Welcome to Episode 117 of Unpredicted Entrepreneur! Join hosts Roxanne Rapske and Sara Waskow as they sit down with special guest Laura Bradburn, owner of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives South Orange County, and known as Laura the Lighting Lady. After nearly 30 years in corporate America, Laura reinvented her career, embracing entrepreneurship and creative freedom.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

- Transitioning from a long corporate career to business ownership

- Leveraging diverse skills and experience in franchising

- Building a service business as a woman in a male-dominated industry

- Practical tips on hiring, managing employees, and family involvement in your business

- Lessons in branding, standing out in your market, and creating client relationships

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the @yourlocalfranchiseexperts YouTube channel, and check out the links below for more resources on franchising and entrepreneurship!

Contact Laura Bradburn at 949-523-3936. You can also view her work online at https://www.outdoorlights.com/oc. If she's in the field and unable to answer, an AI assistant named Sarah will take your information, and they will call you back within an hour.

Connect with Sara Waskow - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarawaskow/

Connect with Roxanne Rapske- https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannerapske/

Would you like to learn more about our FREE Franchising Resources? Use this link to receive all of the information: https://linktr.ee/Frannetdfw

Chapters for this episode:

00:00:00 Laura's Unpredicted Career Pivot

00:01:55 From Landscape Architecture to Corporate America

00:03:18 The Impact of Covid and Revaluation

00:04:48 Translating Corporate Skills to Business Ownership

00:06:06 "Who Not How" and Playing to Strengths

00:08:11 Becoming "Laura the Lighting Lady"

00:09:49 First to Market: Building a Franchise in California

00:11:09 Branding, Differentiation, and Relationships

00:15:03 Running a Family Business with Her Husband

00:18:35 Hiring and Managing a Service-Based Team

00:21:26 Group Interviews and Finding the Right Fit

00:25:32 Advice for Women and Aspiring Entrepreneurs

00:28:19 How to Connect with Laura

#unpredictedentrepreneur #podcast #womeninbusiness #franchiseownership #businessideas #careergrowth #careertransition