Kyun Nahi? Pourquoi pas? Why Not?
Twenty years ago, MNA began with this very question. On a whim, I turned to my husband and said, “Let’s open a company and see what happens.” His practical response, “Do you know a vast majority of startups fail within five years?” My answer was simple: Kyun nahi? (Why not?)
If we didn’t try, we would have failed anyway.
The early years were anything but easy. Building trust as a brand-new company felt impossible at times. Who would take a risk on us? Our breakthrough came with a contract from the United Negro College Fund, which carried us through and gave us hope. For the first five years, we couldn’t afford to hire; every dollar was stretched just to cover our salaries.
But through determination and faith, we grew. Slowly and very intentionally. Over the last two decades, we’ve engaged over 30 talented people, delivered more than 500 reports, served over 150 clients, and left our mark in 40 states, DC, and the US Virgin Islands.
We didn’t scale up for the sake of it. We chose not to chase certifications or agencies just for more work. Today, we’re proud to be a debt-free company with low overheads, committed to doing what we do best: being a K-20 research and evaluation firm.
We may not be the biggest, but our journey has been meaningful. We’ve stayed true to our values, doing good work with purpose and heart.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this ride—here’s to 20 years of resilience and to many more ahead.
Kyun Nahi? Pourquoi pas? Why not?
Here’s to the next chapter.
