In this episode of FranchiseU!, Kathy discusses the critical role of family-owned businesses in the global economy with Dr. Isabel Botero, an expert in family business and a professor at the University of Louisville. Dr. Botero shares her insights on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by family-owned franchises, emphasizing the importance of early preparation, effective communication, and strategic planning for generational transitions. The conversation covers topics including onboarding the next generation, fostering collaboration among siblings, and the impact of family dynamics on business operations. Dr. Botero also highlights the significance of involving children in the business from a young age and she provides practical advice for current business owners on how to mentor and gradually involve their successors. The episode aims to equip franchise owners with essential strategies to ensure their family business thrives across generations. If you have any questions about Family Business and Franchising, send me an email to franchisemgmt@louisville.edu.

In this episode of FranchiseU!, Kathy sits down with Shawn Brady, the HR Director of Harman Management Corporation, the first franchisee of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Brady shares his 51-year career journey, from starting as a shy 15-year-old to becoming a key figure in the corporation’s human resources and training services. He discusses the deep-rooted culture of the brand, the importance of treating employees well, and how Harman Management has maintained its values over the decades. Brady offers insights into the history of KFC, its unique franchising structure (relevant to Harman Management). He highlights the evolution of the company, its current state, and future aspirations - including its unique partnership practices and recognition programs. Brady also provides advice on understanding franchise partnerships and the importance of knowing contractual obligations. The episode emphasizes the significance of people and culture in achieving long-term success in the franchise business.

In this episode of FranchiseU!, Kathy sits down with Ryan Sawchuk, Founder of ReUp Companies. Sawchuk shares his background, from earning degrees in finance and economics to shifting his career focus from investment banking to sales, and eventually venturing into entrepreneurship. He discusses the inspiration behind starting ReUp in 2022 and franchising it by 2023. Ryan delves into his career experiences at companies like Zora, CrowdStrike, and Tessian as well as his switch to real estate, driven by a desire to address issues in the housing market. He introduces the innovative technology, BASE, that supports Reup's business model, which aims to create win-win situations for buyers and sellers through custom home renovations. The episode also covers the challenges and benefits of franchising, emphasizing the importance of trust, sales training, and local expertise.

Ryan Sawchuk’s purpose in life is creating winning situations. ReUp is a PropTech platform that creates winning situations for both buyers and sellers of residential real estate. Before ReUp, Sawchuk led North American Sales at Tessian, a Sequoia backed cyber security company sold to ProofPoint. He was Head of Global Sales Development at CrowdStrike (CRWD) where over 10% of the company reported into his line. He helped facilitate CrowdStrike's growth to the fastest company to reach a billion dollars in revenue at the time. He had his first public exit at Zuora (ZUO) having led Global Campaigns for the company helping harmonize the messaging between Sales and Marketing. Sawchuk received his Master's of Science of Finance from Johns Hopkins and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Rollins where he graduated Cum Laude. Sawchuk has a patent pending listed under application number 17989876.