Why I Left Corporate Life to Follow My Passion & Open Kiddie Academy Ashburn

This post was originally featured on the CareLuLu parent blog.

I

always had passion for learning and exploration.  These two personal traits often got me in trouble with my elders, when I was a child.  As I got older, the spontaneity of my actions had to change to conform to the responsibility of the adult world; however, the love of that curiosity stuck with me till this day. 

I started child care because I believe every child needs a safe, nurturing and a challenging environment where they can learn and explore.  Few of the preschools and child care programs that I visited prior to opening Kiddie Academy of Ashburn were run with a primary focus on business.  It bothered me a little bit not because it was wrong, but because the focus has shifted from quality and personal care to enrollment by the numbers. I remind myself and my management team and staff every day that we are here for the children and their families, and our passion for what we do should never cease. Indeed, the impression we leave on these children is what is going to form and shape their future.  What an extraordinary feeling, but also what a great responsibility!

Prior to opening Kiddie Academy Ashburn, I worked as a manager at Accenture, a global IT company with over 350,000 employees worldwide.  I was at Accenture for 11 years, and I was proud to be part of a great culture. They demanded a lot of their workforce, but Accenture always provided me with the next challenge to grow as an individual and a leader.  I understood then that what makes a company is the people.  I also acquired at Accenture the skills to research, analyze and question the fundamentals, while keeping innovation in the forefront of my mind.  That is why when I opened Kiddie Academy Ashburn, I invested heavily in bringing the best technology out there, such as Smart Board, educational tablets, High Definition Cameras and Electronic Reporting, to facilitate learning and bridge any gaps in communication with our families.  

Prior to starting Kiddie Academy Ashburn, I was looking for a partner who believes in the same mission that I do, and who is innovative in facilitating learning.  I found that partner in Kiddie Academy Franchise system.  The advantage of having such a support system is great, because I can tap into a vast wealth of expertise at any moment, and use pedagogical proven concepts to achieve the goal and mission I have set for my academy.  This partnership is worth a lot to me because even though I can execute with a great precision, I still need a reliable roadmap to execute; Kiddie Academy Franchise system provided that map.

Often time people ask me what I like about my job and I say everything. Buddha said “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”  No matter how stressful my job gets, to have one child come at the end of the day and give you an unconditional hug, to me is priceless. Of course there are the staff that are relentlessly and patiently caring for the children. Their dedication is undeniably so strong, that I wonder if teachers could be saints! For the year of 2015, I look forward to attending the graduation of our first pre-kindergarten class. To me that is a moment of pride that I will rejoice with my amazing wife and my wonderful management team and staff.

Karim Bensouda, M.B.A

Kiddie Academy of Ashburn, Owner