Franchise Leader Spotlight
Insights from the leaders behind franchise growth.
From scaling operations to strengthening franchisee relationships, each episode highlights the strategies and mindset driving performance across multi-unit brands.
Season 1 Episode 1
How Mitch Cohen Defines a Great Multi-Unit, Multi-Brand Operator
Season 1 opens with a conversation with Mitch Cohen, a multi-unit, multi-brand franchise operator and industry leader who believes giving back is just as important as building systems.
From supporting franchise associations to helping brands deliver what franchisees need most through Performax Franchise Advisors, Mitch sets the tone for this series with insight, experience, and perspective.
Season 1 is underway - stay tuned for more.
All Episodes
How Doug Flaig Stops the Shiny Object Trap | Stratus Clean CEO
Doug Flaig CEO Stratus Building Solutions on franchise change management, rebrand, and unit economics — what it takes to keep franchisees aligned.
Doug Flaig has led teams inside 7-Eleven, Burger King, and Dunkin Donuts — and now runs Stratus Building Solutions through a full rebrand and strategic transformation. In this episode, he gets into the mechanics of change management in a three-tier franchise model, why unit economics should be the north star for every brand decision, and the leadership lesson a mentor handed him early in his career that changed how he leads. Straight-talking, grounded, and worth the full listen.
In this episode:
How Doug uses tier-based communication groups to prevent speculation from filling the vacuum
Why the "hedgehog principle" and EOS keep Stratus focused when shiny distractions pile up
The leadership shift from individual contributor to servant leader — and why it changed everything
Guest: Doug Flaig, CEO, Stratus Building Solutions Host: Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO | Apollo CMO
