Amanda Duplantis didn't set out to build a career in franchising. At 21, armed with a biology degree and uncertain about what came next, she moved from Louisiana to Colorado and joined LearningRx at the ground level, working for a multi-unit franchisee. What began as a first job became a 16-year education in franchising, as Amanda advanced through virtually every level of the organization, ultimately becoming Executive Director. Her first IFA convention opened her eyes to a much larger franchise world. Four years ago, a LinkedIn posting led her to FranNet. She joined as Director of Training and, on January 1st of this year, became President. This week on Franchise Today, Amanda joins Stan Friedman to discuss that journey and the lessons she's learned about leadership, systems, franchisee relationships and navigating change. The conversation explores FranNet's unique model, where consultants are themselves franchisees helping prospective entrepreneurs identify franchise opportunities, and how the organization navigated the difficult decision to eliminate exclusive territories and allow consultants to operate nationally. Amanda also shares her decidedly practical approach to AI: Don't chase every new technology. Identify one or two real business problems, solve them well, and remain franchisee first. Then there's today's franchise buyer. AI has created extraordinarily well-researched candidates—but sometimes all that information creates analysis paralysis. Technology can organize data, but can it assess grit, motivation, commitment and fit? Amanda believes human judgment and relationships remain essential. Amanda Duplantis, President of FranNet, this week on Franchise Today. Amanda Duplantis didn't set out to build a career in franchising. At 21, armed with a biology degree and uncertain about what came next, she moved from Louisiana to Colorado and joined LearningRx at the ground level, working for a multi-unit franchisee. What began as a first job became a 16-year education in franchising, as Amanda advanced through virtually every level of the organization, ultimately becoming Executive Director. Her first IFA convention opened her eyes to a much larger franchise world. Four years ago, a LinkedIn posting led her to FranNet. She joined as Director of Training and, on January 1st of this year, became President. This week on Franchise Today, Amanda joins Stan Friedman to discuss that journey and the lessons she's learned about leadership, systems, franchisee relationships and navigating change. The conversation explores FranNet's unique model, where consultants are themselves franchisees helping prospective entrepreneurs identify franchise opportunities, and how the organization navigated the difficult decision to eliminate exclusive territories and allow consultants to operate nationally. Amanda also shares her decidedly practical approach to AI: Don't chase every new technology. Identify one or two real business problems, solve them well, and remain franchisee first. Then there's today's franchise buyer. AI has created extraordinarily well-researched candidates—but sometimes all that information creates analysis paralysis. Technology can organize data, but can it assess grit, motivation, commitment and fit? Amanda believes human judgment and relationships remain essential. Amanda Duplantis, President of FranNet, this week on Franchise Today.
