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The Franchise Leaders Forum Podcast
Welcome to "The Franchise Leaders Forum," the ultimate podcast for entrepreneurs navigating the intricate world of franchising, brought to you by industry veterans Tracy Panase and Shannon Wilburn. This podcast is your go-to resource for franchise leadership insights, practical strategies to build and scale your franchise, and firsthand experiences from those who live and breathe franchising every day.
Leading the conversation is Tracy Panase, the dynamic force behind the Just Between Friends Franchise System. Tracy, who previously excelled as a top franchisee, took over the leadership reins in December 2022. Under her guidance, the brand is reaching new heights, emphasizing a strong culture, supporting franchisees, and ensuring families across the country can say “YES” to everything their kiddos need and want. Her fresh perspective and unwavering commitment to excellence make her a formidable voice in the franchising community.
By her side is Shannon Wilburn, the visionary co-founder of Just Between Friends. Starting from a simple idea in her living room in 1997, Shannon grew the company into a thriving network of over 150 locations. Her decision to pass the leadership to Tracy has infused the company with new energy and direction, and together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to the podcast.
In "The Franchise Leaders Forum," Tracy and Shannon dive deep into the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly aspects of franchising. Each episode features candid discussions, expert interviews, and real-life stories from successful franchise leaders who have faced and overcome challenges. Listeners will gain valuable insights into effective leadership, growth strategies, and the nuances of franchise operations.
Whether you're a franchisor, franchisee, or aspiring to enter the franchising world, this podcast addresses the pain points and challenges you face. From understanding franchise dynamics to learning how to support and grow your franchisees, Tracy and Shannon provide actionable advice and inspiration.
Tune in to learn from the experiences of others, gain new perspectives, and equip yourself with the tools to navigate your franchising journey with confidence.
Join us on "The Franchise Leaders Forum" and become part of a community dedicated to leadership, growth, and success in franchising.
This podcast will provide answers to questions and topics like:
- Tips for Franchisees, Franchisors and vendor partners
- How to scale a franchise business
- Why is leadership important in franchising?
- How do I grow my franchise business?
- What are the trends in franchising?
- What is the challenge of franchising?
- How do I get involved in a franchise business?
- Franchise success stories
- Franchise marketing strategies
Episodes
54 episodes
The Trust Gap Costing Your Franchise Growth w/ Michelle Rowan
You can have the right systems, the right strategy, and still struggle to grow if your franchisees don’t trust you. Today on the podcast we have Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review, to share what’s really driving ...
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Taking Over a Franchise Legacy Is Harder Than You Think w/ Anne Huntington Sharma
Stepping into a company your parents built sounds like a natural transition. It’s not.In this episode, Tracy and Shannon sit down with Anne Huntington Sharma, CEO and President of Huntington Learning Center, to talk about what it actuall...
38 Years in Franchising & We Still Get This Wrong w/ Therese Thilgen
You think franchising is a proven path to success so why do so many people still get it wrong?In this episode, we sit down with Therese Thilgen, co-founder of Franchise Update Media and franchise veteran with 38 years of experience to un...
The 3 Mistakes Killing Your Franchise Growth w/ Rob Flanagan
What if the biggest thing holding your franchise back isn’t your model but your mindset?In this episode, we sit down with Rob Flanagan, a franchise CEO who’s built brands at the intersection of culture, scale and systems and what he shar...
Patience & Discipline Behind Franchise Growth w/ Paul Altero
Franchise growth is not about moving fast. It is about staying disciplined long enough to build something that lasts.In this episode, Tracy and Shannon sit down with Paul Altero, co-founder and longtime CEO of Bubbakoo’s Burritos, to tal...
The Leadership Shift No One Warns You About w/ Tracy Panase
Your title changes overnight. Your relationships change with it. Trust isn’t automatic.In this episode of the Franchise Leaders Forum, Shannon turns the mic on Tracy to reflect on her first three years as a franchisor. What seemed like a...
IFA Annual Conference: Insider Tips to Maximize Your Time
The IFA Annual Conference isn’t just another event on your calendar. It’s one of the most important rooms franchise leaders will step into all year.In this special episode, Tracy and Shannon turn the microphones on each other ahead of th...
What Franchisees Wish Their Franchisors Understood w/ Tom Wood
Franchise leadership lives or dies by the strength of the franchisor and franchisee relationship.In this episode, we’re joined by Tom Wood, President and CEO of Floor Coverings International, for a conversation about what effective franc...
Why PR Is a Long Game & Why Franchise Leaders Should Play It w/ Sherri Fishman
PR isn’t a “nice to have” in franchising, it’s a credibility engine.Today we are chatting with Sherri Fishman, founder of Fishman Public Relations, for a conversation about how public relations has shaped franchise growth for more than t...
Hiring for the Company You’re Becoming, Not the One You Are w/ Shelly Sun Berkowitz
What if the biggest mistake franchise founders make isn’t moving too fast but hiring for the company they have today instead of the one they’re building?Shelly Sun Berkowitz knows what it takes to scale with intention. What started as a ...
Why Most Franchise Leaders Fail & How to Lead Differently w/ Adam Contos
What if the real differentiator between thriving franchise brands and struggling ones comes down to two simple traits: humility and hunger?In this episode, Adam Contos, a high-performance leadership expert, former CEO of RE/MA...
How a Franchise Collapse Built a Better Leader w/ Ciara Stockeland
What happens when the franchise you built, the one that looked wildly successful from the outside, starts quietly falling apart behind the scenes?In this powerful conversation, entrepreneur and author Ciara Stockeland shares t...
Why Emerging Brands Fail (And How to Fix it) w/ Ron Feldman
What if the biggest threat to your franchise system isn’t sales, development, or operations but the financial foundation you’re quietly ignoring?In this episode, we sit down with the franchise finance authority, Ron Feldman, a 30-year ve...
How Purpose-Driven Leadership Builds Thriving Franchise Brands w/ Emma Dickison
What if the secret to sustainable franchise growth isn’t speed but steadfast values?In this episode, Emma Dickison, CEO and President of Home Helpers Home Care, shares her journey from teaching to leading one of the nation’s most trusted...
Turning Scrappy Beginnings into a Franchise Powerhouse w/ Jeff Dudan
What if the secret to scaling a successful franchise wasn’t just about systems and sales but about mindset, discipline, and speaking a bold vision into existence?In this episode, Jeff Dudan, Founder and CEO of Homefront Brands...
Smarter Strategies for Franchise Growth w/ Marianne Murphy
What if the secret to franchise growth wasn’t found in dashboards or marketing campaigns, but in relationships, accountability, and culture?Marianne Murphy has spent more than 25 years driving growth in franchising, from early days a...
Why Humility & Teamwork Win in Franchising w/ Billy Downs
What do Mongolian barbecue, Ford Motor Company, and Ironman triathlons all have in common? For Billy Downs, they’ve each played a role in shaping his unique journey as a leader in franchising.Billy “BD” Downs co-founded BD’s M...
Building Strong Franchise Relationships w/ John Francis
What happens when you grow up in a franchising family and spend your career helping others avoid the mistakes you saw firsthand?John Francis, better known as Johnny Franchise and the swiss army knife of franchising, h...
How to Build a Profitable Franchise Brand w/ Kevin Wilson
What separates good franchisors from great ones? This episode unpacks the lessons behind building, scaling, and selling franchise brands that thrive long term. Kevin Wilson has spent his career at the intersection of strategy an...
Turning a Failing Franchise Around w/ PuroClean’s Steve White
What does it really take to lead a struggling franchise brand back to growth and keep it thriving for more than a decade?Steve White, President and COO of PuroClean, shares the hard-earned lessons from his career turning under...
How the IFA is Shaping Franchising Today w/ Matt Haller
What’s really happening behind the scenes at the IFA and why does it matter more than ever right now?In today’s episode, Matt Haller, President and CEO of the IFA, shares the growing role the IFA plays in protecting, enhancing...
What Most Franchise Founders Get Wrong (& What Cathy Deano Did Instead)
What does it take to turn a simple idea born in a barn into a nationally recognized franchise empire? Cathy Deano, the visionary behind Painting with a Twist and co-founder of Twist Brands, takes us back to post-Katri...
How to Scale Your Franchise Without Burnout w/ Paul Preston
Are you building a franchise and wondering how to scale without sacrificing your values, sanity, or family time? Want to hear how the co-founder of the world’s largest swim school grew from a single pool to 170 loc...
Using Data to Drive Growth for a Successful Franchise w/ Sam Ballas
What does it really take to build a franchise brand where record sales, loyalty, and work-life balance all go hand-in-hand?Today’s guest, Sam Ballas, is a serious numbers guy (his license plate literally says EBITDA!). And he ...
Leading with Passion, Purpose & Loyalty w/ Paul Pickett
What does it take to build a franchise brand that puts people first and thrives for over thirty-five years?In today’s episode, Paul Pickett, Chief Development Office of Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU), shares what has been key in m...