Jade Colin made a name for herself as the youngest black woman to own a McDonald小蝌蚪APP檚 franchise at 26. But she says she小蝌蚪APP檚 not stopping there.
Colin, now 28, has been fostering her work ethic since she was 14 years old. But attending the 小蝌蚪APP as a business management student crystalized Colin小蝌蚪APP檚 understanding and passion for business, specifically entrepreneurship.
小蝌蚪APP淥nce I started business management, it all made sense to me,小蝌蚪APP Colin said, drawing from her early work experience. 小蝌蚪APP淟eadership, finance, the details that matter 小蝌蚪APP that小蝌蚪APP檚 what business management taught me.小蝌蚪APP
Throughout her time at UL Lafayette, Colin continued to work, taking positions with McDonald小蝌蚪APP檚, H&R Block, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Academy Sports & Outdoors. All the while, she clarified her vision for her future with the skills she learned.
小蝌蚪APP淜nowing business management, I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淏usiness management teaches you the different pieces of the puzzle to make your business run.小蝌蚪APP
By choosing UL Lafayette, Colin was also able to balance school and work while still making it home to New Orleans most weekends, where her parents own multiple McDonald小蝌蚪APP檚 franchise locations.
Once she graduated in May 2012, Colin began working at her parents小蝌蚪APP McDonald小蝌蚪APP檚 franchise on weekends before going full-time to run a restaurant. During that time, she was named Outstanding Restaurant Manager of the Year for her region and was recognized among the top McDonald小蝌蚪APP檚 managers in the world with the company小蝌蚪APP檚 Ray Kroc Award.
In December 2016, Colin celebrated the grand opening of her first franchise. But publicity didn小蝌蚪APP檛 come until 2018 when her story went from a blog post to national platforms, including .
小蝌蚪APP淚t surprised me, but it小蝌蚪APP檚 inspiring for people to see that you can do anything you put your mind to,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚t doesn小蝌蚪APP檛 have to be as big as McDonald小蝌蚪APP檚, but as long as your mindset is clear, you can do anything you put your mind to.小蝌蚪APP
To maintain her success, the young business owner identified her major challenge early in her role and says she has maintained a steady focus to make it a priority.
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檓 in a people business 小蝌蚪APP developing teams, motivating people, pouring into people and lifting them up,小蝌蚪APP Colin says. 小蝌蚪APP淥nce I figured out how to build a team, how to motivate the team, and how to get results from a team, then my results came.小蝌蚪APP
Colin believes in her company, its brand, and its mission and says she wants to see McDonald小蝌蚪APP檚 grow and grow with it.
小蝌蚪APP淚 want to continue to grow McDonald小蝌蚪APP檚 brand, improving the reputation and serving as a brand ambassador,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭hat小蝌蚪APP檚 my No. 1 focus because McDonald小蝌蚪APP檚 is a wonderful brand.小蝌蚪APP