BACK

Vanessa Vakharia

Vanessa is the founder and director of The Math Guru, a super cool boutique math & science tutoring studio in Toronto, Canada. She is also the author of Math Hacks, a new book that totally makes math fun, stress-free and relatable for young kids and parents - actually.

She failed Grade 11 math twice, which was the best thing that ever happened to her. She has her Bachelor of Commerce, Teaching Degree, and Masters of Math Education. She specializes in teenage engagement in math education, with a focus on reinventing media representations of what it means to be smart while simultaneously destroying stereotypes which tell women they need to choose between beauty and brains, because ew.

Her #goals are to be Lady-Gaga-famous and to totally change math culture so that STEM is finally as cool and accessible as basically every single Taylor Swift song ever. She is also a founding member of Goodnight, Sunrise, a rock n roll band where she plays the keytar and belts lead vocals. Yes, she totally wants to be a rock star, who wouldn’t? Mindy Kaling is her idol and Vanessa believes that she should be yours too.

Vanessa’s path from failing student to business entrepreneur is inspiring and her delivery is engaging. Her positive message resonates with everyone who hears her speak. A truly remarkable and talented woman.