The Mello Millionaire with Tommy Mello

Episode: From Gas Station Cashier to $1,000,000 CEO
Guest: Shereen Bazadi (CEO of Home Franchise Concepts, author of "The Unexpected CEO")
Date: January 31, 2026

Episode Overview

In this powerful episode, Tommy Mello sits down with Shereen Bazadi, a resilient entrepreneur whose journey spans from escaping Iran at 17 to leading a billion-dollar franchise company. Shereen shares lessons from overcoming unimaginable adversity—including political persecution and a life-threatening brain tumor—unveiling her strategy for building enduring businesses, leading with empathy, and using adversity as a superpower. This is a true masterclass in resilience, leadership, and personal reinvention.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shereen's Journey: From Iran to CEO

[02:43 – 09:23]

• Fled Iran at 17 amid political turmoil and personal danger ("arrested twice" simply for how she looked or what she carried), leaving her family behind.
• Survived harsh living conditions in Turkey before finding hope and emigrating to the U.S.
• Early struggles: Worked as a bulletproof booth gas station cashier in a dangerous neighborhood, feeling demoralized and alone.
• Adopted a mindset shift: "Maybe it was my perspective that was wrong. And with that I started really dreaming into I'm going to run a big company someday." (Shereen, 05:12)
• Put herself through college while working full time, became a CPA, and rose through the ranks at major firms.
• Transitioned from CFO to CEO, ultimately building and scaling Home Franchise Concepts into a nearly billion-dollar enterprise.

2. The Power of Adversity

[10:56 – 12:49 | 24:35 – 25:04]

• Adversity is not just something to endure; it is a source of growth and competitive advantage.
• "The adversities that we had along the way made us really, really good at what we did because we had so much adversity." (Shereen, 11:41)
• Her keynote message: "I always talk about ... the superpower of adversity. Because I think adversity is a superpower." (Shereen, 15:44)

3. The Role of Empathy & Leadership Change after Crisis

[00:00 – 00:25 | 25:04 – 30:26]

• Empathy is a strength, not a weakness, especially in negotiation and leadership.

  "Empathy may be misunderstood as weakness. It is not weak... it's about meeting them where they are." (Shereen, 00:01)

• Life-threatening brain tumor and recovery forced full realignment of priorities.

  "Life after is so much more, so much better, so much more authentic, so much more me. So it was a gift that I didn't ask for, but it was a gift nevertheless." (Shereen, 25:05)

• Her near-death experience gave her deeper empathy, patience, and clarity in both life and leadership.

4. Business Growth, Private Equity, and "Secret Sauce"

[09:23 – 12:49 | 22:02 – 23:41]

• Navigated two private equity transactions, remaining as CEO and shouldering increased responsibilities.
• The "secret sauce" to the company's breakthrough:

  "It took years to get there, but it finally worked. So it wasn't one, one thing. It was an accumulation of trial and errors and landing on the right solution." (Shereen, 12:27)

• Emphasized the power of listening tours, open-ended team questioning, and cross-departmental communication as core to aligning a rapidly growing organization.

5. Professional and Personal Values

[31:03 – 33:58]

• Relationships and family always prioritized over purely financial goals:

  "I had a very clear understanding of what was the most important to me and that was relationships and my personal life." (Shereen, 31:03)

• Advocated for clarity on personal and company core values, saying no to misaligned opportunities, and time-blocking for non-negotiables.
• Money is a deserved result, not the daily driving force:

  "Money and finance are great. They're great... But much like when you build a company... you're building a good company and you reap the reports." (Shereen, 32:44)

6. Advice to Young Entrepreneurs & Leaders

[16:23 – 17:25]

• Own your successes, especially for those from underrepresented backgrounds.

  "You declare it to the world, but also you declare it to yourself. And I didn’t do a lot of that." (Shereen, 16:41)

7. Transformation Through Hardship

[34:29 – 35:05]

• On overcoming burnout and stuckness:

  "You’ve got to give yourself some time, sit with it, really understand where it's coming from... that's where a lot of growth exists." (Shereen, 34:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Empathy in Leadership:
  "Empathy is not about coddling people, it's about meeting them where they are." (Shereen, 00:03)
• Dreaming Big Despite Adversity:
  "I'm going to run a big company someday." (Shereen, 05:16)
• Adversity as Advantage:
  "Adversity is your superpower." (Shereen, 37:18)
• After the Brain Tumor:
  "So when you can’t talk really well and if you can’t move too fast, you become an observer... it heightened every sense in me." (Shereen, 26:56)
• On Parenting and Adversity:
  "The superpower of adversity. Because I think adversity is a superpower." (Shereen, 15:44)
• Defining Success:
  "Money and finance are great...but you’re building a good company and you reap the reports." (Shereen, 32:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro to Shereen’s story and Iranian escape: [02:43 – 05:27]
• Mindset shift & early struggles in the US: [05:08 – 07:01]
• Climbing the corporate ladder & founding Home Franchise Concepts: [07:01 – 09:23]
• Private Equity & responsibility: [09:23 – 10:45]
• The “secret sauce” of scaling: [10:45 – 12:49]
• Brain tumor diagnosis, recovery, and personal transformation: [24:35 – 30:26]
• Work/life balance & personal values: [31:03 – 33:58]
• Advice to those facing adversity or burnout: [34:29 – 35:05]
• Overview of her book and mindset resources: [35:14 – 36:28]
• Final message—‘Adversity is your superpower’: [37:01 – 37:34]

Suggested Readings and Resources

• Shereen’s Book:
  The Unexpected CEO: My Journey from Gas Station Cashier to Billion Dollar CEO ([35:14])
• Books that Influenced Shereen:
  • The Art of Joyful Living
  • Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda ([36:06])

Closing Message

"No matter what it looks like, with life, with geopolitics, with economy, with every headwind we are experiencing now, it is still possible to live the life of your vision... Adversity is your superpower."
— Shereen Bazadi ([37:01])

This episode is a must-listen for those seeking genuine inspiration on overcoming life's toughest challenges, building lasting businesses, and leading with both grit and heart.