Community Highlights: Meet Karim Badani of Ivy Kids Roswell West

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karim Badani.

Hi Karim, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story with Ivy Kids really begins with family. I grew up in India in a very comfortable and connected environment. When I was a teenager, my parents made the decision to move to the United States so I could have opportunities they never had. They left behind careers, community, and familiarity. Watching them take that leap taught me that growth often requires discomfort and sacrifice. That lesson has shaped my entire life.

Before Ivy Kids, I spent my career in sales and leadership roles in telecommunications and banking. I learned early that relationships and trust were at the center of everything. A mentor once told me that I could only control two things: my work ethic and my attitude. That advice has been my anchor. Skill can be taught. Will cannot. I have carried that belief into every area of my life and leadership.

I didn’t start in early childhood education, but I was looking for work that combined purpose, community, and long-term value. When I came across Ivy Kids, something clicked. It didn’t feel like “daycare” — it felt like a place where children could grow academically, socially, and emotionally. I wanted to be part of that.

Opening Ivy Kids of Johns Creek was the beginning of a new chapter. I stepped in as an owner-operator and became involved in every aspect of the school. It wasn’t just my journey — it became a family journey. My wife has supported me at every step. This is a family business in every sense, and her belief in what we are doing has given me the confidence to keep moving forward, even when the work is demanding. When you build schools, you don’t just show up for a job — you show up for families, children, and teachers. Having her support has made all the difference.

Over time, our Johns Creek location grew. Families trusted us. Teachers built careers with us. The school became part of the community. None of that happened overnight. It happened because of consistency, commitment, and the right people.

The success and lessons from Johns Creek led us to our next chapter: Ivy Kids Roswell West.

Roswell is a community that cares deeply about education. Even before opening, we are seeing strong interest from families who want something reliable, warm, and structured for their children. We don’t have a waitlist yet, but parents are already reaching out, asking questions, and staying connected to our updates. The demand in Roswell is real, and that energy motivates us to build something exceptional.

If I look back at the path that got me here, the pattern is clear: someone took a chance on me, so I take chances on others. Hard work and attitude still matter. Diversity and inclusion still matter. And building something with intention still matters.

At the end of the day, I do this for two reasons. First, to honor the sacrifices my parents made when they chose uncertainty so I could have opportunity. And second, because my wife and I believe in what we are building. Ivy Kids is our family business. It is our legacy. We are creating something that serves children, supports teachers, and strengthens the community.

That is how I started, and that is how I arrived where I am today — and Roswell West is the next chapter we are excited to write.

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?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. Most meaningful work rarely is.

There were challenges right from the beginning. When we opened Johns Creek, we had unexpected building delays. Construction took longer, permits moved slowly, and timelines shifted. Those delays tested our patience and financial planning, but they also taught us how to problem-solve and stay steady when things were outside our control.

Another challenge was learning a completely new industry. My background was in sales and leadership in banking and telecommunications. Early childhood education came with its own language, regulations, and expectations. I had to learn licensing, safety, curriculum, operations, and the responsibility of caring for children every day. I spent time in classrooms, listening, observing, and asking questions. That learning curve shaped how I lead today — with curiosity, humility, and a focus on getting better every day.

A big early struggle was getting the name out in the community. Ivy Kids was new in Johns Creek, and families didn’t know what made us different. We had to earn trust through presence, consistency, and relationships. We showed up at schools, met parents, and shared our vision. Over time, families saw the results — and word of mouth became our strongest reputation builder.
As we’ve grown, staffing hasn’t been a crisis — it has been a strategy. Getting the right people is the foundation of our growth plan. We don’t hire fast; we hire right. We focus on work ethic, character, and culture fit. Quality staffing is what allows us to expand with confidence.

That is why we’re growing. We have multiple locations in development now, including Roswell West, because the demand for high-quality early learning is very real. Families want a school that is safe, structured, warm, and academically focused. Our success in Johns Creek showed us that when you get the people right, everything else follows.

There have been delays, long days, and plenty of lessons learned. But every challenge has prepared us for this next chapter. We’re growing, not for the sake of growth, but to serve communities that are asking for something better.

And now, as we build Roswell West, we are bringing every lesson with us.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Ivy Kids is a private early childhood education organization that serves children from infancy through school-age. We offer infant care, toddler programs, preschool, Pre-K, and before and after school programs. We also run camps during school breaks. But if I had to describe what we do in one sentence, it would be this:

We give children a smarter start in life by combining real learning with genuine care.

What makes Ivy Kids different is that we are not operating as a daycare model. We are operating as a school. Our classrooms are structured, our teachers are trained, and our curriculum is intentional. Children are learning language, problem-solving, science, math, social skills — and they are doing it in a warm, playful, creative environment.

What we specialize in and are known for

We specialize in early education rooted in three pillars:

1. Strong academics and curriculum
We use a research-based curriculum called MultiPrep that supports all styles of learning — visual, verbal, movement-based, social, artistic, and logical. Children don’t sit at desks all day. They learn through hands-on exploration, discussion, play, and guided activities. It prepares them for kindergarten and beyond.

2. Safety and trust
Our centers are designed with secure entry, classroom cameras, and strong health and safety standards. Parents receive daily communication, pictures, and updates. Families know what is happening during the day, and that transparency builds trust.

3. Healthy meals and whole-child well-being
We serve fresh, balanced meals and snacks through our BrainBites program. Nutrition is part of how we educate — a healthy body supports a healthy mind.

What sets us apart

There are many early learning centers, but here is what truly sets Ivy Kids apart:

We focus on whole-child development, not just babysitting.
We invest in our teachers through training and support.
We communicate clearly and consistently with families.
We prioritize safety, trust, and emotional well-being.
We are family-owned, family-operated, and deeply involved.

Parents often tell us, “It just feels different here.” That is a point of pride for us.

What we are most proud of as a brand

I am most proud that Ivy Kids combines high expectations with heart.

We hold ourselves to strong academic, safety, and operational standards — but we never lose the human side. Our teachers know their children. They celebrate birthdays, comfort big feelings, and build confidence. There is warmth, consistency, and culture in our buildings that you can feel when you walk in.

We don’t cut corners. We don’t move fast just to grow. We grow when we can do it well, with the right people and the right support.

What readers should know right now

We are currently developing our newest location, Ivy Kids Roswell West. The demand for high-quality early learning in Roswell is strong. Families want safety, structure, warm relationships, and real learning. We are bringing that to this community.

We want readers to know:

Ivy Kids is not just a building — it is a culture.
We are family-run.
We are intentional about quality.
We are excited to serve Roswell West with the same standards that made Johns Creek successful.

Our goal is to help children grow into confident, curious, kind humans — and to be a trusted partner for families who want the best start for their children.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something that often surprises people is that I didn’t come into early childhood education with a teaching background, and I wasn’t a parent looking for childcare. My career started in sales and leadership in industries like telecommunications and banking. I was building teams, managing revenue, developing people, and solving problems — but I wasn’t thinking about preschool.

What brought me into Ivy Kids was purpose.

I was looking for something that had both business value and impact. When I discovered Ivy Kids, I was immediately drawn to the mission. I started learning everything I could — sitting in classrooms, studying curriculum, meeting families, and listening to teachers. I didn’t arrive with the answers. I arrived with curiosity. That curiosity is still one of my greatest strengths.

Another surprising thing is that Ivy Kids is a true family business for us. My wife is deeply involved, and our family treats this as our legacy. We are not distant investors. We are hands-on. We care about the teachers we hire, the families we serve, and the environments we build.

A final piece that surprises many people is where the drive comes from. It comes from my parents. They took the biggest risk of their lives when they moved us from India so I could have opportunities they never had. I watched them rebuild everything. That experience shaped how I see leadership, risk, and resilience.

So when people see me opening schools, building teams, and planning for new locations like Roswell West, they often assume I’ve been in childcare forever. The truth is very different:

I came into this industry with respect, humility, and a willingness to learn — and that has made all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ivykidsroswellwest.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivykidsroswellwest
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivykidsroswellwest.com