When Sushma Koritala immigrated to the United States in 2004 to join her husband Brahmaji, she was filled with dreams and ambition. A technology leader by trade, Koritala built a successful career in the corporate world, eventually becoming a technology manager at General Motors. But like many others, her perspective shifted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The isolation of lockdowns led her to reevaluate how she connected with those around her — and how she could create a space for others to do the same.
“After 2020, everything shifted. We were so alone, and I started thinking more deeply about the community,” Koritala said. “Once people started saying COVID was over, I felt the need to get out, to reconnect. I thought, ‘Where can I hang out with my friends? Where can we be together again?’ That’s when the idea started forming — how can I bring people together? That’s where Paris Baguette came into the picture.”
Drawn to the bakery café brand not only for its quality and design, but for the community-centered experiences it fosters, Koritala decided to open her first Paris Baguette location in the Austin suburb of Leander. She hopes it will become a hub where friends, families and neighbors can gather and reconnect — something she believes is more important than ever. “What we missed and what we lost during COVID made me realize — it’s not just about work, careers or even just family,” she said. “Community plays a major role in your life, no matter how much you're thriving or how alone you are. Community is essential.”
As she prepares to open the doors of her bakery café with a soft launch on April 28, Koritala is also thinking about the future. She hopes to eventually become a multi-unit operator and bring Paris Baguette’s mission to even more neighborhoods. For her, this journey into franchising is about more than business — it’s about giving back, creating opportunities and helping others feel a little more connected in an increasingly disconnected world.
1851 Franchise spoke with Koritala about her passion for community and connections, as well as how her corporate career prepared her for her franchising journey with Paris Baguette. Here’s what she had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Sushma Koritala: I moved to the United States as an immigrant in 2004 to join my husband, Brahmaji. Coming here was full of dreams and ambitions, as we all start out with after graduation. We’ve built a beautiful life raising two fantastic boys.
I pursued a career in technology and I’m currently serving as a technology manager at one of the Big Three automotive companies — General Motors. I’ve gained a deep appreciation for innovation, leadership and customer focus. That’s a big part of the culture at GM, and I’ve really learned a lot there.
It’s not a very big story, but definitely, as an immigrant coming in during those times and settling ourselves all by ourselves — raising kids, building a career — it hasn’t been easy. It was very challenging. But I pat myself on the back because the kids are successful and we are thriving.
After 2020, everything shifted. We were so alone, and I started thinking more deeply about community. Once people started saying COVID was over, I felt the need to get out, to reconnect. I thought, “Where can I hang out with my friends? Where can we be together again?” That’s when the idea started forming — how can I bring people together? That’s where Paris Baguette came into the picture.
What we missed and what we lost during COVID made me realize — it’s not just about work, careers or even just family. Community plays a major role in your life, no matter how much you're thriving or how alone you are. Community is essential.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Koritala: Before stepping into franchising, all of my career was in the corporate world. I began as an ETL analyst supporting health care, and then moved into automotive after relocating from Detroit. I've now been with GM for about 15 years. I started as a developer and now lead a team of 30 people as a technology manager, focused on innovation and advanced tech stacks.
I was looking for a business model that was structured, scalable and that had proven success. I don’t have experience running a business outside of the corporate world, so I needed something that could walk me through the process. That’s where Paris Baguette stood out. We looked at some other franchises — ice cream concepts and others — but Paris Baguette stood out for the quality of the products, the brand values and their growth-oriented vision.
Everyone thinks it’s just about the pastries, but for me, it was about the meaningful experiences we can create for guests. That’s why I chose it as my first franchise.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Koritala: Before this, I viewed franchising as something reserved for seasoned entrepreneurs or individuals with extensive business backgrounds. I thought you needed to have everything figured out — capital, operations, a playbook for success.
But that’s not true. My own journey proved that wrong. You don’t need to have all the answers up front. You just need the drive to learn, grow and lead. Especially if you choose the right brand, like Paris Baguette, it’s empowering. They offer the structure, support, mentorship and a team that truly wants you to succeed.
Franchising gives you a strong foundation, but it’s your dedication that brings it to life.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Koritala: It aligned with my passion for community. The product quality was outstanding, and the brand consistently creates joyful experiences. Before becoming a franchisee, I used to visit Paris Baguette in Dallas when I went to see my sister. I introduced my family to it — it became our go-to place to hang out.
What excites me is the commitment I’ve seen from the Paris Baguette team. The excellence in store design, the top-tier products and the vision that goes beyond food — it’s about being at the heart of the neighborhood. That’s what I want to build, and that vision perfectly matched what I was looking for.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Koritala: I definitely plan to become a multi-unit operator. I’m already looking at that. I want to expand into other neighborhoods and communities. Paris Baguette is such a community-focused bakery — I want to bring that to more places.
Right now, I’m the sole owner and this is my first franchise, so there’s still a learning curve. I want to experience it fully before expanding. But I’m already in conversations, and if things go as planned, I’ll be sharing news with you in the next few weeks.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Koritala: Don’t wait for the perfect time. I feel like I’ve missed a lot of opportunities because I waited. If you believe in the brand and have the passion — take the leap. Do your homework. Talk to other franchisees, understand the business model, and make sure the brand aligns with your values.
Most importantly, be prepared to put in a lot of hard work. That’s inevitable. Franchising gives you a strong foundation, but it’s your dedication that brings it to life. You don’t need all the answers on day one. All you need is the drive to learn, grow, and lead.
That’s what I tell my team at General Motors, too — don’t get overwhelmed. Just take one step at a time and focus on learning and understanding what’s happening around you.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Koritala: As an Asian-American woman, a first-generation immigrant and a working mom, I want people to know it’s possible to pivot. We’ve raised two boys without extended family here. We built everything from scratch. My background is in tech, and now I’m opening a bakery.
This franchise isn’t just a business to me. It’s a way to give back — to create jobs, to inspire others in my community to dream big. We’ve hired a general manager, bakers, cakers — I’m proud of that. This is about more than selling pastries — it’s about making an impact.
ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE:
Paris Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The global brand first franchised in the U.S. in 2015 and has since established over 200 locations in markets across North America, making them one of the premier franchise opportunities in their category. Paris Baguette’s primary mission, executed every day by their expert staff of bakers, cakers and baristas, is to provide guests with a warm, welcoming bakery café experience that creates joy for all. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.
Paris Baguette
After years in the corporate world, Koritola turned to franchising with Paris Baguette to create a space for connection and belonging in the wake of the pandemic.
When Sushma Koritala immigrated to the United States in 2004 to join her husband Brahmaji, she was filled with dreams and ambition. A technology leader by trade, Koritala built a successful career in the corporate world, eventually becoming a technology manager at General Motors. But like many others, her perspective shifted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The isolation of lockdowns led her to reevaluate how she connected with those around her — and how she could create a space for others to do the same.
“After 2020, everything shifted. We were so alone, and I started thinking more deeply about the community,” Koritala said. “Once people started saying COVID was over, I felt the need to get out, to reconnect. I thought, ‘Where can I hang out with my friends? Where can we be together again?’ That’s when the idea started forming — how can I bring people together? That’s where Paris Baguette came into the picture.”
Drawn to the bakery café brand not only for its quality and design, but for the community-centered experiences it fosters, Koritala decided to open her first Paris Baguette location in the Austin suburb of Leander. She hopes it will become a hub where friends, families and neighbors can gather and reconnect — something she believes is more important than ever. “What we missed and what we lost during COVID made me realize — it’s not just about work, careers or even just family,” she said. “Community plays a major role in your life, no matter how much you're thriving or how alone you are. Community is essential.”
As she prepares to open the doors of her bakery café with a soft launch on April 28, Koritala is also thinking about the future. She hopes to eventually become a multi-unit operator and bring Paris Baguette’s mission to even more neighborhoods. For her, this journey into franchising is about more than business — it’s about giving back, creating opportunities and helping others feel a little more connected in an increasingly disconnected world.
1851 Franchise spoke with Koritala about her passion for community and connections, as well as how her corporate career prepared her for her franchising journey with Paris Baguette. Here’s what she had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Sushma Koritala: I moved to the United States as an immigrant in 2004 to join my husband, Brahmaji. Coming here was full of dreams and ambitions, as we all start out with after graduation. We’ve built a beautiful life raising two fantastic boys.
I pursued a career in technology and I’m currently serving as a technology manager at one of the Big Three automotive companies — General Motors. I’ve gained a deep appreciation for innovation, leadership and customer focus. That’s a big part of the culture at GM, and I’ve really learned a lot there.
It’s not a very big story, but definitely, as an immigrant coming in during those times and settling ourselves all by ourselves — raising kids, building a career — it hasn’t been easy. It was very challenging. But I pat myself on the back because the kids are successful and we are thriving.
After 2020, everything shifted. We were so alone, and I started thinking more deeply about community. Once people started saying COVID was over, I felt the need to get out, to reconnect. I thought, “Where can I hang out with my friends? Where can we be together again?” That’s when the idea started forming — how can I bring people together? That’s where Paris Baguette came into the picture.
What we missed and what we lost during COVID made me realize — it’s not just about work, careers or even just family. Community plays a major role in your life, no matter how much you're thriving or how alone you are. Community is essential.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Koritala: Before stepping into franchising, all of my career was in the corporate world. I began as an ETL analyst supporting health care, and then moved into automotive after relocating from Detroit. I've now been with GM for about 15 years. I started as a developer and now lead a team of 30 people as a technology manager, focused on innovation and advanced tech stacks.
I was looking for a business model that was structured, scalable and that had proven success. I don’t have experience running a business outside of the corporate world, so I needed something that could walk me through the process. That’s where Paris Baguette stood out. We looked at some other franchises — ice cream concepts and others — but Paris Baguette stood out for the quality of the products, the brand values and their growth-oriented vision.
Everyone thinks it’s just about the pastries, but for me, it was about the meaningful experiences we can create for guests. That’s why I chose it as my first franchise.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Koritala: Before this, I viewed franchising as something reserved for seasoned entrepreneurs or individuals with extensive business backgrounds. I thought you needed to have everything figured out — capital, operations, a playbook for success.
But that’s not true. My own journey proved that wrong. You don’t need to have all the answers up front. You just need the drive to learn, grow and lead. Especially if you choose the right brand, like Paris Baguette, it’s empowering. They offer the structure, support, mentorship and a team that truly wants you to succeed.
Franchising gives you a strong foundation, but it’s your dedication that brings it to life.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Koritala: It aligned with my passion for community. The product quality was outstanding, and the brand consistently creates joyful experiences. Before becoming a franchisee, I used to visit Paris Baguette in Dallas when I went to see my sister. I introduced my family to it — it became our go-to place to hang out.
What excites me is the commitment I’ve seen from the Paris Baguette team. The excellence in store design, the top-tier products and the vision that goes beyond food — it’s about being at the heart of the neighborhood. That’s what I want to build, and that vision perfectly matched what I was looking for.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Koritala: I definitely plan to become a multi-unit operator. I’m already looking at that. I want to expand into other neighborhoods and communities. Paris Baguette is such a community-focused bakery — I want to bring that to more places.
Right now, I’m the sole owner and this is my first franchise, so there’s still a learning curve. I want to experience it fully before expanding. But I’m already in conversations, and if things go as planned, I’ll be sharing news with you in the next few weeks.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Koritala: Don’t wait for the perfect time. I feel like I’ve missed a lot of opportunities because I waited. If you believe in the brand and have the passion — take the leap. Do your homework. Talk to other franchisees, understand the business model, and make sure the brand aligns with your values.
Most importantly, be prepared to put in a lot of hard work. That’s inevitable. Franchising gives you a strong foundation, but it’s your dedication that brings it to life. You don’t need all the answers on day one. All you need is the drive to learn, grow, and lead.
That’s what I tell my team at General Motors, too — don’t get overwhelmed. Just take one step at a time and focus on learning and understanding what’s happening around you.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Koritala: As an Asian-American woman, a first-generation immigrant and a working mom, I want people to know it’s possible to pivot. We’ve raised two boys without extended family here. We built everything from scratch. My background is in tech, and now I’m opening a bakery.
This franchise isn’t just a business to me. It’s a way to give back — to create jobs, to inspire others in my community to dream big. We’ve hired a general manager, bakers, cakers — I’m proud of that. This is about more than selling pastries — it’s about making an impact.
ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE:
Paris Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The global brand first franchised in the U.S. in 2015 and has since established over 200 locations in markets across North America, making them one of the premier franchise opportunities in their category. Paris Baguette’s primary mission, executed every day by their expert staff of bakers, cakers and baristas, is to provide guests with a warm, welcoming bakery café experience that creates joy for all. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.
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