Today we’d like to introduce you to Virginie Benard.
Hi Virginie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Starting the project during the covid, we opened a first location in Pinecrest to offer languages as after school activities for kids. Our goal and mission is to make the kids falling in love with languages, help them to be more confident and improve the use of the language through fun activities, games and craft project. We start from 2 kids enrolled to 80, happy to see the kids enjoying the classes in full immersion. All our teachers are native and myself, founder and owner of the company, from France, I lived 17 years in Spain and after my first experience in USA (Chicago) few years ago, I decided to create and open an educational business based on languages & love.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I was looking for a business space when the covid started. Adding the fact that I have to go through an investor visa, the beginning was very challenging for me as non citizen person. Open a business in a new country in another language, with new legal rules, during or just after the covid period was complicated but not impossible, proof, I could do it and I opened a 2nd location close to Coral Gables, 6 months ago.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have a lot of experience and proud to have it in different fields and different countries. It helps me now to handle in the best way my educational business. I worked in commercial, HR, Marketing, Customer service, Key account manager, etc All those experiences trained me to be what I am now as business owner. I also had several experience as teacher so, when I had my first baby, I decided to create my own business and make it helpful for me to take care of my son in a safe and educational environment but also offer this option to others families.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success is when you do something you love and when your customers love what you do… success is when a kid doesn’t want to leave at the end of the class, success is when parents told me that every day, their son or daughter ask if it’s today the day of the class with us…
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nolkidsacademy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nolkidsacademy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/n-o-l-kids-academy
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/nol-kids-academy-pinecrest
