In this opening keynote, Jania Bailey, CEO of FranNet and longtime leader in franchising, explores the individual leader’s impact on company performance and growth. Drawing on personal experiences from her own career and insights gained from leaders she has worked alongside across the franchise industry, she will examine how everyday habits, behaviours, and blind spots can either fuel or limit business success. Incorporating themes from her book Thriving: The Journey to Success in the Business World, this session focuses on the practical, personal disciplines that shape stronger organizations and more intentional, sustainable growth. 

Sharing leadership insights from building one of Canada’s most recognized franchise brands over the last 26 years. From guiding growth to over 470 stores and strengthening franchisee support to maintaining brand consistency while adapting to changing consumer expectations, Dale will reflect on what it takes to lead with purpose and deliver performance at scale. Attendees will leave with practical, real-world takeaways on franchisor leadership, system strength, and sustaining momentum in an evolving business environment.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify franchisor leadership decisions that support sustainable growth while maintaining brand consistency and franchisee alignment.

2. Recognize common scaling challenges franchise systems face as markets and customer expectations evolve, and consider practical ways to respond.

3. Apply lessons from the Booster Juice journey to strengthen their own franchise system’s performance, culture, and long-term momentum

In a business environment defined by regulatory scrutiny, economic pressure, and rising stakeholder expectations, enduring strength is not accidental. It is designed.

In this keynote, Catherine Monson, CEO of Propelled Brands and former Chair of the International Franchise Association, draws on decades of experience leading and scaling multi brand, multi market franchise systems.

From governance and franchisee alignment to culture, accountability, and disciplined expansion, Catherine will examine the structural decisions that determine whether brands merely grow or truly endure. She will offer candid insight into the leadership discipline required to protect performance, steward the franchise model responsibly, and position systems for sustainable long term success.

This keynote challenges franchise leaders to look beyond short term metrics and consider how intentional design shapes resilience, credibility, and performance over time.
 

Learning Objectives

1. Recognize the structural and leadership disciplines that contribute to long term brand resilience in franchise systems.

2.Understand how governance, culture, and franchisee alignment influence sustainable performance at scale.

3. Reflect on the strategic choices that differentiate short term growth from enduring brand strength.

Franchising operates within an increasingly interconnected global environment. Policy shifts in one region can quickly influence regulatory discussions elsewhere. Labour dynamics, consumer expectations, digital disruption, and reputational pressures now move across borders with speed and consequence.

This international leadership session will explore the regulatory, economic, and reputational forces shaping franchising across regions and examine where common patterns are emerging. The conversation will focus on how global collaboration strengthens advocacy, protects the integrity of the franchise model, and supports responsible growth in both established and emerging markets.

Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how international developments influence domestic policy environments and what proactive leaders should be monitoring now.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. Identify emerging global regulatory, labour, and reputational trends influencing franchising across key international markets.

2. Recognize common policy patterns and systemic pressures that are shaping the evolution of the franchise model worldwide.

3. Understand the role international collaboration plays in protecting the credibility, advocacy strength, and long term sustainability of franchising.

4. Reflect on how global developments may influence the Canadian franchise landscape in the years ahead.