Mithun Pasham never imagined his path would lead from the labs of Harvard Medical School to the homes of seniors in Massachusetts. But after years in both academic and corporate science roles, the question of legacy began to weigh heavier than career milestones. Driven by a personal sense of unfinished business with his grandparents — and a desire to leave something more meaningful behind — he turned to franchising with Seniors Helping Seniors®.

“That’s when I started researching senior care,” Pasham said. “I realized there are a lot of people in similar situations — people who need help. I also started asking myself about my purpose. I wanted to leave a footprint before I leave this world. Senior care became the answer. For me, money is secondary. It’s about service.”

Launching his business in the Franklin–Brockton area of Massachusetts in May 2025, Pasham now focuses on providing care that feels less like a service and more like a connection. Backed by a supportive family — including his wife, Sruthi, and their two young daughters — and shaped by both entrepreneurial and scientific experience, he’s building something designed to last.

1851 Franchise sat down with Pasham to talk about the experiences that led him to business ownership with Seniors Helping Seniors® and the values that guide his work today. Here’s what he had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Mithun Pasham: I came to the United States back in 2008 to pursue my master’s degree in biotechnology at Texas Tech University. I graduated in 2010 and worked at the Health Sciences Center, which was right next door. After a few years, I wanted to progress in my career, so I looked at moving to the Bay Area or Boston — those are the prime science hubs. I found a job at Harvard Medical School in Boston and worked there for seven years as a lab supervisor, doing research and managing a team of 20 to 25 postdocs.

Eventually, I wanted to get a taste of the corporate world. I worked as a field application scientist, where I demonstrated products and helped customers use them effectively in their research. I was the primary point of contact if anything went wrong, and my problem-solving skills and customer-centric mindset helped me excel.

But over time, I got tired of corporate life. I didn’t like always having to prove myself to get something in return. I’ve always wanted to do something entrepreneurial, and at the same time, I had a burden on my heart — I couldn’t be there for my grandparents at the end of their lives. That stuck with me. I had spent so much time with them growing up, and I couldn’t give anything back. They were in India, and I was here.

That’s when I started researching senior care. I realized there are a lot of people in similar situations — people who need help. I also started asking myself about my purpose. I wanted to leave a footprint before I leave this world. Senior care became the answer. For me, money is secondary. It’s about service.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Pasham: This industry was new to me, so I wanted to do it right. I didn’t want to waste time learning everything from scratch and making mistakes along the way. With franchising, everything is already set up. My job for the first few years is just to follow the process. Once I learn the game, I can use my brain to strategize and improve based on what works best.

I also forgot to mention, while I was still working my full-time job in 2018, some friends and I opened an Indian restaurant. One restaurant became three. That restaurant business is still going. I’m not sure if Seniors Helping Seniors knew that when they published their article about me, but it’s part of my entrepreneurial background and probably helped shape the skills I bring now.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchise owner, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Pasham: Honestly, I used to hate franchising. When we started the restaurant, we looked into a few franchise options, and I just didn’t see the point. I thought, “Why should I pay a fee when I already know how to make food and what people like?” But that was a different sector.

For something like senior care, which I hadn’t done before, franchising made sense. My perception has changed. Now I can actually advocate for franchising. You’re not just providing a service — you’re creating employment opportunities, building something meaningful.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Pasham: The striking difference that drew me to Seniors Helping Seniors was that it creates employment opportunities for seniors themselves. That really stood out to me. The second thing was the people I met from the corporate team. Everyone was fabulous. Nobody sounded like a typical corporate person — they were all very humble and down-to-earth. That’s what sealed the deal for me.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Pasham: My number one goal is to serve as many seniors as possible who are in need. That’s the main thing. Personally, I want my kids to learn from me. Growing up in an Asian culture, it was always about getting a job and settling down. I want to break that stereotype. I want to show them that education is important, but getting a job isn’t the only way to build a good life. There are other paths, like entrepreneurship. I want to set that example for them.

At the same time, this is now my bread and butter. I want to bring food to the table and make money, of course, but I want to do it by creating purposeful service for my community.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Pasham: You can talk about my family. I have two beautiful daughters — Krisha, who is 4 years old, and Nivisha, who is 5 months old. I’m very blessed to have a wife, Sruthi, who supports me right now, even financially, while I focus on getting this business off the ground.

I also love playing cricket. It’s my stress buster. I’m an outdoor person. I enjoy talking to people and hearing their stories. I wouldn’t call myself an extreme extrovert, but I definitely enjoy conversations. I go to the gym, too — I like to stay fit.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Pasham: Don’t be commercial. Do business with a human face. Some people are very money-minded — they only care about getting the deal or the next prospect. Don’t be that. Just be honest and transparent, and make sure you’re not hurting anyone in the process.

ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS®:

Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise system was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After moving to the U.S. in 1995 and marrying her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services in 1998, opening the brand up to franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding home care provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors® locations stand apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® service aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® network has grown to 400 territories nationwide and over 200 franchise partners in 37 states. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/.