Global Franchise 9.1

THE AUTHOR Monica Feid is the co-founder and COO of BizCom Associates, a full-service marketing agency that has helped franchisors grow around the world since 1999. determination. Melanie Whipple Ramos validates this perfectly. Recently named franchisee of the year for Blue Moon Estate Sales, one of the fastest-growing franchise networks in the Best Life Brands platform organization, her success doesn’t even begin to reflect the incredible journey she’s made to get there. It all started when Ramos was furloughed from a job at Disney World where she had worked for 25 years. Having advanced to a prominent role overseeing the accurate time and payroll for more than 70,000 employees, it took one pandemic to close operations for the Fortune 50 company and leave her questioning her future. As it turns out, job security is never a guarantee, even at the Happiest Place on Earth. However, Ramos found herself in possession of some of the best leadership skills and customer service training on the planet, courtesy of Disney, to put to use in a new career in franchising. Soon enough she was living in a new state with a baby to care for and a husband who had to finish his job back in Florida before he could join them. That’s when she tackled an opportunity with a vengeance. She networked with realtors. She grew her business for estate sales. She hired some 20 part- time employees in her market. She found her calling. She also became the system’s number one franchisee in the process. Today she provides a much- needed solution for countless others who are looking for resilience and adaptability in their lives too. Maybe they’ve lost a loved one, need to downsize, or are moving a relative to assisted living quarters. Whatever the reason, Ramos and her team help them to empty a house of its contents during an important time of need. She is solidly the boss of her kingdom, declaring, “I love being a business owner.” How’s that for a happy ending? If I’ve learned anything in all the years that I’ve been supporting and promoting franchisors to help them grow, it’s that franchising is a great equalizer in the business world. Countless women symbolize the absence of glass ceilings in the right franchise system. Women franchise leaders are reshaping the business world with their abilities to communicate well, to promote and live by strong values, to create communities and mentor others, and to adapt with incredible speed in a constantly evolving landscape. They are not just leading successful businesses; they are creating a legacy of leadership that is inclusive, inspirational and destined to continue. In all my years of backing and boosting franchisors for growth, one thing rings loud and clear: franchising stands as a remarkable equalizer in the business arena. Countless women epitomize the breaking of glass ceilings within the right franchise systems. Women franchise leaders are reshaping the business landscape with their adept communication skills, unwavering commitment to strong values, knack for community-building, mentorship, and remarkable ability to adapt speedily to an ever-evolving environment. They’re not just steering successful businesses; they’re creating a legacy of inclusive, inspirational leadership set to endure. GLOBAL-FRANCHISE.COM 73