Young Ones to Watch: Shant Assarian, Chief Operating Officer of Mathnasium Learning Centers

Shant Assarian, 39, is one of a handful of U.S. executives to successfully manage the transformation of a franchise company from an early stage to market leader, leading said brand from 300 locations to over 1,000. 

Before his position as COO of Mathnasium* Learning Centers, he gained diverse experience early in his career working with major companies for Grant Thornton, an international leader in advisory, auditing and other financial services. Assarian holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and is a Certified Public Accountant.

In an interview with 1851 Franchise, Assarian shares what drew him to franchising, his advice for other up-and-comers and the advice he would give to his younger self.

1851: What initially drew you to franchising? 

Assarian: I joined Mathnasium in 2010 as the head of finance and accounting and learned about franchising as I took on greater operational responsibilities. I quickly saw the advantages of a well-executed franchising model—it allows people to start a business, take control of their own livelihood and build wealth. For franchisors, it provides access to a large pool of intelligence among franchisees to make their business models the very best they can be. 

So, the real question becomes: What has kept me in franchising? I enjoy what I do because I get to work with amazing people and watch them grow professionally and personally. I work with them to create a service that helps hundreds of thousands of children have opportunities that they might not otherwise. At Mathnasium, we’ve built a business model that allows franchisees to make an extraordinary return on their investment by changing kids' lives—and they love it. Since I became COO in 2012, I’ve led the company’s growth from 300 learning centers to nearly 1,100, which really extends our reach. It's the ability to impact so many people in such a positive way that has kept me in franchising for a decade.

1851: Where do you see the most opportunity in franchising and why are you excited about the future of the industry?

Assarian: The opportunity and excitement for the future come from today’s young professionals. I’ve been working directly with millennials and am starting to work with Gen Z. They’re extremely capable and intelligent, and their drive and passion will lead to amazing feats. As we’ve already seen at Mathnasium, many will become franchisees at very young ages and drive improvements at a greater speed, taking our brands to new heights. 

Millennials are now taking on leadership roles in our franchise organization and as franchisees. Their capability and innovation will drive advancements in franchising that we can’t even imagine now. 

1851: What advice do you have for other young up-and-comers in the space?

Assarian: First, know the business—not just the areas you oversee, but the entirety of your business and the external forces that affect it. Try to foresee what is to come as it will enable better decision-making in the present.

Second, surround yourself with the best people possible and teach them how to do parts of your job. This helps your co-workers develop and advance while also freeing you up to take on higher-level responsibilities and progress your own career. 

Lastly, look for ways to provide value to all stakeholders. To the greatest extent possible, avoid decisions that benefit one party at the expense of another. 

1851: What advice would you give your younger self?

Assarian: The early years are a great time to prepare oneself for the future. Before you take on family responsibilities or critical decision-making at work, learn as much as you can. Take care of yourself physically to maximize your intellectual potential and your ability to deal with external demands.

Spend time only with people that help you grow personally or professionally, and avoid social pressure to do things that add no value or even cause harm. It may sound like I’m advocating for a boring youth, but actually, life will be more fulfilling if you can look back and know that you spent those precious years enjoying the truly positive things the world has to offer. Make yourself the best you can be physically and intellectually and focus on becoming a good human being.

1851: Who is someone you look to for inspiration?

Assarian: There isn’t just one person. We all draw inspiration from almost everyone we interact with if we are open enough to see it and humble enough to accept it. For example, I recently encountered an airport security agent who was actively uplifting the mood of a long line of travelers with warm greetings and happy birthdays. While she didn’t need to do that, she decided to make the most of her workday by making others feel good. That was inspirational. There are many powerful, everyday examples, such as witnessing a mother’s love for her child, a passionate franchisee going above and beyond to benefit their community or a young kid in our center who decides to donate their hard-earned rewards to help others. I could go on and on. We don’t actually need to search for inspiration, it is around us all the time. The key is learning to recognize those inspiring moments.