June 20th 2024.
Janine Harper never imagined that her career path would lead her to become a franchisee. After working as a TV News Producer in Japan, she returned to the U.S. and found herself searching for her next big opportunity.
In 2015, Harper's six-year-old daughter joined the Brooklyn Robot Foundry programs and Harper was immediately impressed with their hands-on approach to teaching children about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). She was also drawn to their commitment to diversity, ensuring that their staff represented a variety of backgrounds and identities. With a background in tech herself, Harper was especially inspired by the fact that the Foundry was founded and run by a woman who was also an engineer. Her own experience in the tech industry included roles in software development, support engineering, and as a Scrum Master at Kaplan, where she led technical teams.
According to their website, the Brooklyn Robot Foundry's mission is to make STEAM learning fun and accessible to children aged 2-12, inspiring them to continue exploring, problem-solving, and using their imagination. In 2022, the Foundry launched the Frandowment Competition, offering one franchise free of fees for the first year to a deserving owner.
At the time, Harper was working as an Associate Data Scientist at IBM. When she heard about the Frandowment Competition, she knew it was an opportunity she couldn't pass up. After doing her research and consulting friends with experience in franchising, she took the leap and applied. The Foundry team was impressed by her experience and thoughtful application, which emphasized the importance of equity and representation in programs like theirs. In July 2023, Harper was announced as the winner and opened her first location in September of that year.
The Frandowment opportunity is rare in the franchise industry. While franchisors may offer various incentives for ownership, it's uncommon for them to provide significant discounts or free fees for the initial investment, royalties, inventory, and marketing. Harper shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE, "I always saw myself as the CEO of my own career, constantly learning and earning certificates to advance to my next role. But I never really considered myself an entrepreneur. The Frandowment competition was a wake-up call for me. While I don't think it would have been impossible for me to own a franchise without the competition, the thought of getting a break on fees for the first year really motivated me. I knew I could always go back to data science, but this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so why not take a chance?"
Harper's realization that the Frandowment opportunity was about more than just discounts speaks to the importance of programs like this in the franchise sector. They can encourage BIPOC entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs to pursue franchise ownership and break down barriers that have historically limited access to capital and opportunities.
"The Frandowment competition allowed me to envision a different future for myself and my family. And I believe it can do the same for others. Our communities have faced barriers to success for far too long, and competitions like this can help level the playing field. I hope other franchisors will consider this as a way to promote diversity among their franchisees," explained Harper.
As a native of Jamaica, Harper feels a strong sense of freedom and pride in running her own business, particularly a Brooklyn Robot Foundry. She sees it as a perfect fit for the celebration of Juneteenth this month. "I am free to succeed, but also free to fail. My hope is that by creating inclusive classrooms filled with future engineers, we can address the lack of diversity in technology. Our curriculum exposes children to creative problem-solving and builds their confidence, skills that will serve them well in any field they choose to pursue in the future," she said.
In an effort to promote equity, Harper's franchise maintains a scholarship list to provide financial assistance to families in need. They also actively seek grants and partners, such as the New York Public Library, to offer free classes to the public.
"Having worked in the tech industry, I couldn't ignore the lack of diversity and tokenism that exists. It's crucial that we hear a range of voices and perspectives, and that's what I hope to achieve with my franchise. I want to make a positive impact on the lives of the children and families in my classes. And the biggest motivator for me is knowing that my daughter is watching. I hope to inspire her to use her own talents and ideas to one day create a business that solves a problem she's passionate about, learning from my own mistakes along the way," Harper shared.
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