Instead of waiting for doors to open, she created her own path, one that merged her lifelong passion for education with Canada’s franchising opportunities.
Education has always been central to Megha’s life, and this commitment to community impact has been at the heart of everything she does. For 20 years, her family has been involved in educational ventures, driven by the belief that learning can transform lives.
From newcomer to entrepreneur
Megha’s inspiration to start the Universal Concept Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS) came from a life-changing experience during a trip to Malaysia, where she witnessed a demonstration of the programme. Students performed lightning-fast mental math with accuracy and ease. “It was like watching a real-life magic trick, but it was all based on powerful brain training,” she recalls. “I immediately realized the potential of this ‘math-magical’ programme and the value it would bring to children in Canada.”
In 2004, Megha opened the first UCMAS classroom in Toronto, determined to provide Canadian children with cognitive benefits and skills to help them excel academically and in life. Designed for children aged five to 13, the programme uses abacus-based mental math to strengthen focus, memory, problem-solving skills, and confidence.
Building a national franchise
Two decades later, what began as a single location in Toronto has grown to nearly 100 UCMAS centres across Canada, with locations in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
UCMAS is also a member of the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) and an active member of the franchising community in Canada. Like all CFA members, UCMAS shows its commitment to excellence in franchising through its care for franchisee success and satisfaction.
“Franchising is one of the largest industries in Canada, contributing $128 billion to the GDP, and continues to grow. The CFA supports franchisors and franchisees with networking, resources, education, and credibility. As the official voice of franchising in Canada, it provides platforms like expos, directories, and online listings where UCMAS can promote its opportunities and attract new franchise partners nationwide.”
Almost all UCMAS Canadian franchisees are immigrants, hailing from over 20 different countries, and nearly 70 percent of them are women. Half of the UCMAS Canada head office team are also women, and close to 700 women have served as course instructors.
From the beginning, Megha’s vision extended beyond students. She saw UCMAS as a platform for entrepreneurs—especially newcomers and women—seeking meaningful opportunities in Canada. “We wanted franchisees to be part of something bigger, helping children gain an edge in life while offering a proven, impactful business model for owners.”
Over the past 20 years, UCMAS Canada has achieved numerous milestones, from Megha being recognised as best education CEO by Corporate Vision magazine to the company earning the franchisees’ choice designation at the CFA awards for 15 consecutive years. This designation reflects franchise systems who have scored the highest on a third-party franchisee satisfaction survey—truly the most telling marker of franchise system success. Yet, for Megha, the most meaningful success extends beyond accolades and awards. “The true achievements for me are the smiles on the faces of our students and the growth of our franchise partners,” she says.
Franchising for newcomers
According to the CFA, franchising is an ideal path for newcomers to Canada. It offers a proven business model, ongoing training and support, and opportunities in over 60 different industries, allowing immigrants to choose a business that aligns with their background or passion. As an active member of the CFA community, UCMAS is committed to the association’s purpose of helping everyday Canadians achieve their dream of business ownership through the power of franchising and has signed on to the association’s code of ethics (look for the CFA member logo to find out which franchise brands have signed this code!).
When asked what advice Megha has for newcomers considering franchising as a career path, she says: “My advice would be to choose a proven franchise and make it your own. There are no shortcuts. The key is to be consistent, and success will follow.”
