Michael Black, the founder and CEO of Success Tutoring, recently spoke at a podcast where he discussed the rising tide of personal tutoring and how his educational business has changed the way students learn. Avid about making an impact by motivating and uplifting students, Michael managed to rapidly expand Success Tutoring across Australia. The small beginning in Sydney and taking out one of the most recognizable tutoring brands in the country indicates it is Michael’s journey, how personal education can significantly impact students’ academic performance and well-being.
The Beginnings of Success Tutoring
Success Tutoring started when Michael was 17 years old, just leaving high school. At the time, the vision was to reach those students in his local community through personalised, one-to-one tutoring. “It all started in a spare room in my parents home,” Michael recalls. He focused on building relationships with students-helping them not only excel academically but grow as individuals.
English and Math, two of the core subjects from the Australian curriculum, were the first items on the agenda. Word of mouth spread fast, and soon enough, more and more students would come seeking Michael’s help. “Parents began reaching out, saying they had heard great things about our tutoring sessions,” Michael explains.
As Success Tutoring grew, Michael observed that many of his students were from multicultural backgrounds. Multicultural society Australia demanded families who needed additional support for their children in the pursuit of becoming familiar with the Australian curriculum. Whether it was a new immigrant trying to keep up with their studies or a local student needing a little extra support, there seemed to be an adaptive need at hand.
Michael stresses the varying needs each student requires in education, given the fact that students come from different social and economic groups. He stresses that “every child learns differently.” Success Tutoring will cater to the needs of each session based on the child’s individual learning style – whether it is visual, one-to-one, or with a group in a learning environment.
Expansion Through Franchising
Perhaps an inflection point for Success Tutoring was when Michael decided to expand the business through franchising. This would allow him to reach students more widely across Australia without losing the core values of the business. Today, Success Tutoring operates more than 35 sites around Australia and has many more planned in New Zealand as well as other international markets.
We focus on finding franchise partners who share our vision for high-quality education,” Michael explains. “These partners are committed to the same goals that we are: to motivate, inspire, and uplift students to reach their full potential.”
The franchise model has allowed Success Tutoring to maintain a very high level of consistency across all locations. All the locations get training and operational support so that the educational experience remains uniform be it Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth.
Success Overcoming Challenges
Success Tutoring was no exception. Just like in any other business, the COVID-19 was an actual threat. According to Michael, it was quite tough, especially at the time when they were just starting to expand their franchise network and hastily switched from face-to-face tutoring to online versions.
Of course, COVID became a test for us, but it also allowed us to grow,” he explains. The whole period was in a position to pivot instantly and reach out with online tutoring sessions under very high strict standards that continued to engage them.
Success Tutoring survived the pandemic through strategic shifts toward technology and individual-focused education. Demand for personalised, flexible education skyrocketed as students then found themselves struggling to keep up with the traditional schooling methods due to lockdowns.
Educational Philosophy: Focus on the Individual
The philosophy at Success Tutoring holds great importance in individual growth, the same kind that involves nurturing a child’s curiosity and level of self-confidence about learning not just facts and figures but also building confidence and curiosity on their part. The child would be motivated to keep being curious about the world around him or her.
“We are not just teaching children to pass exams,” says Michael. “We’re teaching them how to fall in love with learning and to remain motivated.”
This is perhaps the positive difference that sets apart Success Tutoring from the other services. Success Tutoring does not only secure academic success but also further helps students succeed outside of the classroom.
Technology in Education
With the company planning to extend operations further, technology now plays a crucial role in the form of improvement experience. Be it checking tools or scheduling systems, much investment was channelled for developing an interactive platform for the parents and students.
Our technology allows parents to see their child’s progress in real-time, explains Michael. That level of transparency helps the tutor, the student, and the parent all feel connected, so that everyone is on the same page in terms of what they want to see accomplished.
Future Plans
The future is not bleak. Michael Black intends to expand Success Tutoring. Having the solid grounds now in place, he continues expanding the company domestically and abroad. While he starts expanding into New Zealand, other international opportunities, like the UK, turn attractive for him also.
According to Michael, the future of education is “personalised learning.” “We’re focused on creating more opportunities for students to receive the support they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive world,” he said.
Paying It Forward Has Its Value
While Success Tutoring is, indeed, a business, Michael has remained true to his promise in giving back to the community. By working with schools and other community organisations, Success Tutoring ensures that students from all walks of life are assisted by allowing entry to quality education.
Our mission is always to reach as many people as possible,” says Michael. “Education is one of the most potent weapons we have to alter the world, and I would like every child to succeed.”
Conclusion
A very long story about a man who found his purpose in life by starting Success Tutoring with Michael Black’s journey serves as a testament to the power of individualised education. The company Michael has established looks back on its own individual strengths and is adapting to the challenges of an ever-changing world, focusing on helping students in achieving academic success and empowering them for a lifetime of learning. Such a company, with such a strong base and ambitions for the future, is quite likely to have a very positive influence on education in Australia and much beyond.
Watch the Full Podcast Here:
For more insights from Michael Black on power of education and growth success, you can watch the full podcast on Beyond Boundaries.
