Cover story


“I feel fortunate to have found a business that fits my skills and excites me as much as the McDonald’s franchise does”


bigger part in decision making, as practiced in my restaurants today. I am also passionate about people being


able to reach their full potential. We have a huge untapped resource of women. On my first day at my first restaurant, two Asian women said to me they’d never had an Asian boss before, let alone a woman. Now I realise how essential visibility is when it comes to role models. The main thing is that I want to prove to my daughter that mummies can do it, but also to build a legacy, to use my platform well – whether that’s helping more women into the workplace or doing positive things for the community. I want to use the brand and my position to do something more.


Any advice for anyone thinking of joining the McDonald’s franchise? What does it take to get on board? It’s a people business. I’ve got just under 300 staff, so it’s all about understanding your people. Each person has something different that makes them tick, and it’s getting to know and understanding what that is. I think I’ve done that in my restaurants so that I know what my leadership team need in order to be able to do their jobs. Plus, of course, hard work and


competition in every way. They have been serving the UK for over 50 years. It is still as iconic and exciting now, as it was then. It is the global brand I grew up with and which my children are growing up with too, so it’s familiar, trusted and consistent – and the one place you can go to anywhere in the world and know what you are getting. As I delved deeper, I saw that it’s


a company that’s agile, progressive, resilient and responsive, and one that looks after everyone – suppliers, franchisees, employees and of course its customers, as well its community. I feel very fortunate to have found a business that fits my skills and excites


14 | The Franchise Magazine 2026


me as much as the McDonald’s franchise does. I’m not alone in this. There is a business out there for everyone. You just need to delve deep and search for what you are passionate about, because if you have a passion for it, with hard work it will be a success.


What does the future hold for you? My vision is for a future of greater impact. As well as growth for my own business, I want to be involved in promoting a new kind of leadership: one that is kinder, more empowering and focussed on the needs of the communities I serve. I hope to do this by demonstrating that a different approach to company culture, where women play a


perseverance. You’ll be faced with loads of challenges, but I think you find a different kind of strength in yourself. It’s really important to maintain curiosity, be prepared to constantly learn, because there’s so many things that will be new to you. The main thing is: do right by your people, because once you build that trust, they’ll want to stay and grow with you. If McDonald’s can see that, they should see that you’re a safe pair of hands. Anyone will tell you: “this a people


business” and it very much is. You’ll also hear – and again this is true – that McDonald’s isn’t for everyone. But I’ll tell you what, if you are thinking of doing it, give it a go! You’ve got nothing to lose! 


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