Christine Kelly (Chris), is the founder and chairman of Little Kickers with 350 locations in 33 countries. She joins Rebecca Monet and Tracy Kawa from Malta on this episode of The Franchise Woman podcast: Where Passion & Purpose Collide.
What makes Chris Kelly such a great leader? I think it’s several things including her childhood upbringing, her Quaker boarding school education, being true to her values and conscious decisions she has made along the way.
When asked directly what makes her a good leader, Chris stated 5 specific things. One of my favorite ones was regarding who she picks to work or partner with. Her criteria is very specific.
She ONLY works with people she likes and enjoys spending time with.
Shocker right? Yet, how many franchisors select franchisees (someone they will have a 10-year relationship with) solely on the basis of money, drive and/or skill? Or for that matter, how many employers have employees who get under their skin for one reason or another, yet they possess the right education, experience or skill set?
Meet Christine Kelly
After graduating from Aston University in 1993, with a degree in International Business and Modern Languages, Christine joined JP Morgan.
Christine founded Little Kickers in London following the birth of her son, Lukas, in 2002. The company sold its first franchise in 2004, and currently operates through a network of over 350 franchisees in 33 countries.
Little Kickers has won a number of awards including most recently, the “Best Business Serving Football” in the 2021 Football Business Awards. The British Franchise Association’s “Award for International Development” in 2017 and “International Superbrand” in 2020 and the Canadian Franchise Association’s “Franchisor of the Year” award in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2021. Little Kickers was also recognized as one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top Global Franchises” from 2016 – 2021 and won the title of “Global Franchise Champion” at the 2020 Global Franchise awards. Christine was awarded “International Businesswoman of the Year 2021” in the UK National Business Women’s Awards and was the Aphrodite Award winner in the NatWest / Daily Mail Everywoman Awards 2020.
Christine was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by Aston University in 2019 for her contribution to entrepreneurship.