How can understanding human psychology transform your franchise into a high-growth, high-trust partnership?

In this episode of Owl’s Edge Podcast, host Susan Black-Beth sits down with world-renowned business psychologist and author Greg Nathan to pull back the curtain on the human side of the franchise business model.

Drawing from Greg’s decades of research and Susan’s 30 years of lived experience, they discuss why the most successful systems aren't built on spreadsheets alone, but on the strength of the relationship between the franchise operators and the franchise owners and private equity investors.

The conversation centers on Greg’s three pillars for a successful partnership: Respect, Trust, and Connection and how to create those within your business.

Key Themes Include:

• Why recognizing the emotional and financial investment of every operator is the foundation for system-wide alignment.

• How consistent integrity and visibility turn "smart" corporate strategy into "wise" operational success.

• Why the traditional "command and control" leadership model fails in franchising and how leading by influence creates a culture of transparency and trust.

Practical Insights for Success:

For Operators (Franchisors & Franchisees)

• How to use conflict as a catalyst to move from "me" back to "we."

• Why it’s valuable to invest time building personal connections with your partners before you’re in a crisis.

For Investors (Private Equity, Family Offices, Independent Sponsors)

• Ditch the corporate directives. In a system of independent owners, your greatest influence comes from empowering those with the relationship capital.

• There is no substitute for face-to-face connection. High-trust partnerships are built on the ground, not in the boardroom.

Guest Bio: The Franchise Relationships Institute (FRI) was founded 35 years ago by renowned business psychologist, Greg Nathan, also author of “Profitable Partnerships”, the world’s most popular book on how to create healthy franchise relations. FRI’s mission is to foster profitable partnerships between franchisors and franchisees, and its educational programs and proprietary models, such as The Franchise E-Factor, are based on extensive research and practical experience with over 550 franchise brands. Greg Nathan’s global contribution to responsible franchising has also been significant. He is a recipient of the IFA Crystal Compass Award for franchisor leadership and an inductee into the Australian and New Zealand Franchise Halls of Fame. Greg’s training sessions for franchisor executives, field consultants and franchisees are renowned for their practical value and high engagement and consistently achieve satisfaction ratings of over 95%.

Support Owl’s Edge Podcast:

Hit the subscribe button, follow the show, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway!

If you know a franchise owner/operator or an investor who is seeking their business “Edge,” share this episode with them today. @AuspiciousOwlGroup

Show Notes:

Follow Auspicious Owl Group on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/auspicious-owl-group/

Connect with Susan Black-Beth on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-e-blackbeth/

Connect with Greg Nathan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregnathan/

Buy Greg’s Book “Profitable Partnerships”

https://www.amazon.com/Profitable-Partnerships-Improve-Franchise-Relationships/dp/0646402714

In this episode, host Susan Black-Beth sits down with franchise executive and operator Liberty Bernal to examine what happens when private equity ownership intersects with franchise culture. Drawing from Liberty’s experience selling her brand to PE, they unpack the emotional, operational, and leadership consequences of rapid change inside franchise systems.

Key themes include:

• The human cost behind franchise decisions and why franchisees must be treated as stakeholders

• The difference between being nice and being kind in franchise development and leadership

• Why leadership by influence—not command and control—is essential in franchising

• How trust is built through listening, visibility, and follow-through

  Liberty also shares a cautionary contrast between two PE-appointed CEOs - one who didn’t prioritize franchisees and damaged the system, and another who rebuilt trust through servant leadership and field engagement.

• For Operators (Franchisors & Franchisees)

  • Set expectations early: Transparent conversations about risks, change, and performance standards build long-term credibility.
  • Be visible in the field: Face-to-face engagement can accelerate trust recovery in distressed systems.
  • Qualify harder in development: It is better to decline a candidate than onboard a misaligned operator.

  For Investors (Private Equity, Family Offices, Independent Sponsors)

  • Field engagement is a strategic activity: Board expectations should explicitly support executive time in market.
  • Pace discipline: Slowing development to stabilize operations can increase long-term return through improved royalty durability and reduced churn.
  • Support infrastructure ROI: Investment in training, onboarding, and coaching lowers failure rates and protects brand equity.

  Your Host

  Susan Black-Beth, is the Founder and Managing Partner of Auspicious Owl Group and a lifelong Franchise Activist. She’s sat in every seat from the tailgate of a pick-up truck at her car wash franchise to the boardrooms where the most difficult questions are being asked.

  Guest Bio

  Liberty Bernal is a franchise executive, advisor, and speaker with more than 30 years of experience across franchise development, operations, marketing, and leadership. She has worked with both emerging and established brands, helping founders and leadership teams build scalable systems, strengthen culture, and grow with intention. Currently serving as President and COO of Sweet Influencers, Liberty works at the intersection of franchising, technology, and brand growth, helping franchise brands modernize how they attract and support franchisees. She also advises founders and leadership teams on structure, strategy, and sustainable expansion. Known for combining operational expertise with emotional intelligence, Liberty brings a human-centered perspective to franchising. Her work focuses not just on building businesses, but on helping people build lives that align with who they actually are. Outside of work, Liberty is a wife and mom who prioritizes family, health, and living a life that feels as good personally as it looks professionally.

  
  

  Support Owl’s Edge Podcast:

  Hit the subscribe button, follow the show, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway!

  If you know a franchise owner/operator or an investor who is seeking their business “Edge,” share this episode with them today.

  Show Notes:

  Follow Auspicious Owl Group on LinkedIn

  https://www.linkedin.com/company/auspicious-owl-group/

  Connect with Susan Black-Beth on LinkedIn

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-e-blackbeth/

  Connect with Liberty Bernal on LinkedIn:

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertybernal

  Challenged Athletes Foundation:

  https://www.challengedathletes.org/
  

How do you build a franchise system that stands the test of time? It starts with strong and active communication. In this premiere episode, we sit down with the legend who opened the very first Great American Cookies franchise, Doc Cohen, to uncover the secret to creating a thriving franchise system.

This podcast will help you bridge the gap between being smart and being wise.

Doc shares a truth that every private equity investor and franchise owner needs to hear: "Franchising is a leadership-by-influence business... if you think you can just give orders because you own the brand, you've already lost."

Your host, Susan Black-Beth, is the Founder and Managing Partner of Auspicious Owl Group and a lifelong Franchise Activist. She’s sat in every seat from the tailgate of a pick-up truck at her car wash franchise to the boardrooms where the most difficult questions are being asked.

What You’ll Learn: Looking to the Past to Inform Your Future

For Franchise Operators:

• The Secret to Influence: How to get your ideas to be heard and for your boots-on-the-ground experience to be valued.

• Legacy Protection: Practical ways to protect your business value

• The Profit Secret: Why supporting the system is of benefit to you.

For the Private Equity Investor:

• The ROI of Trust: Why franchisee profitability is the crucial KPI

• Partnership vs. Payroll: Why the traditional corporate "Command and Control" playbook fails in franchising and how to shift to a high-growth partnership model.

• Translating the Vision: How to turn your EBITDA and IRR goals into a vision franchisees want to be champions of.

Guest Bio:

Lawrence “Doc” Cohen, is a foundational legend of the industry. He opened the very first door for Great American Cookies in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the late 1970s. Doc has seen every cycle of the franchise system and came out on top, eventually serving as the Chairman of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and becoming the first-ever franchisee inducted into the International Franchise Association’s Hall of Fame. Doc is a trusted source for anyone trying to navigate the relationship known as franchising.

Stop assuming. Start knowing. Get the Edge.

Subscribe & Follow:

Don't miss the premiere of the show that bridges the translation gap between franchise operators and private equity investors.

Hit the subscribe button, follow the show, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway!

If you know a franchise owner/operator or an investor who is seeking their business “Edge,” share this episode with them today.

Show Notes:

Follow Auspicious Owl Group on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/auspicious-owl-group/

Connect with Susan Black-Beth on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-e-blackbeth/

Connect with Doc Cohen on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/doccohen/

Support the Fight Against Blood Cancers

https://bloodcancerunited.org/

The Bridge Builder Poem

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52702/the-bridge-builder