We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Evan Lossing a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Evan, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?
I’m undeniably happier as a business owner than I could imagine being in any other role. Running our Mathnasium learning center is a source of immense fulfillment, allowing me to bring my ideas to life in a way that directly serves our students and community. There’s nothing more rewarding than watching students gain confidence and succeed academically, knowing I’ve played a part in their growth. I love building a team of unique, like-minded individuals who share our mission of transforming lives through education, and it’s inspiring to see both our team members and students develop skills that shape them into strong leaders and community contributors. Every day, I’m driven by the opportunity to live out our mission, address challenges head-on, experiment with new ideas to enhance our operations, and create a workplace that’s engaging, supportive, and rewarding. My goal is for our team to feel excited to come to work, saying, “I get to go to Mathnasium today and make a difference,” rather than dreading their day. The accountability for our successes and mistakes fuels my drive to keep growing and improving, and I don’t take for granted the autonomy and opportunities I have as a business owner.
I do sometimes reflect on what life might be like with a “regular job,” not out of longing, but out of a deep appreciation for the differences. A few months ago, I was in a team meeting, discussing ways to improve our student experience while navigating a hectic schedule of parent consultations and program updates. As I listened to our team brainstorm solutions, I thought about how a typical job might offer a more predictable schedule—clocking in and out at set times, with a narrower scope of responsibilities. I recognized that such roles can sometimes feel mechanical or repetitive, and for many, they don’t offer the same level of autonomy or influence over the workplace. That reflection made me even more grateful for the dynamic nature of my work. Each day at Mathnasium brings diverse challenges that keep me on my toes, demanding creative problem-solving and constant growth. I thrive on that variety and the opportunity to shape our environment in a way that benefits our students, families, and team.
This moment of reflection deepened my commitment to my role. I realized how much I value the autonomy to make decisions that impact our entire operation, and it drives me to work harder for our team members, students, and families. I respect the freedom I have and feel a responsibility to use it thoughtfully, ensuring our workplace fosters growth, engagement, and purpose for everyone involved. While I understand the appeal of a regular job’s structure, I wouldn’t trade the challenges and rewards of business ownership for anything. It’s the ability to make a tangible difference every day that keeps me fulfilled and motivated.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I come from a family with a deep entrepreneurial spirit, and our journey with Mathnasium began in 2013 when we opened our first learning center in San Diego. My parents’ backgrounds shaped our path: my mother, a former elementary school teacher, understood the struggles students faced in traditional classrooms—missing foundational math skills, being pushed forward without support, or feeling overlooked, whether they were behind, on-level, or advanced. My father, a successful corporate professional, experienced the stress and unpredictability of corporate life, despite his achievements, and dreamed of owning a business where he could be his own boss. Mathnasium was the perfect opportunity to blend their passions, creating a family-run business dedicated to meeting students’ individual learning needs. My sister and I were in high school when we first started working as instructors at our single San Diego location, learning the Mathnasium method and witnessing the transformative impact it had on students. Those early years showed us the power of personalized education, and that passion carried us through college, where we continued working at Mathnasium during summers and breaks. After graduating in 2017 and 2018, we stepped into leadership roles, helping grow our family’s vision. What began as one center has expanded to 21 locations across five states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Ohio, and Texas—each committed to changing lives through math.
Mathnasium is a math-specialized learning center serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade, helping them catch up, keep up, or get ahead by teaching math in a way that makes sense to them. Our core service is personalized, instructor-led tutoring tailored to each student’s unique needs. We start with a diagnostic assessment to identify skill gaps and growth areas with precision, then create a custom learning plan to guide students toward their goals at a pace that’s both comfortable and challenging. Unlike generic workbooks or one-size-fits-all programs, our lessons are dynamic, with instructors providing real-time coaching, answering questions, and building strong relationships with students. We make math simple, engaging, and fun through carefully chosen instructors, thoughtfully designed materials, and student rewards, creating a positive learning experience.
What sets Mathnasium apart is our commitment to individualized education and our ability to transform how students view math. We solve critical problems for our clients: closing foundational gaps for students who are behind, ensuring on-level students aren’t overlooked, and providing tailored challenges for advanced students to stay engaged. We also prepare students for high-stakes moments like math competitions, AP tests, SATs, ACTs, and college applications, equipping them to excel.
I’m most proud of the transformations we see in our students—a complete metamorphosis. Students who once feared or resented math begin to love it, their confidence soars, their self-image strengthens, and their skills sharpen dramatically. We’ve seen grades turn from Cs to As, sometimes for the first time in years, and advanced students rediscover their passion through challenges that keep them intrigued. Knowing we’re making a tangible difference in students’ lives, both academically and personally, is what drives us.
To potential clients, I want you to know that Mathnasium is more than a tutoring center—it’s a place where every student, no matter where they are on their math journey, is seen, supported, and empowered. Our family-run business, born from a single location that became one of the top-performing centers globally, is built on a passion for education and a commitment to creating a fun, rewarding experience. We’re here to help your child not only succeed in math but fall in love with it, building skills and confidence that will serve them for life. That’s the Mathnasium difference, and it’s what makes our work so fulfilling.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Building our reputation in the market has been a journey of learning, step by step, what matters most to our community and consistently delivering on that. When I moved to Texas to open our family’s first Mathnasium location in the area, I was relatively new to my leadership role. As a small family business, there wasn’t a formal playbook or training program to guide me—I learned by doing, figuring out the right steps one at a time. The most critical lesson came early: success starts with the people on your team. I adopted a “Who before What” philosophy, prioritizing the right team members before chasing big goals.
I began by defining the values that would drive our success—passion for education, commitment to students, and a focus on creating a positive, impactful experience. I sought team members who shared these values: individuals intrinsically motivated to transform kids’ lives, who brought enthusiasm to work, left personal issues at the door, and saw Mathnasium as more than just a job. These were reliable people who understood the importance of consistency and cared deeply about our students’ growth. Building this team was the foundation for everything that followed.
With the right people in place, we set ambitious yet achievable goals. As our team poured their energy into creating a fun, supportive environment, our students thrived—not just in their grades but in their confidence and love for math. Word spread quickly about the impact we were making. Families began driving from as far as 50 minutes away to bring their children to our center, drawn by stories of transformed attitudes toward math and tangible academic results. Our reputation grew organically as parents saw their kids’ grades improve from Cs to As, witnessed newfound self-assurance, and shared their experiences with others. They told us, “If you want results, Mathnasium is the place.”
What truly built our reputation was this cycle of hiring passionate, dedicated people, delivering exceptional student experiences, and letting the results speak for themselves. Parents trust us because they see the difference in their children—not just in numbers but in their excitement to learn. That trust, earned through consistent care and measurable outcomes, has made Mathnasium a go-to name for math help in our community.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Managing a team and keeping morale high starts with one core principle: it’s all about who you bring on board. Great people don’t need micromanaging—they’re driven by their own passion and purpose. As a leader at Mathnasium, my advice centers on building a team aligned with your mission, setting clear expectations, and fostering a supportive, connected environment where everyone feels valued.
The foundation is selecting team members who are intrinsically motivated. When I hire, I look for individuals who are excited to make a difference in students’ lives, who bring enthusiasm to work, and who see their role as more than just a job. These are people who share our values of prioritizing student growth and creating a positive learning experience. By starting with the right “who,” the “what” falls into place naturally. My role as a leader is to uphold high standards, set clear expectations, and take accountability for my decisions. I feel a sacred obligation to ensure our students receive nothing less than the best every day, whether that’s through my own efforts or those of my team.
To maintain high morale, I focus on building a workplace that feels like a community. We make time every day to connect with each team member, whether it’s a quick chat to catch up or a check-in during their shift to ensure they’re enjoying their work. These small moments build trust and show we care about them as individuals. I also believe in servant leadership—never asking a team member to do something I wouldn’t do or haven’t done myself. Leading by example, whether it’s jumping in to help with a task or taking responsibility when things go wrong, shows the team I’m there for them, not the other way around. It’s about earning their respect and demonstrating that we’re in this together.
Finally, aligning the team around shared goals is critical. When everyone understands our mission—to transform lives through math—and sees how their work contributes to student success, it creates a sense of purpose that drives us forward. Clear goals orient the team in the right direction, helping both our staff and students achieve more. By hiring passionate people, fostering genuine connections, leading by example, and aligning on a shared vision, you create a team that’s not only motivated but excited to come to work every day, ready to make a difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mathnasium.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mathnasium-lossing/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_all%3BA6kc9A8tRy%2BHLld4PCNqOw%3D%3D
