While 28-year-olds are struggling to find a career path that best suits their desires, Jade Colin has made history as the youngest black woman to own a McDonald’s franchise in the United States.
Jade Colin and her employees in her restaurant — Photo: Black Professional
The New Orleans native and business management graduate of the University of Louisiana went straight for her dream after graduating in 2012 by working in her parents’ restaurant and studying McDonald’s procedures and policies.
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She told The Black Professional that she underwent extensive training after applying for the Next Generation programme reserved for children of McDonald’s owners.
At 26, she completed Hamburger University – the training facility for McDonald’s – and passed her interviews in 2016 with McDonald’s corporate executives thereby making history as the youngest franchise owner.
“Take the risk and know that it will be a lot of hard work. Pray about it. God sends everyone on a different journey in life. As you build your relationship with Him he will help lead and guide you in the right direction,” Colin advises.
She said her biggest inspiration is her parents who created a generational wealth by purchasing their first McDonald’s franchise in 2010. They now own six.
“Network and have a core team of genuine mentors. You need people who are in your corner that will positively motivate you. I say genuine because not everyone will have your best interest at heart,” adds Jade Colin.
Black people are slowly climbing up the steep ladder to the competitive world of entrepreneurship which has been long dominated by non-black people.
