“Everything I do, personally and professionally, is to enhance the lives of my family.”
– Aaron Harper

In this episode, Aaron Harper shares a deeply personal and practical perspective on franchising, scaling, and leadership. Grounded in family, purpose, and discipline, Aaron walks through what it really takes to build a fast‑growing franchise system—financially, emotionally, and structurally. From pre‑investing millions before launch to “firing yourself” as the business evolves, Aaron offers an unfiltered look at sustainable growth in franchising.

Elyse (Elysium Marketing Group) shares how she built and scaled a franchise-focused marketing agency—why she chose franchising, what franchise development marketing requires, and how she leads a high-trust team while using AI as an efficiency tool (not a substitute for judgment).

“Entrepreneurship is not a straight line… everything in this journey is just a phase. So you’ve gotta push through that phase, and then you get to the next part.” -Elyse Lupin

This week, we sit down with Colleen Upham, co‑founder of Oh Deer, the all‑natural deer, tick, and mosquito control franchise redefining eco‑friendly home services across the country.

Colleen’s story is a powerful blend of mission, resilience, and heart. From mixing formulas in a basement while raising newborn twins to building a franchise system rooted in community and care, she shares what it takes to grow the right way—with intention, values, and a commitment to franchisee success.

We cover:
✔️ Building a purpose‑driven brand
✔️ Knowing when to pause growth to strengthen systems
✔️ Selecting franchisees who align with your mission
✔️ How innovation often comes from the field
✔️ Balancing entrepreneurship and family
✔️ Why “all‑natural” is more than a trend—it’s the future

One of my favorite takeaways from Colleen:
“Never give up. Take a breath, reevaluate, and move forward stronger.”

🎧 Listen now and get inspired: Stars of Franchising (Babson College)

“Your role is to build the business… You can have any conversation with a franchisee if you have a solid relationship. That’s the foundation of everything I’ve learned in the franchise business.” — Patrick Cunningham

In this episode of Stars of Franchising, hosts Ab Igram and Vinnie Onyemah sit down with veteran franchise executive Patrick Cunningham, whose nearly 30‑year career spans Domino’s, Dunkin’, Baskin Robbins, Little Caesars, and now Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay.

Patrick shares how he went from selling molecular sieves to becoming one of franchising’s most respected development leaders, discussing the power of relationship‑driven franchising, the realities of operational challenges today, and what makes Bobby Flay’s brand such an exciting emerging concept.

He offers candid insights on:

• Building trust between franchisors and franchisees
• How ownership changes (private equity, public companies) affect systems
• What great operators look like — and why they matter more than markets
• The biggest myths about franchising
• Growth challenges around labor, capital, and real estate
• Leadership lessons, mentorship, and why “family comes first”

Whether you're a franchisor, franchisee, operator, or aspiring leader in multi‑unit retail, this conversation is loaded with wisdom, honesty, and practical takeaways.

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.

"We’ve been lucky to grow up in a playground of entrepreneurship — churros just happen to be the medium."

In this energizing episode of Stars of Franchising, we sit down with Mateo and Tadeo Acosta-Rubio, Venezuelan-American brothers and second-generation leaders of the beloved global franchise Churromania. From childhood shifts behind the register to launching tech startups while studying at Babson College, their story is about more than just churros — it’s about turning family legacy into innovation.

As co-founders of Clave, a franchise analytics startup, and former founders of Stuvie, the “Airbnb for music studios,” Mateo and Tadeo are blending deep-rooted franchise experience with a Gen Z lens for scale, data, and social impact.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Growing up “smelling like churros” — and turning that into a career
• Why franchising is a goldmine for problem-solvers and innovators
• The creation of Clave, an AI-powered co-pilot for franchise operators
• How social impact and family values fuel their leadership
• Advice from their parents that still guides them daily
• How they’re redefining what it means to be young franchise leaders in a multigenerational business

Whether you're a next-gen franchisee, tech-enabled entrepreneur, or someone building legacy with purpose — this one’s for you.