Here’s what you’ll discover in this article:
- Lydia Akinyemi left her career in finance to become a PuroClean Franchise Owner in 2016, a transition she found natural due to her problem-solving skills developed from being the second of seven children.
- As a woman in leadership in a male-dominated industry, Akinyemi has had to prove herself, but she is grateful for the support system she has within PuroClean and her female colleagues.
- Akinyemi’s advice for women in the restoration industry is to be confident and know that they can succeed, regardless of the task or job site.
When Lydia Akinyemi left her finance career and became a PuroClean Franchise Owner in 2016, it was a natural transition thanks to her upbringing.
Akinyemi is one of the many women in leadership throughout the PuroClean franchise network. PuroClean is one of the best franchise opportunities for women on the market today, offering a business model that empowers Franchise Owners to grow at their own pace while giving women entrepreneurs the flexibility to pursue both personal and professional goals.
As general manager, marketing manager, and co-owner of PuroClean of Southern Westchester in Ardsley, New York, Akinyemi’s previous career and her childhood gave her the skills she needs to lead her PuroClean franchise to prosperity.
“I’m the second of seven; my parents have seven children. Everyone in my family plays a role. And I kind of naturally became the go-to person. I’m a problem solver by nature,” she said in an interview with Cleanfax magazine.
“When we transitioned to [restoration], it was natural and easy to take on that [leadership] role. I would say it was meant to be.”
Standing Up for the Community
When Akinyemi, her husband, and her brother-in-law were looking to strike out on their own and start their property damage restoration business, PuroClean stood out because of the franchise culture the company has fostered over the years.
“We did a lot of research, and we just love the franchise,” she said. “But we also love what this specific franchise has to offer the community and what it represents.”
PuroClean Franchise Owners help neighbors whose residential or commercial properties have been damaged by fire, smoke, water, or biohazards. They’re specialists who work hard to restore a sense of normalcy when everything feels like it’s been turned upside down. Being able to have a direct, positive impact on the community while delivering essential services in a compassionate, ethical manner makes PuroClean one of the best franchises for women on the market today.
PuroClean also represents a commitment to giving back to the community. Franchise Owners across North America are involved in numerous year-round charitable drives and in local business associations, building reputations as business owners who care.
“We’re trying to be more involved in the community,” Akinyemi said. “We’re attending more community events and doing more community outreach… Our biggest goal this year is to make sure the community not only knows us for restoration, but for all the other things we’re part of within the community as a whole.”
No Task Too Big
Day to day, Akinyemi’s schedule is filled with meetings; field technicians, project managers, executives, and her marketing team all need a piece of her time. But she always makes a point to visit local job sites to connect with clients.
“I still love to have my own boots on the ground,” she said. “I still go to job sites to visit with clients, and I still communicate with all of our clients, especially ones that need a bit more hand-holding or are in more dire situations.”
Running an enterprise with women in leadership roles has had its share of challenges.
“One of the biggest challenges I personally faced was showing up at a house and having the clients look at [me] and say, ‘Are there men coming?’” Akinyemi said. “We’ve had to prove ourselves for having a woman-led office. But I’m grateful because I have a good support system in the company. In addition to my husband and his brother, we have a big female-led group [of Franchise Owners].”
“I like to say that my girls could demolish a house; there’s nothing they can’t do. Over the years, as the community has gotten to know us, they’ve accepted us, and we’ve never allowed it to deter us in our journey.”
In fact, her biggest piece of advice for women in franchising and restoration is to have confidence in themselves no matter what.
“There’s no task too big, no job site too dirty that you can’t navigate through,” she said. “As long as you know that you can do anything if you want to do it, you’ll be able to succeed in this industry.”
With severe weather events becoming more frequent and more destructive, Akinyemi said the damage restoration industry is changing fast. But PuroClean’s focus on franchise innovation and customer service should keep it ahead of the curve.
Become a Community Leader!
If you’re ready to step up and step into one of the women in leadership roles across the PuroClean organization, we’d love to hear from you. Get started today by downloading a FREE franchise information kit!