We recently had the privilege of interviewing Anna Stranack, Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Bright Minds Institute and Bright Minds For Kids UK. Anna’s journey from starting with a professional acting career to becoming the co-founder of The Bright Minds Institute is truly inspiring. In this interview, Anna talks about her journey, her inspiration behind building this venture, their major challenges, and approaches to building effective teamwork.
The Bright Minds Institute and Bright Minds For Kids UK focus on reshaping early childhood education and focus on Whole Brain Training, a much-unexplored niche. Anna’s insight on fostering customer-centric approaches, maintaining transparency and encouraging team members, and having a passion for continuous learning offer invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and young professionals in this field.
Beginnings First
We started the interview by asking, “Which career path led you to where you are today? What inspired you to develop the idea of your company?”
Anna Stranack replied, ‘Graduating with a 2:1 BA (Hons) degree in acting from Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), I embarked on a professional acting career in 2004 before moving to Dubai in 2011, where I was offered a teaching position at a prestigious theatre school. Gradually, I started to become curious about different ways of learning and how young brains work.
Around 2014, I delved into the realm of Whole Brain Training and its vital role in stimulating young minds under the age of 5. I had a real desire for knowledge, embraced training in this fascinating topic, and emerged as the head of teaching at a leading Whole Brain Training Centre in Dubai. When the owners of the centre relocated, I became inundated with requests from parents whose children had thrived through the classes.’
Anna Stranack continued, ‘In 2015, I took the leap to establish The Bright Minds Institute. Drawing inspiration from renowned methodologies such as Shichida and Higuru, I crafted my curriculum. The classes resonated with parents and children alike, so growth was imminent. Over the years, The Bright Minds Institute has nurtured over 1000 eager minds, all under the tutelage of me and Rachelle Greer, who is my business partner at The Bright Minds Institute, UAE, and a team of dedicated teachers.’
Evolving Priorities
To learn more about the changing priorities of Anna Stranack’s venture, we asked, “How have your priorities in terms of business evolved since you first started?”
Anna Stranack replied, “Initially, my focus was on establishing the company as a reputable provider of Whole Brain Training classes for children aged 6 months to 5 years old. As the company has grown and welcomed over 1,000 students into our programme, my priorities have significantly evolved in several major ways. I have recently launched Bright Minds For Kids in the UK, expanding our reach, which reflects my commitment to making Whole Brain Training accessible to even more families and children.
I’ve personally dedicated myself to ongoing education and self-improvement by taking business courses and participating in workshops and panel discussions. This commitment extends beyond industry knowledge to encompass the broader aspects of being a female entrepreneur, promoting personal and professional growth. Also, I aim to keep our unique Whole Brain Training company at the forefront of child development and education by incorporating the latest research and best practices into our programme.”
Anna Stranack added, “Overall, my journey from founding a small business in Dubai to a growing presence in both Dubai and the UK has led me to broaden my horizons, deepen my commitment to education, and embrace the ever-evolving entrepreneurship landscape. My mission remains to nurture the brightest minds and empower the next generation through Whole Brain Training, but my approach has matured and diversified to meet the needs of the ‘Bright Minds’ expanding community of young learners.’”
Navigating Through Challenges
Challenges are an inevitable part of a business, regardless of any industry. So, we asked, “What are the most challenging situations that your company overcomes?”
Anna Stranack shared, “As a small Whole Brain Training company serving children under the age of 5 in Dubai, UAE, and Liverpool, UK, we face a unique set of challenges. Firstly, spreading awareness about our specialised services can be challenging, since large players dominate the market. But we work tirelessly with our unique approach and personalised attention to educate parents and caregivers about the benefits of Whole Brain Training for young children.
Ensuring that our programme aligns with local regulations and standards in both Dubai and Liverpool requires ongoing diligence. Another challenge that we face is balancing growth with maintaining the quality of our programme. We’re committed to expanding our reach while ensuring every child receives the best possible learning experience. Also, since we are expanding our reach to two different regions, building a strong community presence may require strategic planning and a deep understanding of local needs and cultures.”
We further asked, “What’s the key strength to overcome it?”
Anna Stranack continued, ‘Despite these challenges, our passion for nurturing young minds and our dedication to providing the highest quality Whole Brain Training classes remain unwavering. We view each challenge as an opportunity for growth and innovation in our mission to empower young learners.’
Stand-Out Factors
We were intrigued to learn about the current services or features that make Anna Stranack’s venture unique from the competition. We asked, ‘What makes your company stand out from all the other businesses in your industry?’
Anna Stranack replied, ‘The Bright Minds Institute and Bright Minds For Kids truly stand out in the industry as a pioneering force. We specialise in Whole Brain Training for children aged 6 months to 5 years, a niche that remains unexplored by competitors. Our commitment to holistic child development, blending innovative methodologies with an age-appropriate curriculum, sets us apart.
We prioritise fostering creativity, emotional intelligence, and cognitive skills, ensuring children receive a well-rounded foundation. Our dedication to unmatched quality, a unique offering, and a somewhat untapped market make us a standout choice in the industry.’
Valuable Insights
“What KPIs do you use to measure your business success?”
Anna Stranack replied, ‘In our small business, we use a set of key performance indicators to measure our success and track our progress effectively. Given our size and resource constraints, we focus on KPIs that provide valuable insights without being too overwhelming. Here are some of the essential KPIs we rely on:
Firstly, revenue growth, as it helps us understand if we are steadily increasing our income and if our business is on a sustainable path. We pay close attention to customer feedback, reviews, and surveys to gauge how satisfied our clients are with our services, too. We monitor our customer retention rate to ensure that we maintain strong, long-term relationships with our clients.’
‘Secondly, profit margins help us assess the efficiency of our operations and pricing strategies. We closely monitor our cash flow to ensure we can meet our financial obligations and invest in growth opportunities. Given our small team, we track employee productivity to ensure that we are making the most of our resources. As we have an online presence, we monitor website traffic, social media engagement, and conversion rates to evaluate our digital marketing efforts.’
Current Services
We asked, “Tell us something about your services. What are you working on now?”
Anna Stranack replied, ‘The Bright Minds Institute, founded in 2015, is dedicated to providing Whole Brain Training classes to children aged between 6 months to 5 years old in Dubai. Our focus on Whole Brain Training is rooted in the understanding that early childhood development is a crucial foundation for a child’s future success. Whole Brain Training, which integrates various learning techniques and activities, is especially important during these formative years. It helps young children develop cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills holistically. Our commitment to this holistic approach to education has been instrumental in our lasting success and growth. We believe that investing in a child’s early development sets them on a lifelong path to success, and parents in Dubai have recognised the value of our programme.’
Anna Stranack added, ‘Driven by my passion for early childhood education and the immense potential it holds, I’ve expanded the Bright Minds brand beyond Dubai. This year, we proudly launched ‘Bright Minds For Kids’ in the UK, bringing our proven Whole Brain Training methods to children in a new international setting.
Our vision is to continue expanding Bright Minds to different countries across the world, sharing the benefits of Whole Brain Training and contributing positively to early childhood education globally. We are excited about the journey ahead as we empower young minds and nurture future leaders on a global scale.’
Effective Teamwork
Having a healthy and strong team is a prerequisite for the success of any business. So we asked, “How do you build trust with your employees and boost productivity without causing burnout?”
Anna Stranack shared, ‘We focus on clear communication with our employees. By regularly updating them on company goals, performance, and any changes, we maintain transparency and
encourage them to voice their ideas, fostering a sense of involvement and empowering them at the same time. Regular feedback, both positive and constructive, also helps employees understand their value and how they can improve. Providing fair compensation for their work while recognising and celebrating their achievements makes them feel valued. It is important to demonstrate your commitment to the company’s success through your actions, which can inspire employees to do the same. At the same time, it is important to avoid adding too much pressure on employees as this can lead to them burning out. Therefore, we ensure that employees have reasonable work hours and time to recharge, along with offering opportunities for their professional growth through mentorship or training.
Trust and productivity are interlinked, and addressing burnout is key to long-term success in a small company. By implementing these strategies, you can create a positive and supportive work environment that fosters trust, enhances productivity, and prevents burnout among your small team of employees.’
Staying Updated With The Latest Trends
We were curious to learn how Anna’s brand always manages to stay updated with emerging market trends. So we asked, “How do you stay on top of new technologies and trends in your industry?”
‘Our commitment to staying on top of new technologies and trends in the children’s educational industry is a continuous process that involves learning, networking, research, innovation, and a strong focus on meeting the educational needs of our young learners. By combining these strategies, we deliver high-quality, relevant, and engaging educational experiences to the children we serve.’ Anna shared.
Enjoying The Unique Journey, we asked Anna Stranack,
Beginners starting in a similar field will find it inspiring to hear from an expert like Anna Stranack. So our last question was, “What advice would you give to starting entrepreneurs?”
Anna Stranack shared, ‘Your venture should stem from a deep passion and a clear sense of your purpose. Gaining a profound understanding of the market before starting your venture is also paramount. The business landscape is ever-evolving, so always say yes to continuous learning through reading voraciously, attending workshops, and seeking mentorship from industry experts.
Also, surround yourself with individuals who complement your skills and share your vision to ensure a healthy and strong team, along with cultivating healthy collaboration and networking. While proceeding in this journey, always learn to embrace failures and rejections, as every setback is an opportunity to grow and come back stronger while helping you to build resilience through the tough times. Amidst these, do not forget to keep a close eye on your finances with a well-structured budget, as cash flow is the lifeblood of your business.’
Anna Stranack continued, ‘Having a customer-centric approach in everything you do while focusing on adaptability is equally important. Listen to their feedback, adapt to their changing requirements, and provide exceptional value. As trust and reputation are not a single-day task but can shatter instantly, focus on following ethical principles in your approaches. Set practical and achievable goals that motivate you to move forward every day toward your vision. And, while you progress towards these goals, don’t forget to celebrate these moments, no matter how small they seem. Remember that entrepreneurship is not just about personal gain; it’s also about making a positive impact, so focus on contributing to your community, too.
Every entrepreneur’s journey is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all formula for success. Enjoy this journey and believe in yourself and your ability to make a difference through your entrepreneurial endeavours.’
Connect with Anna Stranack on LinkedIn.
Find The Bright Minds Institute on their website or Facebook & Instagram.
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