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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
The Franchise Leaders Forum Podcast
Leadership Lessons from Jo Kirchner on Perfection, Progress, and Community
Have you ever wondered how a working mom’s frustration led to a nationwide revolution in early childcare and a thriving franchise?
Jo Kirchner joined Primrose in 1990 as Vice President and became President and CEO in 1999. Her lifelong mission is to deliver a nurturing environment and a quality learning foundation to help children become confident adults who love who they are and what they do.
Under Jo’s leadership, Primrose has grown from four schools in metro Atlanta to more than 500 schools nationwide and she has been awarded the International Franchise Association (IFA) Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2023.
Today, we are diving into Jo’s journey of transforming early childhood education, how she built a thriving franchise, embraces continuous improvement, and how she’s making a community impact that’s changing lives across the US.
Hear how Jo’s passion, perseverance, and a bit of marketing magic can turn a personal challenge into an entrepreneurial triumph.
So, if you are ready to be inspired and learn how you can make a difference in your community by embracing quality, consistency and continuous growth then today’s episode is for you.
Connect with Jo:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirchnerjo/
Episode Highlights:
- Jo Kirchner’s journey and transformation of Primrose Schools
- Jo’s role in pioneering experiential learning and fostering community involvement through the Primrose Children's Foundation.
- Jo discusses the entrepreneurial challenges of balancing ambition with realistic expectations
- Advocacy for early education
- Proprietary play-based curriculum that sets Primrose schools apart
- Journey of growth and franchising at Primrose schools
- Continuous improvement over chasing perfection
Connect with Tracy
Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/
JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale
JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/
Email: podcast@jbfsale.com
Connect with Shannon
Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/
JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale