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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
38 Years in Franchising & We Still Get This Wrong w/ Therese Thilgen
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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 unpack what actually happens behind the scenes of franchising and why so many people make the same costly mistakes, even when they think they’re doing everything right.
Therese shares how she got started in franchising and what it really looked like to build something from the ground up. But what stands out most isn’t just the longevity. It’s the missteps, the trial and error, and the moments where things didn’t work that ultimately shaped how she approaches business today.
We also get into her personal experience as a franchisee that didn’t go as planned and how that moment changed how she views research, transparency, and decision-making in franchising. Along with the early challenges of building Franchise Update Media, she shares what went wrong in those early stages and how those experiences forced her to rethink how value is created, communicated, and delivered.
If you’re considering franchising, growing a brand, or trying to understand why some businesses scale while others struggle, this conversation will challenge how you think about opportunity, risk, and what it actually takes to get it right.
So, if you want a more honest look at franchising and what people are still getting wrong after decades in the industry, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Connect with Therese:
Email - Thereset@franchiseupdate.com
Episode Highlights:
- Starting in franchising with no clear plan
- The early mistakes that shaped her business
- What went wrong when launching the first version
- Lessons from a failed franchise investment
- Why feedback can either break you or build you
- The long road to figuring out what actually works
- What most people underestimate about franchising
- Why experience doesn’t guarantee better decisions
- How the industry has evolved over time
- What it really takes to build something sustainable
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
Website - https://shineexecutivecoaching.com/
Email - shannon@shineexecutivecoaching.com