In this article, I shine a spotlight on four remarkable women who have not only excelled in their careers but are also reshaping the future of franchising with their expertise, passion, and vision.
From trailblazing entrepreneurs to seasoned professionals, these women have dedicated their careers to building and expanding franchise networks and inspiring the next generation of leaders in franchising and beyond.
Their stories serve as a testament to the impact women are making in a traditionally male-dominated field, and they are leaders to watch as they continue to set new standards of excellence.
I hope you are as inspired by them as I am.
Larissa Palatiere, Director of Franchise Development at Chicken Salad Chick
Larissa has spent a majority of her career in the franchising space with National Restaurant chains like Dickeys Barbecue and Chicken Salad Chick.
As the Director of Franchise Development at Chicken Salad Chick since 2018, Larissa has doubled the location count of the fast-growing franchise to over 225 restaurants!
In our conversation below, we talk about franchising, being a woman in business and the lies of life balance.
Jessica Thornton, Manager, Field Finance at European Wax Center
Jessica has worked with franchised brands since 2017, first with Pizza Hut and now with European Wax Center (EWC).
In September of this year, she was promoted to Manager of Field Finance, a role that supports franchise owners with their 4 wall unit economics and drives unit level profitability. This is no small task given the footprint of EWC that includes over 1,000 locations in 45 states.
While she’s passionate about supporting franchise owners, she’s also an advocate for the next generation of leaders, providing mentorship in and out of EWC.
In our conversation below, we talk about franchising, working with a growth mindset and navigating career pivots.
January Swiderski, US Franchise Development Manager at Studio Pilates
January has worked in franchising since 2017 with Yum! Brands, Nothing Bundt Cakes and now Studio Pilates.
As US Franchise Development Manager, January is responsible for introducing the Pilates concept out of Australia to the US Market. She has generated some major momentum for the concept with the signing of celebrity franchisee, Jason Priestly, who is opening a studio in Nashville along with his wife Naomi.
In our conversation below, we talk about franchising, the pressure of being a single working mom and the benefits of Pilates.
Carisa Findley, President, Emerging Brands Incubator at Unleashed Brands
Carisa has spent her entire career in health, wellness and beauty, at national brands like Curves, Elements Massage, Xtend Barre, Title Boxing, and now Unleashed Brands.
She’s bringing her 20 years of franchising experience to the trail-blazing franchise conglomerate, Unleashed Brands. The conglomerate has a portfolio of seven brands focused on youth enrichment. The incubator program at Unleashed Brands currently includes Class 101 and XP League.
In our conversation below, we talk about franchising, building a great network, and pursuing big goals.
I hope you enjoyed these conversations. This is only Part 1. To listen in on these conversations as they are published, subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast player.
