Colleen Upham, Co‑Founder & CEO, Oh Deer

Stacy Bahrenfuss, Founder of Soul Charge

In this episode of Stars of Franchising, Stacy Bahrenfuss—founder of Soul Charge—shares a powerful perspective on leadership, growth, and sustainability in franchising and entrepreneurship. Drawing from her journey from real estate success to inner transformation, Stacy challenges traditional definitions of success and highlights the unseen emotional and mental costs of scaling.  This conversation explores how leaders can build high-performing businesses without sacrificing their well-being, emphasizing alignment, intentionality, and internal clarity as the true drivers of external results.  What if the biggest thing holding your business back… is your internal state?  Just wrapped an incredible Stars of Franchising episode with Stacy Bahrenfuss, and one idea really stood out:  👉 “Internal state first. External results always respond.”  In franchising and entrepreneurship, we talk nonstop about growth—units, revenue, expansion…  But we don’t talk enough about the hidden cost of scaling:  •The pressure leaders carry  •The misalignment that starts at the top  •The burnout that quietly builds during growth  Stacy challenged the traditional playbook with a simple but powerful shift:  ✅ Success isn’t about doing more  ✅ It’s about aligning more  Some key takeaways for franchise leaders:  •Your energy and clarity set the tone for your entire system  •Growth breakdowns often start with misalignment at the beginning  •The best leaders are intentional about how they show up—not just what they do  And one of my favorites: 👉 We need to move from “I win through sacrifice” to “I win because I’m aligned.”  If you’re scaling a brand (or thinking about it), this episode is a must-listen.  #Franchising #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Scaling #Mindset #TFFI #Babson

Jamie Lavigne, Ever Smith Brands

“You have to choose your hard—and then embrace it.”  On the latest episode of Stars of Franchising, we sit down with Jamie Lavigne—franchise development leader at Ever Smith Brands—to dig into what separates great franchisors from the rest.  With nearly two decades of experience across legacy and emerging brands, Jamie shares candid insights into the franchising journey—from how the best franchisors build strong support systems and evolve their training, to the critical importance of transparency, due diligence, and unit economics.   She also pulls back the curtain on franchise development, describing it not as selling—but as guiding candidates through a structured process to determine true fit. Along the way, Jamie challenges common misconceptions, highlights the risks of being “too entrepreneurial” in a franchise system, and explains why understanding how you might fail is just as important as knowing how to succeed.   Listeners will walk away with practical advice on evaluating franchise opportunities, building resilience, and embracing the reality that entrepreneurship—whether independent or franchised—is never easy, but deeply rewarding when approached the right way.  Jamie also holds a position on the Board of Directors of NEFA: https://newenglandfranchiseassociation.com  [https://newenglandfranchiseassociation.com]

David Owasi: Systems, Speed, and Scale: Applying AI in Franchise Operations

How can franchise systems leverage artificial intelligence to enhance operational consistency while improving financial performance? In this episode, David Owasi offers a systems-oriented perspective on AI adoption in franchising, emphasizing the importance of structured processes and rapid lead engagement. The conversation explores how AI-driven tools can reinforce established playbooks, reduce variability across units, and enable franchisees to capture opportunities that would otherwise be lost due to capacity constraints. Owasi also discusses implementation strategies, including pilot programs, franchisor-led standardization, and tiered adoption models. The episode concludes with reflections on the enduring importance of systems thinking in franchising, particularly as AI becomes an integral component of operational infrastructure. “We don’t rise to the level of our goals—we fall to the level of our systems.” –David Owasi

Aaron Harper, Rolling Suds Founder & Chairman

“Everything I do, personally and professionally, is to enhance the lives of my family.”  – Aaron Harper In this episode, Aaron Harper shares a deeply personal and practical perspective on franchising, scaling, and leadership. Grounded in family, purpose, and discipline, Aaron walks through what it really takes to build a fast‑growing franchise system—financially, emotionally, and structurally. From pre‑investing millions before launch to “firing yourself” as the business evolves, Aaron offers an unfiltered look at sustainable growth in franchising.

Elyse Lupin - Elysium Marketing Group

Elyse (Elysium Marketing Group) shares how she built and scaled a franchise-focused marketing agency—why she chose franchising, what franchise development marketing requires, and how she leads a high-trust team while using AI as an efficiency tool (not a substitute for judgment).  “Entrepreneurship is not a straight line… everything in this journey is just a phase. So you’ve gotta push through that phase, and then you get to the next part.” -Elyse Lupin