What does it truly take to lead five powerhouse brands… and keep every single customer and franchisee loyal?
In this candid conversation, Ankin Laysha, COO of Wellbiz Brands, reveals what most COOs miss about operational scale, brand integrity, and building elite franchise teams that actually deliver.
If you think brand consistency is just a checklist and that operations is paperwork, think again. From the brutal realities of breaking into the executive suite as a female leader to the battle of standardization versus brand magic, Ankin cuts through the noise on what works now.
Tune in or miss the proven moves that keep 700+ franchises competitive. If you want to avoid getting left behind and hear the realities other execs won’t share, this episode is your advanced playbook. Listen today and don’t settle for surface-level leadership.
Timestamped Highlights
00:58 – Why female leadership is finally taking over the executive suite
03:01 – The unexpected advantage of running five brands at once
06:23 – The overlooked tools behind flawless brand consistency
09:53 – Brutal truth: franchisee complaints vs. customer reality
13:59 – The hard lesson on platform thinking and brand magic
17:00 – The moment in-the-field leadership unlocked real innovation
20:36 – What working front desk taught her about operational blind spots
30:10 – How surprise and delight moments quietly crush the competition
40:08 – The fast-track strategy for building trust with frontline teams
53:04 – AI’s real role in service businesses (and where human connection wins)
About the Guest
Ankin Laysha is the Chief Operating Officer of Wellbiz Brands, overseeing 700+ franchise locations across Drybar, Elements Massage, Amazing Lash Studio, Radiant Waxing, and Fitness Together. With a track record in multi-unit retail, franchise scale, and innovation, Ankin is recognized for operational rigor, brand growth, and building high-performance executive teams.
🔗 LinkedIn | Website
Mentioned Resources
About the Co-Host
Lindsay Smith is an experience-driven growth strategist and former Chief Strategy Officer. This marks her first episode as official co-host of the podcast. She previously scaled a new region without a traditional sales team or bloated marketing budget by turning relationships, culture, and execution into revenue. She is the author of No One Needs Another Company Mug. Stop Branding. Start Experiencing and helps leadership teams use experience as a competitive growth lever.
🔗 Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn
Important Links
The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold and co-hosted by Lindsay Smith. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
