Today we’d like to introduce you to Lakshmi Kondubhatla.
Hi Lakshmi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I call myself an accidental entrepreneur. While many entrepreneurs around me researched the various business opportunities and the core market they are trying to serve and started with a business plan, it was sheer providence for me. I never dreamed of starting or owning a business. A friend approached me asking to help start a tutoring business as I had recently graduated with a Math degree from UT Austin and was working with a non-profit that was providing tutoring to inner-city schools with low-income families. My friend was keen on buying and operating a Mathnasium Franchise. I was supposed to help her with teaching and training the staff. From that basic idea, this turned into a partnership, and after researching the Franchise and the Mathnasium Method of teaching, I fell in love with the idea of making a difference in my students’ lives. A change in work situation did not allow my friend to continue on our business ownership journey, but for me, it was like I had found my calling in life. I opened the Mathnasium of North Austin in February 2008. It has been 14 very fulfilling but, at times, challenging years. Starting with seven students, when we opened our doors, we serve more than 200 students currently. Mathnasium of North Austin ranks in the top 70 Mathnasiums in the country with close to 1,200 Mathnasium learning centers in the US. We have come to be known for quality math instruction by compassionate instructors who deeply care for our students. With a staff of 22 instructors, I am most proud of the team I have built over the years.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was initially an uphill job without a background in business or any experience operating a business. All I had was my love of teaching and desire to help the students struggling in math or trying to improve their math skills. One of my biggest challenges has been operating and growing my business while raising my young children. My youngest was a year old when I started the Mathnasium learning center. As a learning center, our busiest times were evenings and Saturdays when the kids were out of school, including my own. Many a missed soccer game and missed playdate, and I couldn’t have done this without my family’s support. Another biggest challenge came in the form of the pandemic. Our physical location was closed for about six months, but we took a brief 2-week break to get our bearings when the pandemic hit in March 2020 and launched into virtual learning. We are all math teachers, not tech-savvy people ready to operate an online learning platform. Mathnasium Home Office had provided a great tool and tremendous support but pivoting to online instruction in weeks was not easy. The full credit goes to my team, who worked relentlessly in training themselves and our students and customers on the online learning platform.
Our revenues fell by 60% in two weeks, and it took us longer than a year to recover.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Mathnasium was founded here in the US in 2002, based on the teaching methodology developed by Larry Martinek. With our presence on five continents, we are in the business of changing lives through Math. Your neighborhood Mathnasium is a math-only learning center teaching students in grades 1st – 12th. Our goal: teach children how to think, with the skills to succeed in math and the confidence to achieve their academic potential. Along with strengthening the students’ foundational math skills and developing Number Sense, we also support their school work. We help with homework and test prep, often working closely with their school teachers to ensure our students’ success. Our students see great success in standardized testing and SAT/ACT. Our summer programs give students the boost they need for a successful school year, and we see students coming back year after year to participate in these. Our program is well suited for students struggling in math and needing remedial help, but it is also designed to provide a challenge for students looking for enrichment. We have students in the Accelerated and TAG programs who are here to be further challenged.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Being your own boss or an entrepreneur is a bittersweet experience, like many things in life. It can be very fulfilling but can also be a lonely endeavor with your whole team and customers depending on you, and you are expected to have the answer for all aspects of the business operations. It is not for the faint-hearted but very much worth the effort, especially when I see that “aha” moment when my students grasp a difficult concept. Their smiles and grades fuel my day. Navigating the pandemic taught me some valuable lessons, and it was great to see the resilience of my team, led by our manager, Uma Srinivas. Build a team, build a tribe, no one needs to do this alone.
Contact Info:
- Email: northaustin@mathnasium.com
- Website: www.mathnasium.com/northaustin
Image Credits
Photographers: Ravi Pothukuchy and Zachary Delane
