In this episode of Leadership Backstage, we sit down with Betsy Hamm, whose career journey spans from a marketing intern at Hershey to the CEO of Duck Donuts, one of the most beloved franchise brands in the world.

Betsy takes us behind the scenes of scaling a family-owned business into an international franchise, navigating rapid growth, maintaining consistency, and leading through major organizational change. She also opens up about the challenges women face in leadership, why strategic planning matters, and how relationships and team culture drive long-term success.

From surviving early career mistakes to launching a new business of her own, Betsy shares actionable lessons, candid stories, and leadership insights for anyone navigating growth, franchising, team building, or entrepreneurship.

00:00 Introduction to Leadership Backstage

00:15 Meet Betsy Hamm: From Roller Coasters to Donuts

00:59 Betsy’s Career Journey: From Marketing to CEO

03:08 The Rise of Duck Donuts: From Local to Global

06:24 Challenges of Franchising & Maintaining Consistency

10:14 Navigating Rapid Growth & Scaling

16:43 Transitioning Leadership & Private Equity

24:40 Working with Founders & Driving Change

29:30 Universal Business Strategies

31:05 Learning from Mistakes

33:09 Proud Moments & Career Highlights

34:48 Launching a New Venture

37:00 Supporting Women in Leadership

46:01 Professional Development & Growth

54:05 Strategic Planning for Business Success

56:49 Closing Thoughts & Contact Info

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#CareerDevelopment #ScalingBusinesses #CEOInsights #LeadershipJourney