I have always believed in forging my own path, even if it was not the conventional one. From an early age, I knew I loved connecting with people,
understanding their stories, and finding common ground amongst our differences. Growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I was surrounded by a family that valued hard work and academic achievement. My grandparents, who fled Europe during wartime, made their new lives in America through perseverance, resourcefulness and self-reliance. They instilled these values, resulting in their success through entrepreneurship, in my parents and their grandchildren.
While my parents chose more traditional corporate and professionally academic careers, my father's unfulfilled dream of starting and owning a
successful business always lingered in my mind. I often wondered, “Why not?” At the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), I was drawn to the study of Economics and Psychology — fascinated by the juxtaposition of business and human behavior. My journey took an unexpected turn when I was approached
by a lululemon athletica advance team to help open a studio in Ann Arbor. I seized the opportunity to integrate hands-on experience with my dual degree course work.

Managing the lululemon retail showroom was my first taste of entrepreneurship. I thrived on the challenges and rewards of building a brand, managing the business and building community engagement. Introducing lululemon to Ann Arbor ignited my newly identified enthusiasm for growing a business. My next adventure was with LivingSocial during the daily deal boom. I sold marketing solutions to local businesses, many of which were franchises. I loved seeing the impact of my work on these businesses, especially those owned by former corporate executives who had taken the leap into entrepreneurship. One client, a franchisor, needed help with building a sales team to expand the brand nationally. Eagerly accepting this role marked the unforeseen beginning of my career in franchising. Over the next decade, I actively participated in the transformation of a small brand into a major franchise equity firm. I wore many hats, learning every aspect of the franchise business from seasoned executives. My fascination with franchising quickly grew to passion, fueled by the rewards of assisting my clients achieve their dreams of business ownership. After twelve years of leading the development of various franchise brands, I found myself echoing the sentiments of many of my clients: “I want control over my destiny,” “I want to work for myself,” and “I need more flexibility.” It was time to take my own advice and become a consultant for The Perfect Franchise.

I had always envisioned climbing the corporate ladder, even working toward completion of my MBA to stay competitive. However, I soon realized the
gratification of building relationships to help my clients identify and achieve business ownership, personal and financial freedom, and the chance to build true wealth far exceeded reaching steps on that ladder. Looking back, I could not have predicted this career path, but I am grateful for every turn that has led me to accomplishing my own dreams by enabling my clients to improve the quality of their lives by achieving their dreams. It may not have been a traditional journey, but it has been, and always will be, incredibly rewarding to see my clients find joy and success in their ventures.