For 13 years, Maryam Syed has poured her heart into the work of shaping young minds and strengthening families through A 2 Z Academic Foundation LLC, a daycare and preschool that has become a trusted resource in Olathe and the greater Kansas City area. But her story begins long before the business opened—rooted in a passion for serving humanity and a belief that caring for children is one of the most meaningful contributions a person can make.

“I’ve always known I had the skill and ambition,” Maryam shares. “And I knew I wanted to do something that would run for years and serve a real need in my community.”

Daycare and early education, she realized, offered both purpose and possibility. It was an opportunity to do something she loved while also bringing lasting change to the lives of families. Her values—kindness, honesty, respect—became the foundation of the nurturing, structured, and compassionate environment she built.

“I’m all about teaching kindness and respect,” she says. “Those values guide everything we do.”

Success didn’t come without challenges. For Maryam, the greatest hurdle wasn’t finances, competition, or operations—it was believing in herself. “When you begin something new, doubt always shows up,” she says. “My biggest challenge was reassuring myself that I could do it.”

But with the support of her loved ones—and encouragement from mentors like Judy at the Women’s Business Center—Maryam pressed on. She took a leap of faith and opened her in-home daycare, a decision she calls the best risk she ever took.

That leap led her to something even bigger: she is now the proud owner of two daycare centers, all while raising her children and managing the responsibilities of motherhood.

Her story also pushes back on the outdated stereotypes that women aren’t built for risk-taking or entrepreneurship. “Those misconceptions come from old societal biases,” she says. “Women have every skill needed to lead—and we’ve proven it time and time again.”

After 13 years as a business owner, Maryam has gained wisdom that she generously shares with other women considering entrepreneurship: “Never give up. The sky is the limit.”

She admits she learned some lessons the hard way—like trying to handle every single detail with perfection early on. Now, she focuses on prioritizing what truly matters, both in business and in her personal life.

“Balancing business and family is about knowing what’s important and what can wait,” she says. “You can’t pour into others without taking care of your own life and loved ones too.”

Maryam also emphasizes the power of community and connection. “Networking is huge,” she says. “I’m blessed to have the support I need. No one succeeds alone.”

When Maryam looks ahead, her vision is bold and filled with purpose. In the next five years, she hopes to open additional centers—especially in communities with the greatest need. Her goal is to be a source of support, opportunity, and hope for families across the region.

Nothing brings her more joy than watching students graduate from her preschool program. “I love seeing children becoming confident, self-sufficient, and ready to enter a world full of opportunities,” she says. “That’s the real reward.”

To Maryam, success isn’t defined by profit or recognition. “Success is when people can rely on you,” she says. “Financially, emotionally, or simply knowing you’ll show up. Success comes from being ambitious, driven, and giving.”

When asked how she hopes to be remembered, her answer is simple yet powerful: “As an honest woman entrepreneur who brought positive change to the lives of many — and left behind a legacy of opportunity.”