{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Bootstrapping Success: Kathleen Mundy on Scaling 5 Franchises in 5 Years","description":"How do you go from a devastating personal and professional split to owning a million-dollar franchise empire? Join Alice Tang as she speaks with Kathleen Mundy, who shares her powerful story of "getting the kid while he got the company". Kathleen reveals how she bootstrapped five pizza stores in five years after banks refused to lend to her, and why she threw away her fur coats for an apron to secure her daughter's future. Learn why Kathleen "loves nos" and how she built a legacy as a role model for women in business. In this episode, you\u2019ll learn: The Bootstrap Strategy: How Kathleen scaled five franchises in five years without traditional bank support. Turning Bias into Fuel: Why being underestimated by colleagues and lenders became a primary motivator to prove them wrong. Transition Planning: The necessity of preparing for a business exit at least two years in advance. The "Water's Edge" Process: A tactical method for quieting the mind to make high-stakes life and business decisions. Key Moments 01:23 \u2013 The Turning Point: Kathleen discusses becoming a single mom and the shift from employee to owner. 02:22 \u2013 Building the Empire: Deciding to scale from one store to five within five years. 03:57 \u2013 The Million Threshold: Realizing she was just $150 away from her first seven-figure investment mark. 05:52 \u2013 Cash vs. Equity: Understanding the difference between cash in the bank and business assets. 07:55 \u2013 Navigating Institutional Bias: Why the banks wouldn't talk to a single mother and how she overcame it. 09:32 \u2013 The Strategy of "No": Kathleen explains why a "no" just means you haven't found the right path yet. 13:08 \u2013 Being a Role Model: The responsibility Kathleen felt toward her 75 employees and future female leaders. 14:50 \u2013 The Water's Edge: How Kathleen uses nature to process advice and make final decisions. 17:09 \u2013 Proving the Critics Wrong: Dealing with the judgment of colleagues when moving from a "big life" to an apron and visor. 18:48 \u2013 Forging Your Own Way: Kathleen\u2019s final advice on staying true to your beliefs. ","author_name":"Women's Million Dollar Conversations","author_url":"https:\/\/askalicetang.com\/womens-million-dollar-conversations\/","html":"