Women in Franchising

Igniting the potential of women in franchising, the Women’s Franchise Committee (WFC) advances their growth through dynamic education, steadfast mentorship, and passionate advocacy, creating a vibrant and inclusive community.

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Women’s Franchise Network (WFN) Local Chapters

These local networks are designed to develop relationships with female franchising professionals. They meet regularly to address issues, share ideas and offer solutions related to franchising. First launched in Denver in 2002, the Women’s Franchise Network now meets in dozens of markets across the United States and Canada.

Current networks and contact information for each are listed in this directory. Don’t see one in your market?  Start your own! Contact Courtney Thompson at cthompson@franchise.org for in-depth information on how to set up your own local network, including sample budgets, agendas, handouts, ideas for discussion topics and more.

Annual Leadership Conference

The WFC produces this highly anticipated conference that serves as an inspirational kick off to the annual IFA Convention. Each year there is an overall leadership theme complemented by a keynote presentation and a panel discussion sharing insights, tools and best practices in leadership and business development. Another popular segment of this conference is the roundtable case study. Participants review and offer solutions to an unidentified franchisor’s problems then hear from a representative of the company to learn exactly what steps were taken to solve the issues. The conference ends with the highly anticipated presentation of the Crystal Compass Award. Through this conference, attendees learn new skills, grow their network of contacts, and start lifetime friendships.

Her Success Podcast

Hear from women leading the charge in franchising. Her Success: The Stories of Female Franchise Leaders is a podcast series produced by the Women’s Franchise Committee.  Tune in monthly for insights on everything from being an effective leader to the mentors who inspired them. These female franchise leaders share stories of workplace challenges we can all relate to: managing work and life, climbing the corporate ladder, and the ultimate power of entrepreneurship and franchising to change lives. Each episode segment will motivate and recharge you.

Find the podcast on Spotify and Google Podcasts:


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Take the Lead Tuesday

Take the Lead Tuesday is a monthly weekly leadership spotlight and open roundtable series dedicated to inspiring growth, innovation, and empowerment in the business world. Each month, we feature a trailblazing leader who shares insights, experiences, and actionable strategies in a fireside chat virtual setting; followed by a female lead open round table dedicated to open dialogue and support. Our goal is to help professionals elevate their careers and make a meaningful impact.

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