New Year, New Career: Why You Don’t Need a Math Background to Open a Mathnasium Learning Centers Franchise
After 20 years in business and entertainment, Barry Weiss found success with Mathnasium Learning Centers, leveraging his passion for people to drive success.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Mathnasium Learning Centers, the math-only tutoring franchise that provides engaging individualized education, has built a network of over 1,100 learning centers by empowering passionate franchisees with robust, full-circle support. While the franchise is a great option for former educators looking to stay in the industry, a background in teaching or math certainly is not mandatory. Barry Weiss, the owner of a Mathnasium Learning Center in Sherman Oaks, California, is a prime example of this. After spending about 20 years in the animation industry, he had achieved all of his goals in the space and decided to move on to his next chapter — a Mathnasium franchise.
“I was in the animation industry as a Senior Vice President of Animation at Sony, and I am also [a Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences],” said Weiss. “When I started those positions, It was 1995, and computer animation was just starting. A big part of my job was creating education programs for the industry in general.”
After creating a curriculum to help others better understand computer animation, a network where scholars from around the world shared ideas and an internship at the Academy, Weiss left his role at Sony and co-authored a college textbook for introduction to animation courses.
A Career Shift for a Passionate Entrepreneur
“That was the capstone; I realized I had accomplished everything I wanted to in that industry,” he explained. “I was looking around for what I could do next, and I was very experienced with Mathnasium through connections. I was able to acquire one of the corporate-owned learning centers in Sherman Oaks. I took math in college, but I probably couldn’t pass the eighth-grade assessment. What I did have, though, was a background in creating cultures where people could thrive.”
As Weiss grew his Mathnasium franchise, he leveraged his experience in culture building and worked to establish a team of people who would teach.
Weiss took over the business in 2016, and a main point of interest for him was being hands-on with clients and students and enjoying the experience. Thanks to the support available through Mathnasium and the franchisor’s evolution over the years, he has had the platforms and resources he needs to thrive and focus on the aspects of the business that call to him most strongly.
“The recent acquisition by Roark Capital has put even more muscle on what they can do to support franchisees,” explained Weiss. “It is absolutely amazing the amount of support we get from the home office. There is a great ability to create relationships with people from all levels of the company.”
Franchisor Support and Team Building Allow Franchisees with Varied Backgrounds to Succeed with Mathnasium
At the heart of the Mathnasium model is a drive to support learners in catching up, keeping up, and getting ahead in math through interactive, engaging activities. Mathnasium franchisees do not need to have a background in math to succeed. Rather, they should be excited about supporting those they serve.
Whether you’re looking for a new career in the new year or are planning for your next chapter of life, Mathnasium offers an appealing opportunity.
“Mathnasium was a good choice for me because what ‘makes me tick’ is the mentoring aspect and setting people up for success,” explained Weiss. “When I was in animation, people would always ask me, ‘What do you get out of this?’ What I got out of it was taking an entry-level animator to an Academy award-winner. Mathnasium gives me that same satisfaction.”
Weiss looks forward to continuing growth with his franchise, working to become a “super center” for families in the area. As he approaches retirement, he hopes to pass the business down to his son to maintain a family-owned-and-operated business. For any entrepreneur considering a similar pathway, Weiss’s advice is to focus on your values as opposed to your resume or academic history.
“We are changing people’s lives on a day-to-day basis. We watch kids change over the years,” he explained. “To be successful in this franchise, you have to be very emphatic. Forget about your background. The mindset has to be, ‘How can I change the lives of kids for the better?’”
As Mathnasium works to expand across the United States, Canada, and countries around the world, the franchisor looks forward to partnering with energetic, mentorship-minded owners, and there has never been a better time for passionate entrepreneurs to take the leap.
About Mathnasium
Mathnasium Learning Centers is North America’s leading math-only supplemental education franchise. Since 2002, the Mathnasium Method™ — the result of decades of hands-on instruction and development — has been transforming the lives of children in grades K-12 by offering comprehensive assessments, fully individualized learning plans, and teaching true math comprehension. With more than 1,100 learning centers worldwide in 10 countries, Mathnasium has been ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s list of top 500 franchises 16 times since 2004. For more information about Mathnasium franchise opportunities, visit https://mathnasiumfranchise.com/.
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