On To The Next Chapter

This week we are announcing my departure from Focus Brands, after a decade with the company, press release HERE, article from QSR Magazine HERE, and on Twitter HERE. My last day is 1/1/21. While I thought I would have been gone years earlier, each year there was a new challenge and a new role every few years along with the company's growth: acquiring three additional brands, over 2X revenue growth, and doubling the total units to now almost 7,000 around the world in 60 countries. We had unprecedented multi-channel expansion and constant, positive organizational evolution. I felt a repeated call to lead through boom times and challenging times. I have spent the most recent few years upgrading our talent, working with those leaders to build great teams, capabilities, and brands, innovating business models, partnerships, and products, building the business through unprecedented times around the world and most recently completing our second restructure to set the company up for more growth. 

The leaders I love, respect, and who have made this journey what it has been will be tagged in the post when I share this article. I could never tag enough of them, and I'm sure I'll miss some, but I want them to be reminded of their impact on me and the company, and I want all who read this to know about them. It's always about the people - the stories, the memories, and the lessons. The franchisees whose businesses and lives I've been able to be a part of and who have taught me so many things are the heart of this business and my journey. Their success is our success, and at this unprecedented time, I have been most proud to work alongside them and our teams that support them to navigate 2020 and set them up for a bright future.

Franchising is in my blood - it's the bridge between big brands and small business - where Main Street meets Wall Street. I know I'll stay connected to the industry and help more people be in business for themselves, but not by themselves. And of course, the media outlets that have told our (and my) story have also been invaluable partners. I'll be forever grateful for the impact those platforms allow us to have.

As for deciding to leave, it’s rare someone gets to choose to go out on top, and that is exactly what I have the privilege to do. We could not have planned it better or orchestrated it with more grace, positivity, and preparation to set the teams up to thrive. There are great leaders in the company who will now carry the torch and keep building the business. I'm proud to say we hired, trained, and developed those who now step up and will make the company even better.

I will say it from the mountain tops: keep your eyes on Focus Brands and Roark Capital! If you are considering a role, and you fit with what they are looking for, go for it! The teams are amazing, the growth will be phenomenal, and I will cheer them on, always! I'm a shareholder in Focus Brands, so selfishly, I want the best talent to stay, join, and continue to make it great!

I'm always having great conversations exploring cool CEO roles and companies to advise, but I do not want to jump right into operating another large business just yet. I’ll be leaning into my work in technology, health and wellness, CPG, and building beloved brands. I love putting my experience in franchising, global brand-building, omnichannel retail, and leadership to work to help others, and that's exactly what I will continue to do.

I have just joined the Board of Directors at the wellness acquisition company HumanCo SPAC  that went public this week in addition to my role as Board member of Milk Bar, and I'll be announcing another Board role in the tech space very soon! I'm also continuing my 8-year love of startup investing and advisory activity, and yes...working on a book! 

So the work continues, albeit with different organizations. My north star has always been helping people realize they are capable of more than they know, whether that is through franchising, mentoring, business success, or general leadership. I will always be doing exactly that, no matter what role or title I have.

Most beautifully, I'm going to enjoy the flexibility, invest in myself, share more content and lessons with the world on various media platforms, and spend more time with my family. 

You'll hear and see a lot more from me as I wind down my role at Focus Brands. I have much to share and much more to do!

I am eternally grateful and incredibly excited for the next chapter.

Onward!