The Art of Franchise Marketing
In this episode of The Art of Franchise Marketing, host Erin Martin sits down with Angela Olea, Founder & CEO of Sweet Influencers, and Liberty Bernal, President & COO, for a candid conversation on building, scaling, and evolving purpose-driven franchise brands.
Angela and Liberty share lessons from their early days as founders. Including hard-earned insights on hiring, leadership transitions, and navigating private equity, and how those experiences ultimately led to the creation of Sweet Influencers, a company redefining influencer marketing for franchise systems.
The discussion explores how franchises can successfully bridge technology with human connection, why authenticity matters more than ever at scale, and how to design influencer programs that protect brand integrity while delivering measurable results. From local storytelling to legal considerations, KPIs, and long-term influencer relationships, this episode offers a practical roadmap for franchise leaders looking to turn franchisees into true brand advocates.
Angela Olea, RN, CFE, is a pioneering entrepreneur and franchise executive who redefined senior care as the founder of Assisted Living Locators, the nation’s first senior placement and referral franchise. She scaled the brand into a multi-million-dollar organization with more than 155 franchisees across 39 states, earning recognition on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® and the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies.
Recognized as one of Arizona’s Most Influential Women in Business, Angela’s honors include Franchise Dictionary Magazine’s 50 Women of Wonder, the Phoenix Titan 100, and AZ Business Magazine’s Visionary Award. Her journey—from revolutionizing senior care to reshaping how brands grow influence—reflects a legacy of innovation, intentional leadership, and cross-industry impact.
Liberty Bernal is an entrepreneur, franchise executive, and strategic leader with over 25 years of experience scaling brands and building aligned, high-performing businesses. She currently leads vision, strategy, and execution alongside the founder of an AI-powered influencer marketing platform designed for the franchise industry, redefining how brands and creators collaborate through authentic relationships and data-driven results.
With a background as a franchisor, multi-unit franchisee, and supplier, Liberty brings a rare, boots-on-the-ground perspective to growth. She was recognized as the Youngest Female Franchisor after founding and scaling Liberty Fitness to 65 locations before a successful private equity exit.
Today, Liberty works as a franchise consultant, coach, and strategist helping founders, executives, and future franchise owners build clarity, confidence, and scalable systems for sustainable success. Her mission is simple: to help people find the yes that changes everything.
