In an exclusive conversation with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Karissa Pazdor, a driven entrepreneur from Winnipeg, shares her journey of owning and operating four Little Caesars franchises across Manitoba. With a career that began managing multiple Tim Hortons locations, Karissa exemplifies the resilience and dedication required to thrive in the competitive food industry.
Karissa reflects on her entrepreneurial path, the challenges of scaling multiple locations, and her vision for inspiring more women to pursue opportunities in the food sector. As a dynamic leader, she offers valuable advice for navigating the complexities of franchise ownership while highlighting the importance of representation and empowerment in entrepreneurship. Her story serves as an inspiration for aspiring business owners looking to make their mark in the industry.
A driven entrepreneur from Winnipeg, Karissa owns and operates four Little Caesars franchises across Manitoba. She began her career managing multiple Tim Hortons locations before expanding her own pizza businesses. “Being recognized for my work in such a competitive field is humbling. I hope this award encourages more women to explore entrepreneurship in the food sector,” said Pazdor.
Congratulations on winning the WXN Food Industry Award presented by Skip! How does this recognition resonate with you, and what does it mean for your journey as a woman entrepreneur?
I am truly honoured to be chosen alongside such amazing women who have made significant contributions in their fields. Being recognized with an award as prestigious as this is incredibly exciting for me, and it’s a humbling experience. The food industry is all I’ve ever known, and it’s where I’ve grown professionally, so to have my efforts acknowledged by such a respected company like Skip in partnership with WXN is a privilege I hold dear.
Throughout my career, I’ve always found it deeply inspiring to see women who have achieved so much in their respective industries. To now be recognized as one of those women is absolutely mind-blowing. This recognition only motivates me further to continue pushing the boundaries and striving for excellence in everything I do.
I also hope that being recognized as a woman in the food industry can spark something in younger individuals to go after what excites them, whether it’s a career in food or something else.
Your career path began with managing Tim Hortons locations and led to owning multiple Little Caesars franchises. What inspired you to pursue franchise ownership, and what have been your biggest learning experiences along the way?
Tim Hortons was just supposed to be a part-time job to get me through university while I studied biopsychology—just a way to earn some extra cash. But as I moved up from supervisor to manager, I started realizing I loved the business side of things. By the time I became General Manager, I knew this was the career path I wanted to pursue. After 10 years at Tim Hortons and at 27 years old, I felt ready to take the leap into owning my own franchise. Who would have thought a part-time job could evolve into a full-fledged career!
Owning a business isn’t easy, but one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how important relationships are. Whether it’s with your team, your guests, or your community, building trust and connection is key. You’ve got to be bold, push boundaries, and get out of your comfort zone—just be yourself and make it happen! It’s not always easy, but staying true to who you are opens a lot of doors for more opportunities!
What message would you like to share with women considering entrepreneurship in the competitive food industry?
To all the women thinking about entrepreneurship in the food industry, my biggest message is: Go for it, and don’t look back! It’s a competitive field, but it’s also full of opportunities. You’ll face challenges, but you’ll grow both personally and professionally in ways you never imagined. You’ll become a true jack-of-all-trades, learning new skills and taking on tasks you never thought you could handle.
There will be highs and lows, but the key is to have grit and perseverance. You’ll be amazed at what you can overcome when you push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to stand out and take risks. The journey won’t always be easy, but the rewards—both in terms of accomplishments and the impact you can have—will be incredibly powerful and fulfilling. Keep going, and you’ll be unstoppable!
How do you see your role as a business owner impacting Manitoba’s food industry and your local community?
As a business owner, I believe it’s my responsibility to take care of my team, guests, and the community that supports us every day. It’s crucial to stay engaged with both your team and the community—getting out there, building connections, and showing up. Local businesses play a key role in employing people and strengthening the local economy.
At Little Caesars, we live by the belief that “every family has the right to pizza night.” In today’s world, with rising costs, we want to make sure families can still enjoy a delicious, affordable meal together.
We also prioritize giving back. Across our four locations, we partner with schools for fundraising, donate pizzas weekly to organizations like We Got This Canada and Siloam Mission, and provide food to homeless shelters. On average, we donate 200-300 pizzas a week – that’s over 15,000 pizzas a year! It’s incredibly rewarding to know we’re making a real difference in our community, and it provides my team the purpose behind what we do every day.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for growing your franchise business, and how do you hope to inspire others through your journey?
Looking ahead, my goal for growing my franchise is to expand one location at a time, ensuring each restaurant is running smoothly before scaling further. While we’ve grown quickly in the past, I’m focused on strengthening the four locations we currently have and creating a solid foundation for future growth.
A key priority is providing growth opportunities for my team—supervisors, team leads, and managers—and eventually grooming someone for a general manager role. I believe in inspiring my team to push past their comfort zones and helping them discover just how capable they are. Watching them surprise themselves with their potential is one of the most rewarding aspects of leadership.
I’m passionate about what I do, and I want my team to feel that same passion. Passion and caring for your people are key to success. Franchising has opened many doors for me, and I’m excited to see what new opportunities the future holds.
