1851

1851: &nbsp;What was it that drew you into franchising?&nbsp;

Barb Agostini, Vice President of Partner Development for <a href="https://www.o2ebrands.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=young-ones-to-watch-barb-agostini-of-o2e-brands-2704921" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">O2E Brands</a>: I grew up in business ownership. My father owned an Italian restaurant. My parents were born in Italy and my father had limited access to education aside from the skills he learned working and in the military.&nbsp; When he immigrated to North America, entrepreneurship allowed him to build a life for his family. He was a very hardworking and dedicated man. But it was hard &ndash; he had to do and be everything with the business.

What drew me to franchising was the draw I&rsquo;ve had to business ownership opportunities and seeing how franchises allowed good, hardworking people to build a business with support and proven systems. All the benefits of getting to own and run a business, but without the complete sacrifice and lack of balance that comes with doing it alone.

1851: What do you see as the biggest change that is going to impact the franchise industry going forward?&nbsp;

Agostini: The biggest change I see is the shift to the &ldquo;gig economy&rdquo;. Long gone are the days of the long-term commitments to a few companies. More and more, people are shifting from doing one thing to the next at a faster pace. Gaining skills here and there then moving to the next thing. With short-term commitments becoming the norm, how will this impact how people are &ldquo;wired&rdquo; to work in the future? Will the appeal of committing to owning one business and growing it over the next 5-10+ years have the draw of the past and present?&nbsp; Maybe it will be the answer they&rsquo;ve been longing for, or maybe it will be too foreign a concept for them. Time will tell.

1851: How did you get in the role you&rsquo;re in now?&nbsp;

Agostini: I&rsquo;ve been a fan of the founder, Brian Scudamore, for years. He&rsquo;s truly committed to being &ldquo;all about people&rdquo;. He&#39;s since launched four businesses with hundreds of franchise owners across those that employ thousands of people.&nbsp; I had the opportunity to work on a couple of consulting projects with them over the years. This both gave me an insider view into the organization as well as work with many of their people. Common threads among everyone I&rsquo;d met in the business &ndash; smart, super switched on, hard working, high attainment, happy, and authentic. I had also worked with the VP of People when we were both at a different firm. So, when he joined O2E Brands, I&rsquo;d let him know that if there was ever a role that could be a match to let me know.&nbsp; This role came up, I wanted in!

1851: What advice would you give to other young up-and-comers?&nbsp;

Agostini: Franchise development will give you the opportunity to have a profound impact on many people&rsquo;s lives. Not only those that you help in bringing into business ownership, but also all the people they&rsquo;ll employ in their communities. The magnitude of the decision is massive. You&rsquo;re not asking someone to buy a Pepsi or a Coke, you&rsquo;re asking them to change their lives.&nbsp; This is a challenging role, but a very rewarding one when you can match a great potential Franchisee with the right franchise opportunity to help them realize their dream of business ownership.

1851: &nbsp;What advice would you give to your younger self?&nbsp;

Agostini: To own a franchise!

Young Ones to Watch: Barb Agostini of O2E Brands

1851 Franchise

O2E Brands’ Vice President of Partner Development tells 1851 Franchise what inspired her career in franchising.

young-ones-to-watch-barb-agostini-of-o2e-brands

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Photo of HomeTeam inspector in red polo and khaki pants, walking by branded vehicle

Real Estate Today: Behind the Drywall: The Truth About Home Inspections

purpose-of-home-inspection

Dog Training Elite

Dog Training Elite Franchise - DTE - National Service Dog Month - 1851 Franchise

Celebrating Service Dogs: Why Proper Training Changes Lives — And How Dog Training Elite Is Leading the Way

dog-training-elite-national-service-dog-month

Senior Care Authority

How This Senior Care Authority Franchisee Turned Love for His Grandparents Into a Lifelong Calling

how-this-senior-care-authority-franchisee-turned-love-for-his-grandparents-into-a-lifelong-calling

Hometown News: Like Father, Like Son — Family-Run Inspection Business Blends Generations of Expertise and a Keen Eye for Detail

father-son-home-inspection-franchise-florida

KLA Schools

KLA Schools of Beachwalk Hosts Admissions Kick-Off Celebration

kla-schools-of-beachwalk-hosts-admissions-kick-off-celebration

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Design with American and Federal Reserve flags against light blue background

Federal Reserve Expected To Cut Rates by Quarter Point, a Move That Could Boost Franchise Growth

fed-rate-cut-boosts-franchise-growth

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

Mike Revak - Chief Business Officer - Sky Zone - Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Mike Revak — President and Chief Business Officer, Sky Zone

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-mike-revak-chief-business-officer-sky-zone

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Cathy Chavenet — Chief Marketing Officer, Paris Baguette

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-cathy-chavenet-chief-marketing-officer-paris-baguette

What It Really Feels Like To Franchise Your Business

what-it-really-feels-like-to-franchise-your-business

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Young Ones to Watch: Barb Agostini of O2E Brands

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS