Have you experienced a moment of anxiety when a child or family member asked you for help with a math problem? If so, Mastermind Math founder Rasta Fotouhi wants you to know that it’s okay. You’re not bad at math, you just haven't had the right teacher.
“When I was growing up, I always found it very confusing and challenging. The teachers I had didn't have a positive mindset towards it, and so I grew to really hate it,” Fotouhi recalls.
The change was a Grade 6 teacher who didn’t just teach math. Fotouhi says her teacher turned each lesson into something fun and understandable.
“She believed in me before I even believed in myself,” she says, “For the first time, math was interesting. She turned into in a game that I could actually win. That experience completely flipped the switch for me and paved a whole new path.”
Instead of fearing math class, Fotouhi became a math star. She started entering math competitions in Grade 7, an activity she continues today.
When Fotouhi entered high school, she says many of her peers shared similar experiences of challenges in math classes. Unfortunately, not everyone she spoke with had the same kind of teacher to make learning math fun.
“I really understood them, and I ended up helping them find their way to loving math. I joined the math tutoring team, and that made me interested in actually starting a math tutoring business,” she says.
Fotouhi launched Mastermind Math this summer for in-person and online tutoring. Her focus is on students in Grades 1 through 8.
“Building the right mindset is crucial, especially in elementary school. That’s when students are building their habits,” she says. “If you have that positive mindset, then you can literally do anything.”
The spark to start Mastermind Math happened during a presentation about the City of Markham’s Summer Company program. Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29, the program provides funding of up to $3,000, along with hands-on training and mentoring, to help start and run a company over the summer.
“The second they gave the presentation, I knew exactly what I wanted to do,” she says.
The summer has been busy for Fotouhi as she prepares for her Grade 11 year and builds her client base for the new school year. But she’s not waiting for the first day of school to start. Fotouhi says she has students in tutoring classes now whose parents want to give them a head start on the year.
Fotouhi credits her family for their support as she builds Mastermind Math.
“It's hard because I'm doing financing, planning, and tutoring. It’s a little hard to manage, but it's nice for them to see how I handle my time and schedule,” she says.
With a mindset built around learning, even the sky is not the limit for Fotouhi. Beyond high school, she is looking at several STEM fields, including engineering, aerospace, and astrophysics.
“After starting the business, I see the potential in creating my own opportunities. I aim to combine science, education, and entrepreneurship to create a more lasting impact,” she says. “It's no longer about what you study. It’s how you can use what you learn to empower others.”
