DESCRIPTION:

John Hayes interviews Mary Thompson, CEO of BNI and chair of the International

Franchise Association's Board of Directors, who shares her journey from the Marine

Corps to franchising via a company called Cookies by Design. Thompson highlights

the importance of franchising in developing her business skills and its

transformative impact on her career. She discusses her career progression, including

roles at Mr. Rooter and the Dwyer Group, and emphasizes the importance of value

alignment in franchising. Thompson provides insights into the importance of

networking, her experiences with private equity, and the operations at BNI. She also

discusses the wider goals of franchising, its impact on local communities, and

ongoing efforts to educate the public and lawmakers about the benefits of

franchising. Thompson's commitment to service, both in business and through her

role at the IFA, is also discussed.

- With Mary (Kennedy) Thompson.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro

00:52 How did you discover franchising?

01:52 What is the Cookie Bouquet story?

04:40 Why transition to Mr. Rooter?

10:57 What is franchising's biggest value?

19:30 How does BNI work?

24:50 What is the BNI investment?

26:42 What is BNI's core competency?

30:44 What is "Givers Gain"?

43:03 Biggest franchising challenge and opportunity?

LINKS:

WEBSITE: http://franchisehotseats.com/

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