a beautiful journey. My path has been a blend of both discipline and passion. I started music training with incredible teachers like Dr. Donald Beatti, who at the time was the head of the Beethoven Society, and had the privilege of learning under guest teachers such as Stephan Möller and Robert Roo. I earned a BS in Finance and Financial Planning, followed by an MBA with a minor in Marketing, and finally a Master’s in Intercultural Studies.
I’ve now been teaching piano for 17 years and have built a thriving studio of 85 students. Alongside that, I authored Hank in My Head, a book about my rare brain condition, IIH. The book became an Amazon best seller in multiple categories within hours of release and has sold in over eight countries. I’ve also had the joy of helping launch nonprofits, including expanding Refuge for Women, a safe house program for women escaping the evils of sex trafficking.
What I love most about being a business owner is the flexibility to live out my calling in multiple arenas. I can teach, write, create, and serve; all on my own terms. But I’d be dishonest if I didn’t say there have been seasons of struggle. My health challenges with IIH have, at times, made it difficult to keep up with everything. There were days I would be teaching students while managing severe symptoms, or seasons where balancing my studio, nonprofit work, and writing felt like spinning too many plates. I can remember one particular week when my health flared up and I thought, “Would it be easier to just have a 9-to-5 where someone else sets the boundaries and carries the weight?”
But every time I’ve wrestled with that thought, I’ve come back to the same conclusion: this journey is worth it. Even in the hard moments, the freedom to create, to pour into my students, to impact lives through my book and nonprofit work, that makes the challenges meaningful. Being a business owner allows me not only to build something, but to live out my values every single day. I wouldn’t trade that for the predictability of a “regular job.”

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For those who may not know me, my story has always been a blend of music, education, business, and resilience. I started my musical training at a young age with world-class teachers like Dr. Donald Beatti, who was then the head of the Beethoven Society, and guest teachers like Stephan Möller and Robert Roo. While I was pursuing music, I also earned a BS in Finance and Financial Planning, an MBA with a minor in Marketing, and a Master’s in Intercultural Studies. That diverse background gave me both the discipline and creativity I bring into my work today.
For the past 17 years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching piano, and I now run a thriving studio of 85 students. I started this business from the ground up. I moved 3 times having to completely restart my business. Giving up has never been in my vocabulary. When I was a little girl my dad would make me chant back and forth to him. He would say, what are you? I would yell A CHAMPION. He would say what can you accomplish? I would yell ANYTHING. He would say what do you have to put out to do that? I would yell 110%. I have lived my whole life by that motto. What sets me apart is not only my technical training, but the way I connect music to life—helping students grow in confidence, discipline, and creativity, not just skill. I see teaching as shaping whole people, not just producing musicians. I connect personally with each student carefully crafting a teaching plan for each one and investing into them as a person.
Beyond teaching, I’m also an author. My book Hank in My Head shares my personal journey of living with a rare brain condition called IIH. It became an Amazon best seller within hours and has now sold in over eight countries. The book has opened doors for me to encourage others who are living with chronic illness, showing them that it’s possible to live fully even in the midst of challenges.
I’ve also worked in nonprofit development, including helping expand Refuge for Women, a safe house program for women recovering from sex trafficking. That work continues to inspire me to use my skills and platform for something bigger than myself.
What I’m most proud of is that my journey hasn’t been linear, it’s been about weaving together music, education, business, writing, and service in a way that reflects my values and calling. I want people to know that my brand is rooted in authenticity and resilience. Whether it’s through a piano lesson, a book, or a nonprofit initiative, my goal is the same: to inspire growth, healing, and hope. I have always wanted to be a positive example in a sometimes discouraging world.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Yes! Teaching piano absolutely started as a side hustle for me. In college, I taught lessons as a way to make extra money. When I began my career in business, I kept teaching because I loved it! It became almost like a form of relaxation in the middle of busy workdays.
Later, when I decided to go back to school for my Master’s in Intercultural Studies with the goal of working with women affected by human sex trafficking, piano lessons became even more important. As anyone who has worked in nonprofit work knows, it’s often very high effort and high impact, but not always high income. Teaching piano helped supplement my finances, but it also gave me a creative outlet and a steady way to connect with people.
What I didn’t expect was how quickly my studio would grow. Word of mouth spread, and before I knew it, I had more students than I could personally take on. I had a constant waitlist, and that was when my side hustle shifted into a full-time career.
One of the key milestones was creating a student training program within my own studio. I wanted to make sure that as demand grew, I could maintain high standards of teaching while also mentoring the next generation of teachers. To date, I’ve trained four student teachers (with a fifth currently in training). Two of those have since launched studios of their own, which is something I’m incredibly proud of! It means the work has multiplied beyond just me.
What began as a side hustle for extra money turned into a thriving business that supports not only my students, but also future teachers and other studios. It’s been amazing to watch something I started almost by accident grow into a full-time career and calling.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe consistency has been the biggest factor in building my reputation. My students and their families know they can depend on me. I don’t cancel lessons, I show up on time, and I always come prepared with a detailed teaching plan tailored to each student’s needs and goals. That reliability builds trust. That trust builds positive word of mouth and referrals.
One example that really stands out is when I had brain surgery due to my IIH. The surgery was on a Friday, I spent the weekend in the ICU, and by the next week I was back to teaching, virtually at first so I could remain calm and seated. I didn’t cancel, because I knew how important consistency was for my students. That kind of dedication has shown my families that I take pride in my work and that they will always get the value they invest in.
I think that commitment to showing up, no matter the circumstances, has really set me apart and built the strong reputation my studio has today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.finleypianostudio.com
• Other: https://Www.bridgettefinley.com

Image Credits

The headshot and family shot was taken by Stephanie Wallace B# Photography – Be Sharp