How Jania Bailey of FranNet Worked Her Way to the Top Despite Challenging Odds

When Jania Bailey was a young girl, she never could have imagined that she’d one day be the President and CEO of one of the most powerful companies in franchising—FranNet. Today, she’s regarded by her colleagues as “graceful under pressure” and as someone who “gives more of herself to those around her than seems humanly possible.”

But the road to success for Bailey wasn’t always easy. And yet, despite the obstacles that were thrown her way over the years, she wouldn’t have it any other way—in fact, it was the most challenging years of her life that have shaped the person she is today.

At the age of 16, Bailey had her first child. Although she had dreams of becoming a lawyer, having a new family to provide for meant that any plans she had to go to college had to be put on hold. Then, a local bank in Paducah, Kentucky offered her a job. Grateful for the opportunity, Bailey worked diligently and with an unrelenting positive attitude. Her work ethic resulted in promotion after promotion, and eventually, Bailey was receiving offers from other banks. For over a decade, she held executive roles at major banks, such as People’s First National Bank, PNC and Fifth Third Bank.

Although the promotions were blessings in her family’s life, it also meant moving to Louisville to take on a new role with Fantastic Sams as its regional vice president. And while the opportunity was too good to pass up, the move put Bailey further away from her grandmother and other family members who helped her with her children while she was away at work.

“I’m a big believer that everything that happens in life touches us and helps us become who we are. Those were some of the toughest years. I was a single mother for the majority of my son’s growing up years while simultaneously trying to build a bright future for my growing family,” Bailey said. “But I learned that you have to keep pushing forward—just keep putting one foot in front of another.”

It’s clear that positive outlook has worked in Bailey’s favor. She recently celebrated her tenth anniversary with FranNet—and so far, she already has a lot to celebrate. One of her biggest accomplishments to date was bringing the FranNet team together and taking the company to the next level after she took over the role of President and CEO. Watching—and participating in—the growth of the company has been one of her proudest moments. And it’s clear that hard work has paid off—FranNet has spent six years on elite INC Magazine lists and recently launched Pinnacle, a development company that works with newer brands to prepare them for FranNet. And today, with nearly 120 consultants throughout the world, FranNet’s efforts helped support the creation of nearly 6,000 jobs in 2016 alone.   

Bailey credits much of her success over the years to her past experiences. Being a banker for 18 years has been extremely beneficial in her current role, giving her a better understanding of both the world of small business lending and the needs of FranNet’s clients. And the years spent with Fantastic Sams gave Bailey a firsthand look into the world of franchising, helping her to better relate to both franchisees and franchisors.

“At any given time, it might be difficult to see how all of those jobs you’ve held over the years might come together. But my different experiences from my past fit together in a way that couldn’t be more ideal for my current position,” Bailey said.

Through all of these experiences, Bailey has come to understand the importance of honest hard work—especially as a woman. One of the greatest challenges for Bailey over the years was balancing being a full-time single mom and a full-time professional. But today, she’s proud to say that with the right mix of patience and persistence, it really is possible to have it all.

“During my time with FranNet, I’ve also raised two great sons. I was a young, single mother for their growing up years, and we survived and grew up together. I learned a lot about myself during that time. I realized that if you work hard enough and if you’re committed, you can pull yourself out of any situation and advancement is possible. Use every opportunity you have to learn everything about your industry. Become an expert. It’s also important to believe in yourself,” Bailey said. “Maintaining the work-life balance matters, too. The biggest challenge everyone has in their careers is being sure you don’t lose sight of what’s important—your family and your friends. I’ve had to readjust several times. You can’t let work consume you. Your job is what you do—not who you are.”