How Finding the Right Balance Between Personal and Professional Life Helps Danessa Itaya Succeed in Both

Danessa Itaya was first introduced to the residential cleaning industry after moving to Michigan with her family. Her husband accepted a job in the area, so she started interviewing with nearby brands and came across Molly Maid. Over the course of the next 18 years, Itaya wore a variety of hats within the organization. By moving up from an accounting assistant to VP of operations, she proved that she was an expert in her field. So she took that experience with her to Atlanta to help launch Maid Right, Premium Franchise Brands’ residential cleaning concept.

As soon as Itaya learned about Maid Right’s mission and connection to JAN-PRO, its sister company that specializes in corporate cleaning, she knew she couldn’t pass on the opportunity to be a part of it. Now, as vice president of Maid Right, Itaya is helping to fuel the brand’s growth.

“The opportunity to build something from the ground up doesn’t come along often. I knew that I had to jump at the chance to be a part of Maid Right’s business opportunity, and I haven’t looked back since,” Itaya said. “We’ve experienced incredible growth over the past few years, and we’re positioned for an even better 2017.”

When Itaya first started working with Maid Right in 2013, the company was brand new. That meant that she was one of the few women executives helping to get the business off the ground. But even though there weren’t other women working at her level within the organization at the time, Itaya says the brand’s entire team was behind her in her efforts to move her career forward.

According to Itaya, that support system is instrumental to her success. As a woman leader, she says it’s important to be surrounded by others who want to see you do well. But when push comes to shove, nothing can replace a person’s inner drive or passion.

“The best advice that I have for other women working their way up in franchising is to refuse to give up. Sometimes it can be easy to fall into a role that you aren’t passionate about. But it’s worth it to fight hard for the top position that you want, whether you’re male or female,” said Itaya. “As a businesswoman and a mother, there’s always a voice in the back of my mind telling me to spend more time at the office and also be a better mom. But it’s possible to find that balance—women all over the world make it work on a daily basis. There’s nothing that says you can’t be a successful executive and the best possible mom to your family at the same time.”  

Itaya is one of those women who has found a way to make that delicate balance work for both her work and home life. And as more women break into the franchising industry—especially as corporate executives—she’s confident that the trend of women seeing success in both professional and personal roles will continue.

“There are far more opportunities for women in business—and franchising—today than there were when I first started out. And even though it still isn’t completely equal, some of the top leaders in the industry are female. That’s something that’s incredibly positive and inspiring to see,” said Itaya. “With women like Shelly Sun leading the way in franchising over the course of the next year, there’s no doubt that the industry will continue to see even more women take on leadership and executive roles.”