Mohit Jain designed an educational program that went from a class of three kids to a center with three locations in New Jersey.
A resident of East Brunswick, Jain founded Math Genie in May 2008. The learning system employs the senses — visual, auditory, kinesthetic — and combines the abacus, with child psychology, brain research and performance techniques. The enrichment center is designed for all children ages 5-11, regardless of ability, Jain said. To date, the program has had more than 150 enrollments and includes six part-time teachers.
Jain said there are Math Genie locations in East Brunswick, South Plainfield and Allendale.
He spoke to The Star-Ledger about the educational program.
Q. How did you come up with the idea for Math Genie?
A. The idea for Math Genie came to me on a trip to Asia, where I saw a 5-year-old do mental math effortlessly. I thought it would be pretty cool to bring this program to America. I realized, however, that American kids need to be entertained and engaged. So we developed a teaching format that is a lot of fun.
Q. What business experience helped you in the creation of Math Genie?
A. Prior to opening Math Genie, I had various careers — as an IT consultant at Goldman Sachs and as a real estate investor, where I dabbled in buying distressed properties and rehabbing them. The IT experience from Goldman Sachs and the direct marketing experience with real estate allowed me to get Math Genie up and running in no time.
Goldman Sachs was a hyper-competitive environment where, to survive, I had to process large amounts of information and constantly learn new skills and technology. I also had to hold my own with my boss, an MIT graduate, and co-workers who had all graduated from elite universities in the United States and abroad.
Growing up, I was a poor student. I barely graduated with C grades from a sub-par state college in India. I had to give up my self-image of being a poor learner. I decided to learn effective learning strategies. These skills allowed me to hold on to my job after the massive layoffs after 9/11.
I was able to bring that experience while designing the Math Genie curriculum.
We refuse to have an evaluation to rate a child’s intelligence. All kids have unlimited potential. Our job is to create an environment and curriculum where that potential can flower.
Q. Was math your favorite subject when you were in school?
A. Math was not my favorite subject, even though I was good at it. My favorite subject was Geography.
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