Ep126 Inside the FCA’s Comeback: A Conversation with CEO Jay Westbury

Jay Westbury, CEO of the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA), joins Glenn to reflect on a pivotal 13 months leading the organisation through transformation and renewed momentum.   When Jay stepped into the role, his focus was clear — stabilise the FCA, rebuild confidence, and get franchising’s “mojo” back. In this episode, he walks through how he turned a $1.5 million loss into a $264,000 profit by returning to basics, focusing on core events like the Franchise Industry Awards and the National Franchise Convention (NFC), and fostering collaboration across the industry.   Jay also shares insights on leadership, financial discipline, and the power of keeping things simple. With the next NFC announced for Canberra, and plans to strengthen the FCA’s national engagement, this episode captures a moment of optimism and strategic focus for the franchising community in Australia.   0:00 Introduction 1:34 Reflecting on his first 13 months leading the FCA and the strategy to stabilise the organisation  3:22 The small core team that helped rebuild the organisation  6:08 Lessons from past leadership mistakes and the importance of balancing revenue with growth 7:59 Setting the stage for the next NFC and why Canberra is the perfect location  10:50 Highlighting the FCA’s key events for 2025, including the FIA, NFC, and state Christmas parties 13:30 Wrap up   Podcast Produced by:  www.franchisebusinesshub.com.au   Listen or Watch on;   Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2c6mpet9 Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/3zbe26m3 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/3835v29j YouTube: https://youtu.be/hXmhSNoiVAo