Farrah Rose talks about winning the Contribution to International Franchising Award and her career assisting brands to enter new markets
Farrah Rose is director of international development at The Franchising Centre. She has over 36 years of experience and in her current role, she heads up a team of four U.K.- based consultants and manages relationships with over 70 associates on a global basis, offering clients local franchise expert representation in over 100 countries. It’s for this reason – and a raft of other achievements – that Farrah won the inaugural Contribution to International Franchising Award, Global Franchise’s version of a lifetime achievement accolade.
GF: What are the qualities that have, in your opinion, earned this award?
FR: Others might say that Farrah Rose has the charisma, charm, dedication, professionalism, knowledge and skills to build relationships and understand businesses around the world. All I can say is that I have over 36 years of experience in international franchising, during which I have been committed to helping over 400 businesses plan for their international growth.
It has not always been easy, in fact, it’s never been easy, and it has always involved hard work and perseverance. One of the greatest challenges has been to recognize and respond to the different cultures in different countries. I guess that my multinational background has helped. My mother was Iranian, my father Russian, and I was raised and educated in both Iran and France, before relocating to the U.K. This certainly gave me a head start in understanding diverse cultures!
“I have over 36 years of experience in international franchising and helped over 400 businesses plan for their international growth”
The world is a big place, and it is all about understanding how and why things may work in Australia but possibly won’t work in, say Germany or Croatia, and for different reasons in each case. Sometimes it feels as though I must act as a diplomat or ambassador – not just to one country but to many and I have to promote my clients’ views and expectations in a way that responds to those different cultural aspects. It is important, therefore, to find flexible solutions that satisfy both parties whilst not jeopardizing the core values of the client’s business.
GF: What does winning this award mean to you?
FR: Having dedicated most of my working life to helping businesses expand internationally, it’s an honor and privilege to have been recognized in this way. I’ve been humbled by the messages of support and congratulations from colleagues and friends around the world. The process of working with a brand to take them into new markets can at times be frustratingly slow process, but done professionally and ethically, it can also deliver real rewards. This can be seen not only in a financial sense but also in the satisfaction that comes from knowing that we have helped someone to create a new business model, especially in perhaps a less- developed region or a country that has little or no previous experience of franchising. This award has made all the effort, and sometimes, heartache, worthwhile. I must also acknowledge the part played by my international colleagues around the world and The Franchising Centre team in the U.K.
