Even as a senior at Wofford College Katie Wiebusch ’13 knew what it would take to succeed in business. During her spring semester, she took 18 hours of classes and worked 20-hour weeks doing an internship that she hoped would open the door for another job. Now director of franchise consulting on the corporate team for Pure Barre, she and her team are responsible for the performance of 320 franchises and six corporate locations.
She returned to campus this summer to share her wisdom and inspire the same work ethic in students participating in The Institute, a five-week professional skills development program at The Space in the Mungo Center.
“I’ve always been told you need to be the hardest worker in the room,” says Wiebusch. “I love working with Pure Barre because the company recognizes hard work, and I can see the value I’m adding to the company each day. Everything we do matters, impacting our franchisees and clients, and that’s really motivating for me.”
Wiebusch is based in Spartanburg but spends about half of each month traveling to different Pure Barre locations around the country. She and her team analyze franchise financial data, run comparisons and benchmarks, and write action plans to improve performance. She even washes the dishes or scrubs the floors on location if needed. Wiebusch also teaches a few classes for fun in Spartanburg at the local studio to add to her credibility with franchise owners.
Because of all the travel, “my Instagram life looks really glamorous,” says Wiebusch, “but it comes with 4 a.m. wake-up calls and late nights.”
That’s one of the truths about business she wants current Wofford students to realize.
“Nothing is as easy as it seems,” says Wiebusch. “That’s why it is important to have a job you’re passionate about. That passion make it easier to work hard.”Wiebusch also advocates self-discipline, accountability and hard work as keys to success.
"When I was in college I worried that I didn't have a 4.0," she says, "but it's not only about grades. In the corporate world it's about hard work. There is no easy way out, and there are always tradeoffs."
Wiebusch isn't the only Terrier on the Pure Barre corporate team. She works side by side with others who share a passion for the brand and work hard for the company every day; Martha Albergotti ’08, vice president of franchise development; Elizabeth Bethea Shuler ’07, director of operations; Mary Branch Reath ’09, real estate analyst; Mathew Shemanski ’14, product analyst; and Elizabeth Satterwhite ’15, franchise recruitment coordinator.
by Jo Ann Mitchell Brasington ’89