I first stepped into the franchise world in my mid-twenties, becoming a franchisee while navigating my return to the workforce after a serious car accident. I had always known I was an entrepreneur at heart, but felt I lacked the experience and direction to build something from the ground up. Franchising o<ered exactly what I needed: the flexibility I required, the freedom I valued, and the structure and support I couldn’t have created alone.
And, although my first venture didn’t unfold as I had hoped, due to my ongoing health circumstances, the experience was invaluable. I sold the business a few years later, but the lessons I gained continue to serve me in profound ways.
Following the sale, I pursued other entrepreneurial and educational paths outside of the franchise world, but later found myself returning in a corporate capacity, when I joined Great Clips Inc. as the Western Canadian Business Services Specialist. In that role, I had the privilege of supporting and guiding franchisees, managers, and their teams—helping them strengthen operations and elevate performance.
But, life shifted again after learning about the impending arrival of my second beautiful daughter. With my husband working rotating shifts as a firefighter, I no longer felt aligned with a role that required a busy travel schedule. I knew I wanted to be home, raising my girls, and daycare was not an option I was willing to consider. My priorities were crystal clear and I began envisioning the next chapter—one that honored both my desire to be fully present for my young family and my business ambition.
After much thoughtful discussion with my husband, I made the di<icult decision to resign from the position that I loved—we simplified our life to create the time and space for me to enjoy the early years with our children and consider what was next for me professionally. I believe that life rewards courage, and sure enough, very shortly after that leap of faith, my now business partner approached me with the exciting opportunity to join him in his franchising venture.
I began my Great Clips’ franchisee career ten days prior to the birth of my second child when we purchased a struggling, existing salon located hours away from home and accessible only by ferry. So much for spending time as a stay-at-home mom! With my hospital bag packed and one-year-old in tow, I excitedly (and nervously) took the keys and got to work turning the business around. Today, I’m proud to say that same salon—now relocated just a short distance from its original site—is the highest customer count Great Clips’ salon in the country.
Less than three months after acquiring that salon, we opened another location even further away. In hindsight, I think I may have been a little crazy, but our shared boldness has fueled our continued growth. Since then, we’ve continued to expand and now operate salons in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
The journey thus far has been filled with challenges, learning, and tremendous growth, including acquisitions, sales, new builds, and even a closure. I’ve made it a point to remain open to new opportunities and new people—regularly reminding myself that vulnerability is a strength. Asking questions, admitting I don’t have all the answers, participating in numerous committees, surrounding myself by those who are doing things exceptionally well, and focusing on ongoing self-improvement have been essential.
While it’s crucial to understand the operational side of running a business, perhaps even more vital has been continuing to learn about people. Our employees are the heartbeat of our success. Understanding what builds strong teams, e<ective leadership, and clear communication has been critical in boosting employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention.
My focus has always been on developing people—not just professionally, but personally. As a certified counsellor, DISC behavioural consultant, NLP practitioner, and Maxwell-certified speaker, coach, and trainer, I’ve gained tools to inspire, build confidence, strengthen communication, and increase motivation across teams.
In the franchise industry, it’s common to hire individuals who may not have formal business or management training. While many franchisors o<er great systems and support, I believe it’s the franchisee’s responsibility to grow strong, capable leaders. After all, we know the saying: people don’t leave companies—they leave managers. Investing in leadership at every level is one of my highest priorities. One of the most distinct challenges I face is how to do this across three provinces. How do you o<er a personal touch as your employee count and business grows and help your leadership team exemplify your desired organizational culture, core values, and beliefs, especially with every location at a distance.
Franchising has provided me with the opportunity to homeschool my daughters, build a thriving business, and maintain the flexibility I need to manage chronic pain. In my monthly series, I hope to o<er valuable insights on balancing entrepreneurial life with intentional self-care, creating strong boundaries and non-negotiables, strengthening communication across all areas of life and business, improving the customer experience, developing leadership teams, and refining systems that foster lasting fulfillment and success.
