From the Trenches to the Top

Susan Valverde built thriving franchises in economically disadvantaged areas. Now she's leading other franchisees to success. Her game plan: Make an impact, and revenue will follow.

- CARL STOFFERS

Susan Valverde is the brand president of Sylvan Learning, a tutoring and test prep center franchise. She describes her career as "a series of fortunate but very unexpected turns."

Valverde was born in northern Mexico, immigrated to the U.S. as a child in the early 1980s, and learned entrepreneurship from her parents, who built a trucking business in Mississippi. She became the first college graduate in her family, then worked in banking and economic development–until her career changed in an unforeseen way.

It happened in the year 2000, when Valverde's husband needed to take a professional exam. He did it at a Sylvan Learning franchise location near their south Texas home. While her husband took his test, Valverde observed the center in action. "It just struck a chord," she recalls. "I saw kids running in after a long day of school. I've been that kid who needed extra support when I was learning English."