Aicha Bascaro arrived in the United States as an immigrant from Guatemala and, in 1987, took a job delivering pizzas at a Domino's restaurant in Dallas, Texas. What began as an entry-level job became the starting point for a career spanning more than three decades and almost every level of the franchise industry. Bascaro worked as a crew member and manager before moving into senior positions, including director of operations, vice president, international consultant and eventually brand president, where she oversaw more than 300 locations across the country. Along the way, she saw a gap that she believed was easy to overlook: franchise owners could be taught how to operate a particular brand without necessarily receiving the broader business education needed to lead and grow a company. That idea eventually became the foundation for the American Franchise Academy. In 2016, a struggling franchisee contacted Bascaro looking for help with a failing business, and instead of simply offering informal advice, she developed a structured training program around the problems he was facing. The American Franchise Academy was founded on July 18, 2016, and a decade later has grown into a specialised organisation focused on business management education for franchisees and their teams.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
