Each year we reach out to you, our readers, and ask you to nominate a woman franchisor who has gone above and beyond her business’s expectations and who has inspired you the most. This year we were excited about the number of nominations that came in and were genuinely motivated by their stories. These next several pages are a culmination of the top 50 nomination results.
When Julie Goldberg realized she didn’t want to return to the office after her childcare leave ended, she sought to invest in a franchise to start her own home-based business. Having started her career in the accounting department of a national retail brand that was a franchise, she knew first-hand that her chances of success would be greater if she invested in a proven business model rather than launch her own independent company. By Rochelle Miller
As vice president of operations for a chemical nanotech company, Darlene Jacobson had already broken the glass ceiling in many ways. She knew, however, she was destined for even higher aspirations – like owning her own business. By Rochelle Miller
From all appearances, it would seem Emily Barton had always been athletic. But childhood asthma had prevented her from participating in exercise and sports. Her interest in fitness grew out of a desire to reach goals she had long desired to accomplish. By Elice Morgenson
Mary Ann Stallings, president of Bridge to Better Living (BBL), founded her company in 2010 with a clear vision of expanding throughout the country. To support her dream, Stallings selected her corporate staff carefully. Her team of women proudly offers a combined 130 years of experience and knowledge in the senior-care industry. By Cindy Charette
After 20 years of working in corporate America, Rupa Keskar grew bored with her IT career. In 2012, she started exploring real-estate investments and left the security of a well-paying job to launch her own property-acquisition firm. By Jessica Jones
Shelly Sun never intended to launch her own business, let alone build a $500 million company, but after enduring the home health-care journey with a loved one, the Chicago resident felt like she could personally make a difference in the industry. So in 2002, she founded BrightStar Care. By Jessica Jones
When Le Macaron founders, Rosalie Guillem and her daughter, Audrey Guillem-Saba moved from France to the U.S., they had a dream, to share authentic macarons and other French pastries with America. Today, there are over 70 Le Macaron franchise locations operating coast to coast, inviting communities nationwide to slow down and indulge in a simpler way of life. By Lana Mazin
Joanne Taylor’s journey to ownership of a Senior Helpers franchise began when she lost two family members within six months. She saw how difficult it was to navigate the world of hospitals, senior-care facilities, and in-home care. These experiences proved pivotal as she found herself at a crossroads in her financial services career and looking for a new opportunity. By Nancy E. Williams
When you hear that someone has failed, how does your gut react? Most people associate the word “failure” with negative feelings. Poll a hundred people, and you won’t find many who say they are okay with failing. Odd as it may sound, I am one of the few people who don’t mind failing. That’s not something people expect to hear from me. However, my definition of failure is most likely different than yours. By Alesia Visconti