Sam Younis spent years pursuing a career in entertainment before discovering that one of the jobs supporting that dream would ultimately shape his future.
After earning undergraduate degrees in sociology and Spanish from Vanderbilt University and an MFA in theater from Columbia University, Younis performed on Broadway, in regional theater, on television and in film. Like many actors, he supported that career through a variety of side jobs, which eventually gave him a clearer sense of the work he could imagine doing as a career, if he were ever to move on from acting.
"I remembered how exciting it was to watch a student suddenly understand something they didn't understand before and gain confidence," Younis said. "I had done all kinds of work to make ends meet, but tutoring was the one thing that made me think, 'If I ever owned a business, I'd love to do something like this.'"
That experience prompted Younis to begin researching franchise opportunities. Because math had always been one of his favorite subjects, he narrowed his search to tutoring concepts before discovering Mathnasium Learning Centers, the math-only supplemental education franchise. The company's mission of transforming lives through math immediately resonated with him, and after meeting with the founders in 2011, he decided to pursue franchise ownership.
More than a decade later, Younis owns three Mathnasium learning centers in metro Atlanta after getting his start with a location in Los Angeles. During that time, the franchise has expanded dramatically, but he says the purpose that attracted him in the beginning continues to guide the business today.
Families often begin looking for academic support because a child is struggling in math. Younis says those conversations rarely stay focused on grades for long. As students become more comfortable with the material, parents often notice changes in confidence that extend well beyond the classroom.
"The transformation starts when students realize the story they've been telling themselves isn't true," Younis said. "They may believe they're simply 'not a math person,' when really they've just never had the right instruction, the right materials or the right encouragement. Once those pieces come together, everything changes."
Younis believes math occupies a unique place in education because students often use it to measure their own abilities. Success builds confidence, while repeated frustration can shape the way children see themselves. Helping students replace that self-doubt with confidence has become one of the most rewarding parts of owning a Mathnasium center.
Over time, parents start to notice changes outside the numbers. Students come in less resistant, talk about school differently and begin taking on work they might have avoided before.
"Parents come back and tell us, 'This isn't the same kid. He used to fight me every time I brought him here. Now he's talking about becoming an engineer.' That's the transformation we see over and over again," Younis said.
Younis opened his first Mathnasium center in Los Angeles in 2012 before relocating his family to Georgia a few years later. Moving to Decatur changed more than his address. It also changed the relationship he built with the families his business served.
In Los Angeles, he owned a center in a community where he didn't live. In Decatur, his children attended the same schools as many of his students. Parents saw him around town, at school functions and throughout the neighborhood, giving him an opportunity to become part of the same community that supported his business.
"Families saw that I was invested in the same community they were, and I think that helped build trust," Younis said. "People often didn't even realize Mathnasium was a franchise. It felt like a local business that happened to have the support of a larger system."
As the business grew, Younis added centers through both resales and new development, learning through each step. One of the harder tests came when he opened his third center just a few months before COVID-19 pushed instruction online. Mathnasium's virtual platform and support from the franchisor helped his team keep working with students through that period.
Those experiences also influenced how he approached future growth. Today, his three Atlanta-area centers are located within about 20 minutes of one another, allowing him to remain closely connected with each leadership team while maintaining a strong presence in the communities they serve.
Younis says his entertainment background has been more useful in business than he might have guessed. Acting required him to handle rejection, keep showing up and learn how to read people — skills that now shape the way he works with parents, students and his team.
"One thing people may not realize about the entertainment industry is how much resilience it requires," Younis said. "It's competitive, you're constantly facing rejection and obstacles, and you have to keep moving forward."
He also discovered that acting depends on many of the same interpersonal skills required to lead a successful learning center. Listening carefully, understanding motivation and responding thoughtfully to people in the moment have proven just as valuable in conversations with parents and employees as they once were during rehearsals.
"When a parent calls because they're frustrated, the worst thing you can do is immediately launch into a sales pitch," Younis said. "Instead, you ask questions. Tell me about your student. What's been happening? What are you hoping to accomplish? You listen first. That's something performers are constantly trained to do. If you watch the best actors, they're great listeners."
Those skills became even more important as Younis transitioned from running one center to leading multiple locations. While his day-to-day responsibilities have changed, he continues working closely with his center directors and believes strong internal relationships ultimately shape the experience families receive.
After more than 14 years with Mathnasium, Younis says one of the brand's greatest strengths is its willingness to evolve alongside its franchisees.
Operating centers in multiple markets has shown him that every community has its own personality. Maintaining a consistent student experience while giving franchisees room to adapt locally requires constant communication, something he believes the franchisor has handled well throughout the company's growth.
"Every market is different," Younis said. "Something that works in one region may not work exactly the same way somewhere else, and over the years they've continued refining their recommendations based on what they're seeing across the system."
That willingness to listen has given Younis confidence to continue investing in the brand while adapting his own leadership style over time. Early in his career, he spent nearly every hour inside his center. Today, he focuses more on developing leaders, supporting multiple locations and strengthening the organization as a whole.
Looking back, Younis sees a direct line between the tutoring job that first sparked his interest and the business he leads today. More than 14 years after joining Mathnasium, helping students discover confidence remains the part of the work he finds most rewarding, and it's the reason he continues investing in the brand.
The initial investment required to begin the operation of a Mathnasium franchise is $127,316–$165,846. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit 1851franchise.com/mathnasium/info.
Mathnasium
SPONSORED
After trading the stage for franchise ownership, Sam Younis found a business built on purpose, community connections and helping students discover lasting confidence.
Sam Younis spent years pursuing a career in entertainment before discovering that one of the jobs supporting that dream would ultimately shape his future.
After earning undergraduate degrees in sociology and Spanish from Vanderbilt University and an MFA in theater from Columbia University, Younis performed on Broadway, in regional theater, on television and in film. Like many actors, he supported that career through a variety of side jobs, which eventually gave him a clearer sense of the work he could imagine doing as a career, if he were ever to move on from acting.
"I remembered how exciting it was to watch a student suddenly understand something they didn't understand before and gain confidence," Younis said. "I had done all kinds of work to make ends meet, but tutoring was the one thing that made me think, 'If I ever owned a business, I'd love to do something like this.'"
That experience prompted Younis to begin researching franchise opportunities. Because math had always been one of his favorite subjects, he narrowed his search to tutoring concepts before discovering Mathnasium Learning Centers, the math-only supplemental education franchise. The company's mission of transforming lives through math immediately resonated with him, and after meeting with the founders in 2011, he decided to pursue franchise ownership.
More than a decade later, Younis owns three Mathnasium learning centers in metro Atlanta after getting his start with a location in Los Angeles. During that time, the franchise has expanded dramatically, but he says the purpose that attracted him in the beginning continues to guide the business today.
Families often begin looking for academic support because a child is struggling in math. Younis says those conversations rarely stay focused on grades for long. As students become more comfortable with the material, parents often notice changes in confidence that extend well beyond the classroom.
"The transformation starts when students realize the story they've been telling themselves isn't true," Younis said. "They may believe they're simply 'not a math person,' when really they've just never had the right instruction, the right materials or the right encouragement. Once those pieces come together, everything changes."
Younis believes math occupies a unique place in education because students often use it to measure their own abilities. Success builds confidence, while repeated frustration can shape the way children see themselves. Helping students replace that self-doubt with confidence has become one of the most rewarding parts of owning a Mathnasium center.
Over time, parents start to notice changes outside the numbers. Students come in less resistant, talk about school differently and begin taking on work they might have avoided before.
"Parents come back and tell us, 'This isn't the same kid. He used to fight me every time I brought him here. Now he's talking about becoming an engineer.' That's the transformation we see over and over again," Younis said.
Younis opened his first Mathnasium center in Los Angeles in 2012 before relocating his family to Georgia a few years later. Moving to Decatur changed more than his address. It also changed the relationship he built with the families his business served.
In Los Angeles, he owned a center in a community where he didn't live. In Decatur, his children attended the same schools as many of his students. Parents saw him around town, at school functions and throughout the neighborhood, giving him an opportunity to become part of the same community that supported his business.
"Families saw that I was invested in the same community they were, and I think that helped build trust," Younis said. "People often didn't even realize Mathnasium was a franchise. It felt like a local business that happened to have the support of a larger system."
As the business grew, Younis added centers through both resales and new development, learning through each step. One of the harder tests came when he opened his third center just a few months before COVID-19 pushed instruction online. Mathnasium's virtual platform and support from the franchisor helped his team keep working with students through that period.
Those experiences also influenced how he approached future growth. Today, his three Atlanta-area centers are located within about 20 minutes of one another, allowing him to remain closely connected with each leadership team while maintaining a strong presence in the communities they serve.
Younis says his entertainment background has been more useful in business than he might have guessed. Acting required him to handle rejection, keep showing up and learn how to read people — skills that now shape the way he works with parents, students and his team.
"One thing people may not realize about the entertainment industry is how much resilience it requires," Younis said. "It's competitive, you're constantly facing rejection and obstacles, and you have to keep moving forward."
He also discovered that acting depends on many of the same interpersonal skills required to lead a successful learning center. Listening carefully, understanding motivation and responding thoughtfully to people in the moment have proven just as valuable in conversations with parents and employees as they once were during rehearsals.
"When a parent calls because they're frustrated, the worst thing you can do is immediately launch into a sales pitch," Younis said. "Instead, you ask questions. Tell me about your student. What's been happening? What are you hoping to accomplish? You listen first. That's something performers are constantly trained to do. If you watch the best actors, they're great listeners."
Those skills became even more important as Younis transitioned from running one center to leading multiple locations. While his day-to-day responsibilities have changed, he continues working closely with his center directors and believes strong internal relationships ultimately shape the experience families receive.
After more than 14 years with Mathnasium, Younis says one of the brand's greatest strengths is its willingness to evolve alongside its franchisees.
Operating centers in multiple markets has shown him that every community has its own personality. Maintaining a consistent student experience while giving franchisees room to adapt locally requires constant communication, something he believes the franchisor has handled well throughout the company's growth.
"Every market is different," Younis said. "Something that works in one region may not work exactly the same way somewhere else, and over the years they've continued refining their recommendations based on what they're seeing across the system."
That willingness to listen has given Younis confidence to continue investing in the brand while adapting his own leadership style over time. Early in his career, he spent nearly every hour inside his center. Today, he focuses more on developing leaders, supporting multiple locations and strengthening the organization as a whole.
Looking back, Younis sees a direct line between the tutoring job that first sparked his interest and the business he leads today. More than 14 years after joining Mathnasium, helping students discover confidence remains the part of the work he finds most rewarding, and it's the reason he continues investing in the brand.
The initial investment required to begin the operation of a Mathnasium franchise is $127,316–$165,846. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit 1851franchise.com/mathnasium/info.
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