I have spent many years in franchising, and it had always been a given that male leaders dominated this sector as they do so many others. However, it became increasingly clear that a record number of women were not only leading franchise brands but also instilling values-based decision making that was driving collective success for franchising overall. The evidence was on display and openly discussed at the Women’s Leadership Conference during IFA 2017.
This year’s conference was particularly exciting for me. Franchise businesses continued to be among the largest employers in the U.S., while the franchising community was also seeing a record number of women starting and running franchise brands. As a committee member of the Women’s Franchise Network, I am passionate about the role of women in leadership, both personally and professionally, and I was inspired by how many women were taking on leadership positions and ownership roles.
The keynote speaker at the Women’s Franchise Committee’s Annual Leadership Conference was Susan Beth, COO of NRD Capital, the first franchisee-sponsored and managed equity investment fund. Susan shared her story, beginning with her parents’ journey starting a car wash business and turning it into a successful franchise.
Her speech struck a chord for me because I believe that if we can instill in our children and ourselves a sense of grit, hard work, and unwavering integrity, then we can make a memorable mark on the world.
Susan also shared her thoughts on how each of us can fill what she called our “passion bucket,” whether personal, professional, or emotional. Listening to her story and knowing how hard she worked to get where she was gave me a feeling of empowerment that is difficult to put into words. Without question, Susan’s keynote was a highlight of IFA 2017.
Leadership Takeaways
- Discovering opportunities: In today’s world, taking risks and chasing your dreams is an equal-opportunity gift. If you have a strong business plan and a clear opportunity, go after it.
- Finding balance: Balance is personal. Franchising can provide a strong network of community and support, but each person has to define what success looks like across work, family, and personal life.
- No excuses: Women are breaking records and blazing trails. The goal is to move beyond overthinking and keep building, leading, and creating opportunities.
As the Women’s Franchise Network continues to grow, the franchise community has an opportunity to deepen relationships, address pressing issues together, and strengthen both individual leaders and the industry as a whole.
