Leading with Heart: Aparna Pai of Mathnasium on The Power of Authentic Women’s Leadership

Clear Vision for the Future: Developing a clear vision for growth and team development can be challenging, particularly for women initially. Overcoming the tendency to take on too much and delegating effectively is crucial. By assembling a team that complements individual strengths and setting structured goals, women leaders can navigate obstacles and drive meaningful growth.

In today’s dynamic world, the concept of leadership is continuously evolving. While traditional leadership models have often been male-dominated, there is a growing recognition of the unique strengths and perspectives that women bring to these roles. This series aims to explore how women can become more effective leaders by authentically embracing their femininity and innate strengths, rather than conforming to traditional male leadership styles. In this series, we are talking to successful women leaders, coaches, authors, and experts who can provide insights and personal stories on how embracing their inherent feminine qualities has enhanced their leadership abilities. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Aparna Pai of Mathnasium.

Aparna has a BS in Engineering from India and an M.S. in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology. Prior to getting involved in Mathnasium, she worked in information technology industry for several years in varied roles and responsibilities. She has been teaching math since 2012. We are proudly serving Aurora, Oswego, Naperville, Bolingbrook areas.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about authentic, feminine leadership, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?

When I was 23 years old, I made a life-changing decision to move to the US. I was married with a 7-week-old baby when I embarked on this journey, armed only with a degree in engineering. The initial period was fraught with challenges; I knew few people, and my visa prohibited me from employment. Despite these hurdles, I remained determined. I enrolled in community college and focused on continuing my education while caring for my family.

Three years later, an opportunity arose for me to obtain a work visa through employment. I seized it, simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree and expanding my family with another child. While my career initially served as a means to an end, providing for my family remained my primary focus. However, a pivotal moment occurred in 2008 when my father passed away, triggering an existential crisis. It was then that I encountered a quote by Steve Jobs that resonated deeply with me: “For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.” This reflection compelled me to reassess my career trajectory.

Realizing my passion for both children and mathematics, I saw an opportunity to merge these interests in the math education industry. Driven by market demand and a desire to create a meaningful impact, I embarked on a journey to turn my passions into a viable business opportunity. Despite lacking background in sales, marketing, accounting, or education, I sought a franchise business system that offered autonomy while providing essential support structures. My research led me to Mathnasium Learning Centers, where I was deeply inspired by the founders’ sincerity and dedication to transforming students’ lives through innovative teaching methods. This encounter fueled my decision to become a franchisee and embark on a new chapter in my career journey.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

As a long-distance runner, allow me to draw a parallel from the world of running. For decades, it was widely believed that no human could run a mile in under 4 minutes. Then came Roger Bannister, who shattered that belief. Soon after, another runner named John Landry followed suit. This illustrates a fundamental principle applicable to the business world: when someone sets audacious goals and accomplishes them, it shatters mental barriers, making similar goals suddenly seem more attainable.

I’ve personally experienced this phenomenon numerous times with my fellow franchisees. Witnessing them achieve significant milestones has a profound impact on my own mindset. Their successes serve as a catalyst, causing my own excuses and barriers to dissolve automatically.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

Mathnasium has a transformative impact on students’ lives. Each day, we guide children of all ages and proficiency levels to unlock their full potential by presenting math concepts in a way that resonates with them. Our curriculum, refined over two decades through the expertise of various professionals, fosters critical thinking rather than rote memorization. Tailored to address individual weaknesses, our comprehensive learning plans are built upon thorough assessments.

Our instructors are not only proficient in diverse teaching methods, including verbal, tactile, written, mental, and visual, but also adept at addressing the emotional needs of students. Operating within a supportive and engaging learning environment, we encourage independent thinking and foster deep understanding, ensuring sustained student engagement.

Through personalized interaction and immediate feedback, we empower students to become cognizant of their thought processes, boosting their confidence in math and extending its positive impact to other subjects and facets of their lives. Over the past thirteen years, we’ve had the privilege of instructing thousands of students, many of whom have achieved their aspirations of gaining admission to esteemed universities.

One memorable success story involves a student who, despite being enrolled in calculus and aspiring to pursue a career in engineering, struggled with the math portion of the ACT. Identifying his challenges with middle school math topics, we devised a targeted plan to address his weaknesses. Within four months of personalized instruction, he achieved a near-perfect score of 35/36 and secured admission to Purdue University’s aerospace engineering program.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

Tenacity: When I made the pivotal decision to transition careers and delve into franchising, it was amid the uncertain aftermath of the Great Recession. Departing from a stable profession to embark on the journey of a small business owner was daunting, particularly during those initial years where perseverance was paramount in establishing my foothold. Concurrently, the discourse around STEM education was gaining momentum in classrooms. Positioned at the forefront, I spearheaded initiatives such as organizing science fairs at elementary schools, introducing robotics programs at middle schools, and orchestrating math competitions for the community. Mathnasium emerged as a cornerstone of mathematical education within the broader STEM framework in our community.

Idealism: Larry Martinek, one of the visionary founders of Mathnasium, stands as a beacon of inspiration. His unwavering commitment to equipping instructors with the tools to reach students on a vast scale resonates deeply with me. I wholeheartedly embrace his philosophy that most every child possesses the capacity to excel in math. Despite the prevailing national stigma that often associates math with boredom, difficulty, and frustration, I firmly believe that fostering a genuine understanding of math can kindle a sense of enjoyment and appreciation among children. A poignant illustration of this belief is embodied in a particular student — a recent high school graduate aspiring to enlist in the army. With minimal math proficiency, we embarked on a journey of tailored instruction, guiding him through foundational concepts from his middle school years and ultimately preparing him for the ASVAB test in just a few months, enabling him to secure his dream job.

Empathy: Viewing math as not just a subject but a source of joy, I am driven by a desire to instill this passion in every student I encounter. A poignant example that comes to mind is a student who, at the age of 10, was adopted from a different country and joined our program in the fourth grade. Despite grappling with language and cultural barriers and testing at a second-grade level, our collective efforts propelled the student not only to catch up but also to surpass their peers in the math curriculum within a mere 12 months.

Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader? I’m curious to understand how these challenges have shaped your leadership.

In 2011, I launched my inaugural center, and following a period of prosperity, I made the ambitious decision to expand operations to multiple locations concurrently. However, managing numerous centers simultaneously proved to be overwhelming. It became apparent that my leadership approach was not conducive to overseeing multiple centers effectively. After grappling with this challenge for several years, I confronted the most arduous decision of my career: to shutter or sell the additional locations and redirect my focus solely to my initial center.

In the franchising realm, the prevailing wisdom dictates that growth necessitates expansion to multiple sites and scaling across various geographic regions. Yet, through introspection, I realized that my personal leadership ethos thrived within the context of a single location. Operating solely from my flagship center has allowed me to cultivate personal relationships with each child who enters our doors, offering personalized guidance and support to parents in need. By embodying the essence of my brand and maintaining authenticity in my leadership style, I’ve found profound success in remaining true to this singular focus.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Can you share a personal experience where embracing your unique leadership style, which might not align with traditional expectations, led to a significant positive impact in your organization or team?

I have traditionally shied away from the limelight. I’m much more of a “doer” versus an inspirer, which is a nontraditional leadership style in my experience. A challenge we face as business owners is to find the right way to motivate our employees to excel at their roles and responsibilities. This is especially more difficult in my case, as new additions to my team are typically very young and getting them motivated isn’t always easy. Over the years though, I have invested a lot in having structured team meetings on a regular basis. One of the things I do at these meetings is to guide my instructors (especially the new ones) to and interact with students and parents with genuine enthusiasm. This has resulted in a big change in instructor empathy and performance.

In your journey as a leader, how have you balanced demonstrating resilience, often seen as a masculine trait, with showing vulnerability, which is equally powerful, but typically feminine? Can you give an example where this balance created a meaningful difference?

After running a center for almost 5 years, I was unable to make it profitable. It felt like a personal failure. I had a small group of friends that I could share the feelings associated with this closure and had to dig deep to believe that I would be able to make a single center successful. Through continued focus on one, I did make it profitable. I also found a better work/life balance with one center which allowed me to pursue my own personal passions, such as running and hiking.

As a woman in leadership, how have you navigated and challenged gender stereotypes, especially in situations where traditional male-dominated approaches are the norm? What strategies have you employed to remain authentic to your style?

My dad raised me to believe that I can do anything a boy can do. This was a significant reason why I first pursued a career in engineering, despite it being known as a male-dominated profession. I was the only girl in my engineering class. Now, I am blessed to be in a household with a supportive husband and two adult sons. Being the only woman in the house for a while now has allowed me to understand the male perspective much better. While there may have been one-off incidents over the years based on some gender stereotype behavior, I have simply rolled my eyes and moved forward, not allowing any situation to hold me back. I let my drive and passion speak for themselves, not my gender.

How do you utilize emotional intelligence and active listening to create an inclusive environment in your team or organization? Could you share a specific instance where these qualities particularly enhanced team dynamics or performance?”

In our community, we have a very diverse population. I realized that students respond well when they see representation in the instructor team. So, I always strive to hire a diverse team, whether it’s in terms of age group, ethnicity, or gender. Some of my team members became math experts because they had a natural affinity for math from early childhood. However, others struggled with math until they met a teacher who inspired them to pursue it. I ensure that we have a mix of both types of instructors, as it resonates with learners of different abilities at the center. This approach not only fosters inclusivity but also enriches the learning experience for all students, leading to improved team dynamics and performance.

What role has mentorship played in developing your authentic leadership style, and how do you communicate authentically to inspire and empower both your mentors and mentees?

My professional background was predominantly rooted in the technological realm, lacking any formal business education. Naturally, the mentorship I’ve received from my franchise and other mentors along the journey has played a pivotal role in shaping my leadership approach. Particularly, my collaboration with Ron, my Franchise Business Consultant, has been instrumental. He has not only aided me in recognizing and cultivating areas of improvement but also in addressing blind spots. For instance, delegation posed a significant challenge for me. Initially, seeking assistance didn’t come naturally, and I tended to shoulder all responsibilities myself. Through Ron’s guidance and constructive feedback, I’ve been able to enhance my delegation skills, thereby allowing me to manage the business more efficiently. This collaborative approach to mentorship has not only facilitated my growth but also enabled me to effectively communicate with both mentors and mentees, fostering inspiration and empowerment within the professional ecosystem.