Victoria O’Connor is from the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside and currently operates a McDonald’s in nearby North Wales
You studied International Business and Economics, how did a career in the hospitality/retail sector through franchising emerge? I’ve always been interested in business and economics so the degree was a natural next step and in many ways, it shaped my understanding of the world and the factors that impact businesses. Perhaps more influential, though, was the experience I gained working in industry. One of my first jobs after university was working for a well-known quick-service restaurant (QSR) franchise. I loved the simplicity, support and structure of a franchise business model and spent the first decade of my career honing my operational and commercial knowledge, before taking the plunge and becoming one of the youngest franchisees in the UK at the time. A huge part of my career was spent
benchmarking against competitor brands, and I always kept my eye on McDonald’s. I could see it was driven by a fantastic culture and competitive edge and, together with my experience and insight into franchising, this is what underpinned my ambition to partner up. It was always a long-held ambition to
operate my own business within QSR and whilst this is my second time ‘around the block’, McDonald’s played a huge role in shaping my definition of success. My love for the brand has also grown over many years, with many personal connections; from seeing the career of my younger sister who works in one of the McDonald’s restaurants grow to the support offered through Ronald McDonald House Charity when my son arrived prematurely. It was the impact of these personal connections and admiration for the brand that convinced me to apply.
What was it like getting the call to say your application was successful? Surreal at first, but an amazing feeling! Initially I felt excitement, relief, gratitude, the list goes on! I spent around seven months in the application process,
completing numerous stages and meetings. When I received the call to say I had been successful I had not long left my final panel meeting, but was still over 100 miles away from home and wanted to tell my family in person, so to say I was ‘excited to share the news’ is something of an understatement!
And how is business going so far? I took on my first restaurant in December 2022, one of the busiest weeks of the year! It was amazing to see the level of teamwork and camaraderie that goes into serving our guests and communities during such a busy period. Fast-forward seven months and the restaurant and team are going from strength to strength, it’s fantastic to be part of this on a daily basis.
How does the brand support its female franchise business owners? McDonald’s nurtures diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the company and at every level. This is a values-driven brand and I feel completely at ease to share and celebrate both my personal and professional ambitions. As a female franchisee with a young family and a baby on the way, I have felt empowered from the outset, which in turn provided me with the confidence to grow both my business and my family. We have a close internal network that celebrates female leadership and looks to ensure that we connect regularly, alongside market leading training courses that serve to inspire and empower women at all levels within the business.
What are your ambitions for the future? Right now, I’m focused on team development, fostering an environment that truly embraces our people, their ambitions, and the importance of everyday connections – simply put, making others smile! I recognise and value the power of a positive people culture, so this will remain our ambition indefinitely. As we expand, we’ll focus on our collective corporate responsibility, whilst continuing to establish strong links with the communities in which we operate. I hope to invest in a growing portfolio of restaurants. In my opinion, there’s no brand better in terms of culture, collaboration and support.
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