On this episode of Her Success, your host Amanda Dempsey speaks with Felicia Reeves, the Chief Marketing Officer for Empower Brands, and Monica Feid, the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Thunderly Marketing about the vital role authenticity plays in the growth of a brand, and the power of a using a brand’s core mission to lead its trajectory.

Special Guests: Felicia Reeves and Monica Feid.

Kathleen shares her thoughts on leadership in franchising with the WFC's Dawn Abbamondi of SMB Franchise Advisors.

Special Guest: Kathy Gosser.

They discuss the Franchise Means Local Campaign with IFA and Tanya’s journey to woman-owned Franchise ownership.

Special Guest: Tanya Lee.

Today the committee's leadership team gives a preview of the 2026 Annual Leadership Conference happening Monday February 23rd during the IFA Annaul Convention in Las Vegas.

Join WFC Chair Larisa Walega of Ziebart International and new incoming WFC Chair Ali Kraus of Benetrends as they discuss the ALC event and the mission of the Women's Franchise Committee with today's guest host, Jack Monson.

Special Guests: Ali Kraus and Larisa Walega.

Tune in to this month’s interview with Kyla Dufresne, founder of Foxy Box. Kyla explains how she made waxing a comfortable, fun, inclusive and sustainable experience for Foxy Box’s customers, and how the “Foxy Family” culture is central to their success in franchising.

Enjoy this intro into Kyla’s story and mission-- Kyla will be speaking at the Annual Leadership Conference at the IFA Convention in February!

Register for the Convention and for ALC to hear more from Kyla!

Special Guest: Kyla Deufresne.

Alesia shares how she followed her gut to buy FranServe just 18 months after joining, turned around Franchise Dictionary Magazine, and built a team rooted in trust, empowerment, and growth. They dive into her book, The Pink Tsunami: Women’s Rise in Franchising, and the many ways women can enter the franchise space—beyond just ownership.

Special Guest: Alesia Visconti.

Carisa shares her how her introduction to small business ownership at age three led to her career in franchising and how her upbringing in franchising continues to impact her work and her approach with her team and franchisees. She also explains how her personal growth practices inform her philosophies on leadership, mentoring, and motivating others, and how that translates into high-performing, positive teams.

Special Guest: Carisa Findley.

Allison shares what it meant to be named IFA’s first-ever Emerging Franchisor of the Year, why laying a solid foundation before launching into franchising was crucial, and how she leads with empathy, culture, and heart - while continuing to use data to make good decisions. 

Special Guest: Allison Tsomos.

Caroline shares her perspective on maintaining high professional standards, fostering effective communication across teams, and ensuring alignment on business priorities.

Together, they explore how staying true to core principles can shape not just careers but entire organizations, offering listeners practical advice and inspiration for their own professional journeys.

Special Guest: Caroline Miller Oyler.

Special Guests: Abby Schmidt, Ali Kraus, and Erin Fletter.

Special Guest: Alex West Steinman.

As a repeat guest on this podcast, we learn a little bit more about Robin’s background and commitment to the IFA. Then, we tackle three key topics on this year’s radar: Mentorship, Work-life Balance and Breaking the Glass Ceiling.

Hear from Robin on her perspective and the reminder to “raise your hand” as well as how she sees the franchise industry as a positive force for women (and men) to find success.

Special Guest: Robin Gagnon.

A marketing powerhouse in franchising, Shana shares her journey from agency life to franchise leadership, offering invaluable insights on overcoming challenges, embracing authenticity, and empowering teams.

Special Guest: Matt Kunz.

Ali Kraus, CMO of Benetrends Financial and Vice Chair of the Women’s Franchise Committee spoke with Sydni to learn more about the Franship mentoring program available to members of the IFA. Sydni explains how a Mentee is paired up with a Mentor from the franchisor,franchisee and supplier communities.

Then you wil hear from Dawn Abbamondi, Chief Marketing Officer with SMB Franchise Advisors, who is joined by her Mentee, Paul Ehlinger, a new member of the IFA. They discuss his launch into franchising as a new supplier member. When he learned about the IFA, he was excited to learn one of the benefits was the Franship mentoring program. Learn more about this journey and the benefits he sees in the Franship program.

BONUS: Mandy will be speaking at the Annual Leadership Conference at one of our Leaders on the Spot!

Special Guest: Mandy Ristic.

From the inspiration behind the "Power of Five" theme to the incredible lineup of speakers and events, they share what makes this conference a must-attend for franchising professionals. Whether you're a seasoned leader or new to the franchise world, discover why this year's ALC is an event you can't afford to miss.

Special Guest: Erika Stupiello.

Together, they dive into Robin’s journey of launching We Sell Restaurants, her path from a career in corporate marketing to building a thriving franchise dedicated to restaurant sales, and her experiences as a pioneering female leader.

Robin shares how faith and courage shaped her business mindset, advising listeners—especially women in franchising—to believe in themselves, take risks, and embrace opportunities without waiting to be invited. From the crucial role of capital access to the value of supportive industry networks, Robin provides practical advice for aspiring franchise leaders, emphasizing the importance of community, mentorship, and actively engaging in franchising’s dynamic ecosystem.

This episode is packed with inspiration, actionable insights, and a call to “go all in” on achieving your dreams.

Special Guest: Robin Gagnon.

In this special episode, Ali sits down with Liane Caruso, the first ever host/chair of the podcast, Emma Dickison, CEO of Home Helpers and the very first guest, and Cassidy Ford, current Chair of the WFC Podcast Task Force. Together, they reflect on the podcast's growth, the WFC's mission, and the impact of women's leadership in franchising. Don't miss this milestone moment!

Special Guest: Kristin Kidd.

Listen as she discusses the power of relationships, her advocacy work on Capitol Hill, and the balance between managing a family business and personal life.

Special Guest: Jyoti Sarolia.

Special Guest: Terrian Barnes.

Meghan shares her unique path from nursing to the automotive franchising world, the challenges of working alongside family, and her passion for creating growth opportunities within her organization. Tune in to hear Meghan's insights on leadership, work-life integration, and the importance of taking risks in business.

Special Guest: Meghan Pfenninger.

Ashley shares her journey from practicing law to leading impactful policy initiatives that support franchisees and small businesses. Tune in to hear her insights on effective leadership, the importance of advocacy in the franchising sector, and how she's driving sustainability initiatives across the board. Whether you're curious about the inner workings of government affairs or seeking inspiration from a powerhouse in franchising, this episode is a must-listen!

Special Guest: Ashley Coneff.

Special Guest: Deb Vilchis.

The "exiting founder", Shannon Wilburn and "franchisee turned franchisor", Tracy Panase from Just Between Friends, were featured in this year’s ALC Case Study. T

racy and Shannon speak about their experiences in franchising, transitioning roles through the sale of JBF, as well as their perspective watching the case study unfold in Phoenix. This episode covers leadership roles of female franchisees and franchisors, setting goals and the importance of raising your hand - being an advocate for yourself - not just for others.

Special Guests: Shannon Wilburn and Tracy Panese.

Shane gives us an inside look at her journey from single-location business owner, to CEO of a health and wellness empire with over 100 locations and growing. Listen in to Shane’s story of grit, hard work, determination, and learn about her sources of inspiration, as the brand continues to grow and innovate.

Special Guest: Shane Evans.

You will hear Colette share her perspective of more than 25 years in franchising. Starting in 1998 when she and her husband & Co-Founder, Andy Bell started Handyman Matters all the way to when they were acquired by Ace Hardware which helped them to achieve their goal of becoming the largest handyman franchise in the world.

Special Guest: Colette Bell.

Special Guest: Dina Dwyer-Owens.

An absolute titan in franchising, Barb tells us her story of building her family-owned business into a portfolio of five franchise brands, with over 120 locations nationwide. Tune in to hear Barb’s personal story of determination, heart, and hard work, and why “family” is the center of Moran’s culture and mission.

Special Guest: Barb Moran.

Betsy Hamm, CEO, Duck Donuts was the 2023 Annual Leadership Conference Case Study Presenter and CEO of Duck Donuts. In this conversation, Betsy speaks about her evolution from marketing roles in non-franchised brands to franchise operations, and then from COO to CEO as the original founder exited the brand. She talks about the impact of the pandemic, National Donut Day and the importance of an “Edible Ring of Happiness” for people everywhere.

Special Guest: Betsy Hamm.

Special Guest: Michelle Rowan.

Special Guest: Kathy Gosser.

Special Guest: Christina Russell.

Special Guest: Sherri Fishman.

Dawn and Lisa explore the role of mentorship for those just starting out in their careers (Lisa herself started out as a professional skin therapist prior to joining the brand in 2012), the importance of self-care and many other topics impacting women and professionals in the franchising industry.

Special Guest: Lisa Rossmann.

Lynette gives us a glimpse into her career at some of the biggest brands in franchising, and how the role of women in these organizations has changed over time. Listen in to hear great insight from Lynette’s past experiences, and how McKeeCo Services has allowed her to use her expertise to continue educating and leading brands to new heights.

Special Guest: Lynette McKee.

Special Guest: Wanda Williams.

Special Guest: Catherine Monson.

Special Guest: Tanishia Beacham.

Special Guest: Therese Thilgen.

Special Guest: Michelle Rowan.

Special Guest: Edith Wiseman.

Special Guest: Jo Kirchner.

Jaci tells us about her journey from private practice litigator to taking the reigns as in-house counsel at the largest franchisee organization in the country. Listen in to hear about Jaci’s remarkable career (thus far!), including its challenges and her proudest moments, as Flynn continues to evolve under her leadership.

Special Guest: Jaci Lee.

Special Guest: Greg Nathan.

Special Guest: Susan Beth.

Special Guest: Meg Roberts.

A confident, goal-oriented leader with the ability to motivate others to achieve results, Jennifer is currently the Chief Marketing Officer for Propelled Brands, the umbrella for FASTSIGNS, NerdsToGo, MY SALON Suite, and Salon Plaza. Prior to that she held the role of Chief Marketing Officer for Smoothie King directing all brand, marketing and R&D strategy in the fulfillment of the company’s mission to inspire people to live a healthy and active lifestyle for over 1,000 locations.

Before joining Smoothie King, Jennifer held senior leadership positions in a wide variety of franchise and company brands including Gold’s Gym, Dave & Buster’s, Nestle Waters North America and Pizza Hut. Jennifer began her career with The UPS Store where she worked in several roles as the primary driver of new product development and customer services in support of over 2,000 franchisees.

In December 2018, she was named one of Dallas’ Rising Brand Stars by AdWeek. Herskind is a Dallas native and belongs to a family of business entrepreneurs she enjoys assisting in her spare time. Jennifer is interviewed by** Katherine LeBlanc**, CMO, Twist Brands.

Special Guest: Jennifer Herskind.

Special Guest: Shannon Wilburn.

After leaving Camp Bow Wow, Allen started her own franchise consultancy, FranPromise, where she leveraged her experience in the industry to help other entrepreneurs find the right franchise opportunities that aligned with their goals, skillets and values.

Now, after running her own independent franchise consultancy in Denver for more than six years, Allen has joined forces with FranNet, a franchise consulting firm with locations across the U.S. and Canada. She is excited to round out her career, becoming a Franchisee herself, with the FranNet team and helping support and grow her clients by helping them fulfill their own business ownership dreams.

Interviewed by Liane Caruso, CFE, franchise marketing consultant with helloCMO.

Special Guest: Megan Allen.

Brian is passionate about franchising, representing franchisors from across the U.S. and abroad. Brian has devoted more than 30 years to finding solutions and approaches for his clients on their challenges and opportunities. Brian counsels both emerging and mature franchisors worldwide and has experience in dozens of industries where franchising plays a key role.

Brian did his undergrad work at the Carleton College, cum laude and received his Juris Doctor, at the University of North Dakota school of law with distinction, Order of the Coif.

Brian served as the COO and Chief Legal Officer during 2012 for one of the country’s leading health care franchisors. During his time in this role he led the company’s field operations team and the franchise administration and legal groups.

Interviewed by Emma Dickison, CFE, CEO and President of Home Helpers Home Care.

Special Guest: Brian Schnell.

Interviewed by** Michelle Rowan,** President, Franchise Business Review.

Special Guest: Clarisa Bradstock.

Her desire is to share her personal experience as an entrepreneur and how she has grown her business from its inception. She also is committed to professionally assisting those who are attempting to navigate the senior care arena as they make decisions regarding both their own and their loved ones long term care future.

Interviewed by Katherine LeBlanc, Chief Marketing Officer at Painting with a Twist.

Special Guest: Connie Hill-Johnson.

In her role as Vice President of Marketing at College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, she is responsible for developing comprehensive impactful programs that drive growth & revenues. Her focus is on driving leads to each franchise location while providing training, ongoing strategy and improved implementation across all channels. Previously, at United Franchise Group, she was responsible for the marketing programs of existing brands such as Signarama, Transworld, and Fully Promoted and was responsible for launching new brands such as VentureX and Jon Smith Subs. Before that, Mary experienced life as a entrepreneur herself, owning her own Marketing Company. Prior to that, she was a Broadcast Journalist serving as a reporter, producer, anchor and news executive. Her expertise has been recognized in the franchise industry and in the broader business community where she received awards, accolades, and invitations to speak and share her knowledge.

Interviewed by Katherine LeBlanc, Chief Marketing Officer at Painting with a Twist.

Special Guest: Mary Mills.

Special Guest: Heather Hudson.

Prior to Painting with a Twist Nancy was the CEO and Co-Founder of her own paint and sip brand Bottle & Bottega located in Chicago. Nancy has been involved in franchising since 1991 working in franchisee operations and executive leadership for brands such as Dunkin’ Brands (Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin’ Robbins), American Leak Detection and The Dwyer Group.

Nancy is also very involved in the International Franchise Association (IFA). She volunteers her time as a mentor to other new franchisors through the organization’s Franship program and is past Chair of the Woman’s Franchise Committee. Nancy holds a BS in Business Management from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and an MBA from California State University San Bernardino.

Interviewed by Cassidy Ford, Account Director at FRM Solutions.

Special Guest: Nancy Bigley.

37 years ago Tamra took a job as a secretary making $4.05 an hour- working for a franchisee of Burger King and Taco John’s. After 17 years as an employee, Tamra was offered the opportunity to buy the restaurants from the owner. She currently owns and operates 8 Taco John’s locations, primarily in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in Minnesota, with one restaurant in central Iowa. Her personal mission is to provide a family environment for young people to experience their beginnings in the workforce so that they can continue their career path with fundamental lessons that will serve them in the future. !

37 years ago Tamra took a job as a secretary making $4.05 an hour- working for a franchisee of Burger King and Taco John’s. After 17 years as an employee, Tamra was offered the opportunity to buy the restaurants from the owner. She currently owns and operates 8 Taco John’s locations, primarily in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in Minnesota, with one restaurant in central Iowa. Her personal mission is to provide a family environment for young people to experience their beginnings in the workforce so that they can continue their career path with fundamental lessons that will serve them in the future.

Tamra has become an outspoken proponent of franchising. She currently serves as a Board Member of the IFA [International Franchising Association] and is also the 2020 Chair of the Franchisee Forum and a member of the Franchise Relations Committee at IFA.

In 2019, Tamra also partnered with two fellow franchisees, Tom Baber and Mitch Cohen, and formed Performax Franchisee Advisors. Their goal? To work in partnership with franchisors to support their franchisees with growth goals, bring franchisee perspective to franchisor and supplier planning initiatives, and to speak about the lessons learned in their combined 97 years as franchisees.

Interviewed by Michelle Rowan, CFE, President and COO of Franchise Business Review and WFC Committee Chair.

Special Guest: Tam Kennedy.

Special Guest: Rosemarie Harnett.

Special Guest: Jania Bailey.

Real Estate and Franchising industries, she has engaged with numerous audiences on topics ranging from Selling in a Down Market to The Power of Connecting. She holds a B.A. from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, NJ. Marianne was interviewed by Liane Caruso, CFE a franchise marketing consultant and fractional CMO for various franchise brands.

Special Guest: Marianne Murphy.

Shelly was named IFA 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year and is a Certified Franchise Executive. Shelly Sun and BrightStar were featured on CBS’ Undercover Boss. Shelly also published her first book, Grow Smart, Risk Less, where she discusses her journey as an emerging franchisor through amazing growth, lessons learned and game-changing ideas and has a Harvard Business School case study written about BrightStar’s growth story under Sun’s leadership. Prior to founding BrightStar, Shelly was a Certified Public Accountant and held executive positions with United Airlines, CNA Insurance and BlueCross BlueShield. Shelly was interviewed by Emma Dickison, CFE, CEO and President of Home Helpers Home Care.

Special Guest: Shelly Sun.

Special Guest: Amy Cheng.

As chief operating officer (COO), Mary oversees the ongoing business operations within Neighborly. Working hand-in-hand with 13 brand presidents, she leads the execution of strategies. Prior to her appointment as COO, Mary served as executive vice-president of Neighborly and president of Mr. Rooter® for nine years. Mary served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a logistics officer. She began franchising 25 years ago as a multi-unit franchisee at Cookies by Design. After successfully selling her franchises, Mary joined the corporate headquarters to build their field support program, eventually leading the brand as its president. As president of Mr. Rooter®, U.S. Business Review selected Mary as one of its Editor’s Choice Executives of the Year. The International Franchise Association (IFA) awarded Mary the Bonny Levine Award, IFA’s highest award for women who have made an impact on franchising and the Crystal Compass award for extraordinary leadership in franchising. A certified franchise executive, Mary serves as a trustee for the IFA’s Educational Foundation. Interviewed by Katherine LeBlanc, Chief Marketing Officer at Painting with a Twist.

Special Guest: Mary Thompson.

Special Guest: Paul Pickett.

Special Guest: Mary Ann O'Connell.

Over the course of her tenure with The Dwyer Group, Saunda’s franchises have earned Top Gun Status, Franchisee of the Year, The Don Dwyer Award of Excellence, Excellence in Mentorship, Excellence in Leadership, and Sales Leader of the Year for 10 years in a row. In 2008 she was honored to receive Woman of the Year for Mr. Rooter Corporation as well as North Bay Business Journal, 40 under 40 award winner. In 2010 Saunda was awarded the Crystal Compass for extraordinary leadership in franchising. She served on the IFA’s Board of Directors for 8 years. The award she covets most is the North Bay Business Journal’s Best Places to Work as voted by her team members the last 10 years in a row. Saunda recently founded a new FSR concept tasting lounge called Barrels, Brews & Bites.

Saunda is interviewed here by Michelle Rowan, CFE, President of Franchise Business Review and WFC Committee Chair.

Special Guest: Saunda Kitchen.

The International Franchise Association’s Women’s Franchise Committee has created “Her Success,” an excellent series of interviews with business leaders whose stories will inspire you!

Our first episode's guest is Emma Dickison, CEO of Home Helpers.

Special Guest: Emma Dickison.