Q&A with Sandi Ellis for International Woman's Day

In February, Five Star Franchising announced that Sandi Ellis was promoted to Brand President of Bio-One Inc. After being a Bio-One franchise owner from 2013 to 2017, Sandi joined the Bio-One corporate team, helping it grow to more than 115 franchise locations across 40 states.?

As the first female to lead this crime and trauma scene cleaning franchise business, it is only appropriate to share her first Q&A about women in leadership on International Women’s Day.?

As Bio-One Inc.’s first female President, what advice do you have for other women seeking leadership roles??Learn from those around you and find good mentors. Absorb everything, ask questions, give your opinion and the time will come. Through the years, I’ve worked with many incredible leaders, entrepreneurs, and business minded individuals to whom I’m forever grateful for what they have taught me. When Five Star promoted me to the President of Bio-One, I was honored and ready to lead the company with the knowledge I’ve gathered from others over the years.

For our company specifically, I’m excited and proud to say that nearly a third of our office owners are women – this is remarkable especially in the home services industry. Our industry is not for the faint of heart. These women are strong, inspirational, compassionate, and caring and many are leaders not only with their offices, but also their communities – they get involved.

If you traveled back in time to your first Bio-One job and told your former self that you would be President of Bio-One, what would your reaction be??My first onsite Bio-One experience was more a “voluntold” situation. Our office’s technicians were not available, and I was recruited to clean up blood and feces. During the cleanup, I remember thinking how much I loved my desk job and if I was told this would be the path my life would have taken, I would have been shocked, in utter disbelief and in complete denial. It’s interesting and funny how things end up and the paths our lives take. This path has been rewarding, eye opening and phenomenal for a multitude of reasons.

You are undoubtedly busy. How do you take care of yourself and maintain a good mental health? Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, even if it can only be for a short time. One way I decompress is exploring Colorado and taking photos of wildlife, landscapes, and my kids. Photography is a passion of mine.?

As the President of Bio-One, I try to stay connected with the Bio-One owners and listen to their stories and experiences. I find that it’s mutually beneficial to talk with one another and lean on each other.??

Have you ever felt imposter syndrome, and if so, how did you navigate your way through it??Simply put, yes. This feeling can occur not only in personal relationships but also business settings. Crime and trauma scene cleaning is a male dominated industry. In the very beginning it was extremely easy to feel like I didn’t belong. However, throughout the years, the mentors I had celebrated my achievements and successes and helped me develop a sense of belonging in the company. They recognized the value and experiences I provided not only from being a woman but also past roles and that empowered me. It became easier to own my accomplishments and be proud of what I had done.?

Success can be complicated in many ways – sometimes we may feel as if we don’t deserve it or we doubt ourselves. Once I began visualizing success, both the positive and negative aspects, it became easier to navigate through and understand what I offer. Don’t undermine your experiences and expertise you offer. Everyone has been unsure of themselves at some time or another.