Smita Mehra creates waves with her Vedic Maths and Abacus

Three years ago, Smita Mehra Sharma, a former business operations leader and award-winning cosmetologist, found herself far from boardrooms and beauty clinics—volunteering as a scripture teacher in suburban Australia. That pause in her professional journey, initially dedicated to raising her two children, led to an awakening: a deep desire to reinvent how children experience mathematics.

What followed was not just a startup—it was a spark.

Genius Abacus, founded in a modest classroom, has now grown into a thriving network of 13 locations across Australia, supported by 11 passionate franchisees. But numbers alone don’t capture the heart of this movement. This is a story of children who once feared maths now racing to solve problems with joy and confidence. A story of mothers rediscovering purpose as educators and entrepreneurs. A story of how ancient techniques and modern neuroscience are being fused to unlock the potential of young minds.

At the recent Annual Year Celebration of Genius Abacus, I witnessed this transformation firsthand. Hundreds of students gathered—not for trophies or rankings, but to celebrate learning. They competed joyfully in mental math challenges, displayed remarkable poise on stage, and—perhaps most impressively—launched their own micro-businesses in a special “Kidrepreneur” showcase. From homemade crafts to creative games, children as young as eight pitched, marketed, and sold their ideas, with proud parents and mentors cheering them on.

This event wasn’t a performance. It was a declaration: Learning can be joyful. Intelligence can be celebrated. And children, when trusted, rise to incredible heights.

At the heart of Genius Abacus is a powerful pedagogy—merging Abacus and Vedic Maths with child psychology and brain development science. The method is individualized, with a best-in-class 1:7 teacher-student ratio. Lessons are paced to match the learner, and every challenge is designed to build—not break—confidence. Supported by a robust digital platform and trained facilitators, the program goes beyond academics, nurturing concentration, emotional resilience, and self-belief.

Smita’s vision isn’t confined to students. Genius Abacus is also empowering women entrepreneurs, many of whom had once stepped away from the workforce. Through its accessible franchise model, Genius has enabled these women—often teachers or mothers—to run profitable learning centres with complete operational and mentorship support. In a time when small businesses are grappling with survival, these stories of micro-success feel revolutionary.

Behind each centre is a story like that of a student once on the brink of quitting, now topping advanced maths at school. Or a child who calculates faster than a calculator. Or the message from a teacher that reads simply: “You’re doing something truly special.”

Recognition has followed. Genius Abacus is now on record in Australia’s Parliamentary Hansard for its contribution to children’s education.

But perhaps the greatest recognition is in the eyes of the children I saw at the event—beaming, bold, and unafraid to raise their hands. They weren’t just solving equations. They were solving for confidence, for creativity, for community.

When I asked her on what kept her going, she straight said : “Suk, I am hoping to bring the Australian numeracy standards at par with global standards. Keeping this vision , genius abacus is trying its bit to bring out the geniuses in every child.”

We are proud to witness the next generation driving Australia’s progress through their talent and self-belief. We send Smita and her team good wishes to keep thriving and create a positive impact in the community.