What happens when you combine the discipline of a CFO with the people-first reality of franchise operations?

You get a leadership style that uses data as a tool for clarity, alignment, and real profitability.

In this episode, host Susan Black-Beth sits down with Stellar Service Brands CEO Jessica Wescott to talk about what it really looks like to step into the visionary seat while staying grounded in strong unit economics.

Drawing from their history working together, they explore how to scale with intention, lead with clarity, and keep franchisees at the center of every decision.

Jessica shares insights from her journey through brands like Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes, and how those experiences shaped her approach to leadership, blending analytical thinking with real empathy for operators in the field.

Together, they break down how to build systems that support growth, create alignment across brands, and use data in a way that empowers people at every level.

Key Themes:

• Why understanding the “why” behind the numbers strengthens leadership
• How a focus on unit economics drives long-term, sustainable growth
• What it takes to maintain brand consistency while honoring each brand’s unique identity
• How transparency with data builds trust and confidence across a franchise system

For Operators (Franchisors & Franchisees):

• Know your numbers and use them to guide confident decisions
• Communicate the vision clearly and consistently so your team can move with you

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

• Look for leaders who connect financial performance to real-world operations
• Support thoughtful, well-paced growth backed by strong infrastructure

GUEST BIO

Jessica Wescott is the Chief Executive Officer of Stellar Service Brands, where she leads the strategic growth and operational improvements of a multi-brand home services platform. She previously served as the company’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Stellar, Ms. Wescott built an extensive career in franchising, holding key leadership and finance roles at brands like Fuzzy's Taco Shop and Mooyah Burgers, Fries and Shakes.

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 Jessica Wescott

Jessica Wescott | LinkedIn

How can leaning into the human element of franchising actually lead to more disciplined growth and better investment returns?

Host Susan Black-Beth welcomes her pal Christina Russell, a leader who has navigated nearly every corner of the franchise world - from multi-unit franchisee to CEO of some of the industry's most influential service brands.

Christina shares how her journey through brands like Radiance Holdings, Pure Barre, and Camp Bow Wow taught her that while smart technology is helpful, it can never replace the high-touch, relational nature of service-based franchising.

Drawing from their collective decades of experience, Susan and Christina discuss the importance of risk mitigation - both in business and in life - and why the most successful leaders are those who stay grounded in their non-negotiables.

Key Themes Include:

• Why a brand’s mission doesn’t matter if the unit economics don't work.

• Why sitting in a room, breaking bread, and looking at KPI reports together creates a magical level of insight that Zoom calls and emails simply cannot replicate.

• Understanding why private equity firms often panic in the first year and why taking a beat to right the ship is better than rushing to install a new team.

• Worries, Wins, and Words: A simple, high-impact framework for executive listening that ensures leaders are hearing what is actually happening in the field.

Practical Insights:

For Operators (Franchisors & Franchisees)

• Identify Your Non-Negotiables: Be intentional about how your time is structured so your work doesn’t suck up the moments that matter most.

• Focus on Consistency: The health of a brand is found in its performance variance. Look for consistency in how units ramp up and perform across the entire system, not just the top 10%.

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

• Ask About the Fails: When vetting a brand, ask what the biggest franchisee failure was. If the franchisor only blames the franchisee, it’s a red flag.

• Respect the Analog Process: Encourage your executive teams to get into the field. The most important decisions roll up from the people who are actually sitting in the offices and operating the units.

GUEST BIO

Christina Russell is a board director and former multi-brand franchise CEO with more than 20 years of experience scaling consumer services platforms and leading private-equity-backed growth strategies. She currently serves on the board of Scenthound and the board of the International Franchise Association Foundation.

Ms. Russell was previously Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Radiance Holdings, a private-equity-backed beauty and wellness platform built in partnership with PNC Riverarch and successfully sold to TSG Consumer Partners. She has also served as CEO of Sola Salon Studios and Pure Barre and as President of Camp Bow Wow.

Ms. Russell holds an MBA from the University of South Florida and is a Certified Franchise Executive.

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 Christina Russell

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

Learn More About IFA Foundation’s Franchise Ascension Initiative:

https://pages.franchise.org/ifa-franchise-ascension-initiative/

How can a franchisee maintain the same level of quality and connection when scaling from a single location to being a multi-unit, multi-brand operator (MUMBO)?

In this episode of Owl’s Edge podcast, host Susan Black-Beth sits down with Mitch Cohen, a franchise veteran who has lived the journey from the inside for nearly forty years. From his start as a Baskin Robbins franchisee to scaling into multi-unit, multi-brand operations with brands like Dunkin’ and Jersey Mike’s, Mitch shares the hard-earned wisdom of what it takes to grow.

Susan and Mitch discuss the reality of operational excellence, why the guest doesn’t care how many stores you own, and why your biggest investment must always be in your people.

Key Themes Include:

• Why walking the floor is the most important data point for a multi-unit operator

• How to ensure the guest experience remains consistent whether you own one store or fifty

• Learn the 1% difference that separates a surviving system from a thriving one

• Why investment in people and training precede the desire for rapid expansion

Practical Insights for Success

For Operators (Franchisors & Franchisees)

• Focus on Local Store Marketing: The most successful operators are those who are deeply involved in their local communities and build relationships at the neighborhood level.

• Shift from Managing to Leading: You have to move from being the one doing the work to the one empowering and training others to do the work at a high level.

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

• Look for Operator-Led Expertise: When evaluating a brand, seek out advisors who have lived it and understand the nuances of unit-level economics and franchisee relations.

• Assess the Health of the Support System: Ensure the franchisor is reinvesting in the tools and training necessary for multi-unit operators to succeed.

ABOUT MITCH COHEN:

Mitch Cohen is someone who has lived the franchise journey from the inside for nearly four decades. Mitch began as a Baskin-Robbins franchisee, eventually becoming one of the first operators to scale into a multi-unit, multi-brand Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins franchisee in New York. Today Mitch operates Jersey Mike’s locations on Long Island, is developing Sola Salon Suites, and is a founding partner at PerforMax Franchisee Advisors, where he and his business partners support brands and franchisees in building healthier systems. Mitch serves on the board of the International Franchise Association and is the Chairman of the 2026 Multi-Unit Franchise Conference.

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 Mitch Cohen on LinkedIn

Mitch Cohen | LinkedIn