Tom Smith

I started with Kumon Educational UK Ltd in October 2007. At that time, I knew very little about Kumon other than what I had researched online and from speaking with a few Associates and Instructors in preparation for my interviews. I knew the basics of what Kumon believes but nothing about the company itself and what it could do for me as an Associate.

What originally drew me to applying for the role of Area Manager was that Kumon believes all children have the potential to study advanced level work and that we expect all kids who study Kumon to do be able to do this. It was the belief that all kids have the potential to learn things they have never seen before and can rely on their own faculties to do it - self-learning - and that we expect all kids who study with Kumon to do be able to do this. These two things intrigued me most about the organisation and were what ultimately drew me to take the job that was offered.

After I joined, I began to realise what Kumon could do for me as someone who has worked in the private business sector and who has worked in education. The role of Area Manager is one that challenged me to marry both of these disciplines. To be successful in this role; one must be both an education consultant in the Kumon Method for an Instructor and a business consultant who can help franchisees increase their profitability.

After 15 months on the role - at that time initial training was only 3 months! - it soon became clear that this organisation was one that valued talent and self-development as key for those looking to take advantage of opportunities in the organisation. I was promoted to Regional Manager of the then newly created London West region - one of the ten biggest regions in the entire Kumon Europe and Africa region. It was obvious that by choosing me over a field of much more experienced Associates that the organisation was comfortable in having confidence in a relative newcomer who showed drive, conviction and a sense of opportunism.

This message of belief in its Associates was again made clear when 18 months after taking the role of Regional Manager I again found myself in the position of preparing for a promotion to the Deputy General Manager role for Kumon UK & Ireland. This organisation believes in promoting from within, it believes in developing talent within its Associates and it believes in putting drive, conviction and courage over all else when looking for leaders to take the organisation forward.

When I was growing up, my father always told me to find something to do for a career that afforded me the balance of loving what I do with the ability to be successful. I believe I have found the organisation that allows me to do this. I believe that throughout my time with this organisation I have had the ability, through working with Instructors, to have an impact in shaping the lives of children who currently go to Kumon into being a success story and to help more children enrol in this great programme. These two elements have made working for this organisation one of the best choices I've made for myself. The fact that it is also an organisation that has afforded me the chance to make my own success through working hard and being effective in my roles along the way has just been the icing on the cake.