Learn how successful franchise owners build wealth, protect their financial future, and scale with confidence in this powerful episode of Stars of Franchising. Ab sits down with financial strategist and franchise‑focused advisor Ruzanna Queenan to explore the essential financial habits every franchisee needs—whether you're opening your first unit or running a fast‑growing multi‑unit operation.

Ruzanna shares her journey from early financial hardship to becoming a trusted advisor for entrepreneurs, revealing why money mindset matters more than math and how personal financial patterns can impact franchise performance. She breaks down the biggest mistakes new franchisees make, including relying solely on business growth for retirement, underestimating cash‑flow pressures, and neglecting long‑term planning.
Listeners will discover:

• How to build a strong financial foundation for franchising
• The critical difference between corporate careers and entrepreneurship
• Why cash flow, budgeting, and disciplined distributions determine long‑term success
• How a Virtual Family Office can support franchise owners with CPAs, attorneys, lending experts, and more
• When to start building your franchise exit strategy (spoiler: day one)
• The rise of women in franchising and the challenges they’re overcoming
• How AI and emerging tech are reshaping franchise operations and financial decision‑making

Whether you're exploring franchise ownership, preparing to scale, or looking to strengthen your financial systems, this episode delivers actionable insights to help you grow smarter—not just bigger. Perfect for franchisees, franchisors, small‑business owners, and anyone seeking long‑term wealth through franchising.

“Great franchisees aren’t born — they’re built. And it always starts with how they think, not just what they do.”

In this standout episode, we sit down with Scott Greenberg — international speaker, best-selling author of The Wealthy Franchisee, and one of the most respected voices in franchise performance. With 10 years of firsthand experience as a multi-unit franchisee and two decades of coaching top brands around the world, Scott brings clarity to the one question every operator needs to answer:

Why do some franchisees thrive while others struggle — even with the same brand, the same training, and the same resources?

Blending research, storytelling, and humor, Scott breaks down the difference between operational competence and performance psychology — showing how elite operators think, lead, and make decisions differently.

In this episode:

• Why identical franchise systems produce wildly different results
• The mindset patterns of high-performing franchise operators – and how to build them intentionally
• Why “work ethic” and “hours logged” aren’t enough to win
• How frustration, comparison, and burnout quietly sabotage great operators
• What franchisors can do to truly develop — not just train — their franchisees
• Traits of the most coachable (and least coachable) franchisees
• Why culture has become a performance multiplier in modern franchising
• The difference between growing units and growing leaders
• Emotional management in the face of setbacks, competition, and online reviews
• The future of franchise performance in an AI-accelerated world

From psychology to practical tactics, Scott delivers a masterclass in how smart operators turn ordinary franchise models into extraordinary results — without losing themselves in the process.

If you’re a franchisor looking to raise your system’s performance ceiling, or a franchisee determined to reach the next level, this conversation will reshuffle how you think, lead, and compete.

“If you can sell, you can build. And if you can build, you can lead.”

In this special episode, we welcome Alex DiPietro, Babson alum, former hockey player, and the first undergraduate Babson grad featured on Stars of Franchising. Alex brings a dynamic mix of tech sales grit, deep family legacy, and second-generation franchise leadership to the table.

As a multi-unit Dunkin’ operator and second-gen franchisee in one of the most iconic family-run Dunkin’ operations in the Northeast, Alex shares how his background in sales, sports, and entrepreneurship shaped his approach to franchising — and how he’s forging his own path while honoring a powerful legacy.

🎙️ In this episode:

• How tech sales gave him the entrepreneurial backbone for franchising
• Lessons learned from legendary operator Carlos Andrade
• The myth of absentee ownership — and why leadership starts in the store
• Why he earned his general contractor license to lead remodels himself
• The value of “healthy tension” between ‘Zors and ‘Zees
• Using collaboration and shared infrastructure to drive growth and efficiency
• What keeps him up at night: defining his legacy

From legacy to innovation, Alex’s story is a blueprint in leading from the front.