Women-Owned Business Series: Lisa Friscia from Franca Consulting

Welcome back to our Women-Owned Business Series! Today we’re featuring Lisa, the founder of Franca Consulting — a talent strategy and leadership coaching practice making high-level organizational support accessible to smaller businesses and social impact organizations.

The inspiration behind Franca Consulting comes from the founder’s own path as a former founding high school principal and Chief People Officer, where she saw firsthand the difference a “brave space” to think and plan can make for a leader’s mental health and impact. That contrast is why she built a practice dedicated to giving leaders exactly that. Read more about her story below!

First, tell us about your business and anything special we should know about it or you.

Franca Consulting- www.francaconsulting.com- As a former founding high school principal and later VP talent and Chief People Officer, I saw how transformative talent startegy and leadership coaching could be in an organization. I wanted to make that type of work accessible to smaller businesses and social impact organizations

Why do you feel a connection to your work?

I try to be the person I wish I had. Leading through growth and transitions is challenging because you are drinking from a firehose. In my founding years, I had times where I had someone creating a brave space for me to think, test and plan. I’ve also had times where I didn’t. The contrast was clear not only in my own mental health but the impact I was having. I care deeply that leaders have a brave space to create the strategy and infrastructure to get them where they need to be.

As a business owner, community is everything. In what ways do you serve your community and how has your community served you?

I’m reading this question in a few ways- First, I think community is everything and I take effort in cultivating mine. I am a part of several professional communities and seek to give as much as I get. I’m always happy to share my experiences, and I host a bimonthly dinner for people in social impact to connect. Second- I’ve always done a fair amount of nonprofit board work. Currently, I’m the fundraising chair for the Brooklyn Debate League and Secretary for the Inspired Community Project.

What advice would you give to others who want to start a small business?

Take the time to know your customer- not just what they like but what they will spend money on and why. There are many good ideas out there- but good ideas don’t necessarily mean there is a market.

What women inspire you and why?

One of my personal heroes is Ella Baker, a civil rights activist who largely operated behind the scenes. She believed that lasting change comes from developing leaders rather than creating followers. That philosophy has shaped how I think about leadership—my goal isn’t to be the smartest person in the room, but to help other people build the judgment and confidence to lead well.

I’m also a huge fan of Mindy Kaling – I admire how she built her career on her own terms while creating funny, deeply human characters who are allowed to be messy, ambitious, insecure, and brilliant all at once. She didn’t wait for permission to tell the stories she wanted to tell.

What do you think are the most significant challenges for small business owners or women in leadership positions?

I think one of the biggest challenges is that many women are still expected to lead through a double bind—we’re expected to be decisive but not intimidating, confident but not “too much,” collaborative but also unquestionably in charge. The issues is that many women end up carrying two jobs at once: the work itself and the work of constantly proving they belong. That’s time and energy that could otherwise be spent building, leading, and thinking strategically.

Please plug any promotions, events, or recent milestones you have!

I have a newsletter- The Accidental People Leader- that I’d love to share. I’m also leading two Maven Workshops in the fall. Start Strong: The First 90 Days is on 9/9, and then Build Your Own Leadership Operating System on 10/14.