“If you can sell, you can build. And if you can build, you can lead.”

In this special episode, we welcome Alex DiPietro, Babson alum, former hockey player, and the first undergraduate Babson grad featured on Stars of Franchising. Alex brings a dynamic mix of tech sales grit, deep family legacy, and second-generation franchise leadership to the table.

As a multi-unit Dunkin’ operator and second-gen franchisee in one of the most iconic family-run Dunkin’ operations in the Northeast, Alex shares how his background in sales, sports, and entrepreneurship shaped his approach to franchising — and how he’s forging his own path while honoring a powerful legacy.

🎙️ In this episode:

• How tech sales gave him the entrepreneurial backbone for franchising
• Lessons learned from legendary operator Carlos Andrade
• The myth of absentee ownership — and why leadership starts in the store
• Why he earned his general contractor license to lead remodels himself
• The value of “healthy tension” between ‘Zors and ‘Zees
• Using collaboration and shared infrastructure to drive growth and efficiency
• What keeps him up at night: defining his legacy

From legacy to innovation, Alex’s story is a blueprint in leading from the front.