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 Jon Sica Builds the Foundation Everyone Else Skipped | President Batteries Plus
Jon Sica, President of Batteries Plus, joins Katherine LeBlanc at IFA 2026 for a conversation that covers the full arc of modern franchise leadership — from data lakes and AI infrastructure to the franchisee exit strategy conversation most brands never have.
Jon shares how Batteries Plus bakes exit planning into their franchise development process through their Full Circuit program, why brand standards land differently when they're framed around franchisee asset value, and how raising net worth requirements actually increased — not decreased — their qualified candidate flow.
They also dig into the AI investments Batteries Plus is making right now: AI-powered competitor price checks, AI secret shopping of their own stores, and the foundational data infrastructure work that makes all of it possible.
Topics covered:
Why Jon leads brand standard conversations with exit strategy
The Full Circuit program and why exit planning starts before a franchisee signs
Data lakes, MCPs, and building an AI-ready infrastructure
How Batteries Plus raised net worth requirements and improved lead quality
Franchisee trust, two-way communication, and what "relentlessly dissatisfied" means as a leadership mindset
What franchising needs more of — and less of — right now
Franchise Leader Spotlight is the podcast where Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO and founder of Apollo CMO, sits down with franchise brand presidents, CMOs, and operators for honest conversations about what's actually working in franchise growth.
Brought to you by MyPodcastHost — the podcast platform built for franchise brands. Private internal podcast channels for franchisee communication and the Franchise Podcast Network for public brand voices. Learn more at mypodcasthost.com.
