Franchise Update Magazine Issue I, 2014 | Page 23

WOMEN AT 24 THE TOP Sharon DiMinico Founder and CEO, Learning Express How has your life experience made you the leader you are today? My How much of your time do you spend at that, and what are you doing to spend more? When I started father was an entrepreneur and instilled in us the belief that we could do anything we wanted to do if we worked hard. this company, I worked 14- to 16-hour days, 7 days a week for years. Now it’s more 10-to-6, 5 days a week. It’s never been a job to me—it’s a passion. Role models? Mom, dad, professors, and employers along the way. “Our store owners provide their communities with exceptional toys—the building blocks of social, physical, and cognitive development.” Management gurus or books that have deeply affected you: Jack Welch. Has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life? I take great pride in the personal and professional growth of the people I work with every day. We have an amazing team. I am not a micro-manager. Our people are grateful that I trust them to take on projects and run with them. SYSTEM REVENUE: $130 million NO. OF UNITS: 131 PUBLIC OR PRIVATE: Private “I take great pride in the personal and professional growth of the people I work with every day. We have an amazing team.” Female leaders you admire: I’m GROWTH PLANS: 140 stores next year, 160 in 3 years, 180 in 5 years FOUNDED: 1987 BEGAN FRANCHISING: 1990 YEARS WITH COMPANY: 26 What do you like most about what your brand/legacy represents? YEARS IN FRANCHISING: 23 INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS: 0 Leadership style: Set high expectations early on and lead by example. Always compliment good work and retrain when mistakes are made. Was becoming CEO of an organization part of your professional plan? No. We’re not big on titles here. not a very good networker, so I personally have no connection to other women entrepreneurs. I think Meg Whitman has an interesting story, as does Carly Fiorina. The leaders in our company work the longest hours—because they want to. Advice for young female CEO aspirants: Speak your mind. Remain anyone! Seriously, there is a wonderful sense of freedom when you own your own business. positive. What do you love most about being CEO? That I don’t have to report to That we provide a great opportunity for people to spend more time with their family, make a good living, and have fun at work. That our store owners provide their communities with exceptional toys—the building blocks of social, physical, and cognitive development. What role does diversity play in your management team? The ex- ecutive team is made up of three women and one man. We have 31 employees, 20 women and 11 men. If you are expanding overseas, does being a woman affect growth? How? We are not expanding overseas at this time. n Franchiseupdate Franchiseupdate I S S U E I , 2014  21