Young Ones to Watch: Alyson Ginesta, Director of Brand Marketing for The Learning Experience

Alyson Ginesta joined The Learning Experience in April of 2013, and, the way she puts it, hasn’t looked back since. Ginesta, 31, started her career working in the technology industry in Madrid before becoming the Director of Brand Marketing for the early education franchise. With more than 250 centers across the country, The Learning Experience provides education and enrichment programs for children, from infancy through kindergarten. 

In an interview with 1851, Ginesta shared what drew her to the franchising industry, her advice to other up-and-comers in the space and where she finds inspiration. 

1851: What initially drew you to franchising?  

Ginesta: Franchising allows people to fulfill their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur while giving them the peace of mind that there is a strong support team in place to help navigate through the complexities of owning their own business.

Every day, I’m able to help franchisees live out their dream of owning their own business by providing the marketing tools, resources and support that they need to grow and be successful. 

1851: Where do you see the most opportunity in franchising and why are you excited about the future of the industry? 

Ginesta: Reports show that the franchise industry is on the rise, and there’s no shortage of franchise opportunities out there. Right now, our growing economy means that more people are able to support franchise businesses or have the opportunity to start a franchise of their own. 

Another exciting factor is the upward trend in the number of multi-unit franchisees. At The Learning Experience, 45% of our franchisees are multi-unit owners, which means that we have more experienced operators focused on the continued growth of the brand. 

1851: What advice do you have for other young up-and-comers in the space? 

Ginesta: As a professional working in the franchising industry, the opportunities are endless. I would encourage you to be innovative, never settle and always think about new ways to promote the brand and drive franchisee success—the rest will follow. If you are working for a company that has great opportunity and potential ahead, continue to work hard and embrace every opportunity to grow within it. 

1851: What advice would you give your younger self? 

Ginesta: You don’t have to have everything figured out from day one on the job. Use every day as a learning experience to reflect, improve and continually challenge yourself to be better. 

1851: Who is someone you look to for inspiration? 

Ginesta: Honestly, there is not one person in particular. I gain inspiration from members of The Learning Experience team that challenge the status quo and are open-minded when it comes to trying something new or different. I admire the marketing professionals that are continuing to find new and innovative ways to engage with consumers. And lastly, I am inspired by my family’s never-ending support and constant belief in my future potential.