I’m the Managing Director of Satluj Group of Schools, one of North India’s (Chandigarh region's) oldest and largest private, independent K-12 group of schools, founded in 1976 and with branches in Haryana, Punjab, J & K and Himachal Pradesh. I’m also the publisher of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Sh. Narendra Modi's, Mann Ki Baat. In 2013, I co-founded the Panchkula Art and Literary Festival (PALF). Being in the field of education for many years, I was invited as a guest speaker at several education-related events. I’m humbled to receive many awards in this sector which include BusinessWorld’s 40 Under 40 Achievers in Education, Top Visionary Icon in Education by EducationToday, and 50 Education Leaders Who Can Revive Indian Education, amongst other felicitations. These awards are an encouragement to me as an educator, to strive more every day toward contributing to the excellence of the education sector. I also specialise in investing and advising startups and top global education organisations and also serve on the boards of successful EdTech, PubTech, Small-Cap and Mid-Cap companies as an Advisory Board Member.

Q. Could you highlight some of your key accomplishments in the field of education?

I’m an alumnus of University College London, where I obtained my MBA in Educational Leadership. The education and observation from my family who started this school back in 1976, helped me in catapulting Satluj Group into the Top 3 CBSE Day/Day-Boarding Schools of India, No.1 in Haryana & Panchkula (EducationToday | DigitalLearning| The Times of India); Future50 Schools of India (Fortune Magazine and Univariety). We were also awarded for ‘Innovation in Pedagogical Practices’ at the World Education Summit: and honoured as a ‘Great Place to Study’ in the world at the House of Commons, London, UK, amongst other national/international felicitations. We, the Satluj Group of Schools, are proud to say that we have educated generations of the same families. That is a reflection of the trust we have built over the years. With over 30,000 members and counting, Satluj Heritage Association (SHA), is one of the region’s largest alumni bodies.  As a testament to the ‘Satluj Way of Teaching’, our alumni are studying at the world’s best universities, including Oxbridge (Oxford, Cambridge universities), Ivy Leagues (including Harvard, Stanford universities) and numerous top Indian universities and numerous top Indian universities.  Furthermore, due to the strong emphasis on leadership, entrepreneurship and inquisitiveness during school days, our alumni are heading Fortune 500 companies, top entrepreneurs, bureaucrats and politicians, and top professionals.


Q. What impactful changes or innovations have you implemented in your career as an educationist, and what further advancements would you like to see or implement in the field of education?

Our school is a perfect mixture of tradition and modernity. We have introduced a 3D Printing Lab and regular classes in Innovation Lessons in our curriculum. Technologies like – Artificial Intelligence (AI), Mixed Reality (MR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Blockchain have been amalgamated with our efficient teaching methodologies. Thus, learning has been made fun and exciting to students, while they are nurtured for the future. Additionally, we have emphasised outreach to underprivileged children, ensuring that education is inclusive and accessible.

Moving forward, I would like to focus more on skill-based development of students. The future job market demands adaptability, critical thinking, and technological proficiency and hence we need to equip our students for it. To achieve this, we need more innovation in pedagogical methods and a curriculum that is responsive to the evolving demands of the global economy.

Q. What advice would you offer emerging education professionals regarding essential leadership qualities in this field?

The key leadership qualities an emerging educator must inculcate are adaptability, vision, and a commitment to lifelong learning. The field of education is continuously evolving, and leaders must be able to adapt to new technologies and teaching methodologies. It's crucial to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and the ability to inspire and motivate others towards that goal. Lifelong learning isn’t confined to staying updated with the latest developments in your field but also understanding and empathising with the challenges and aspirations of your students and educators. Effective education leadership also means being open to feedback, learning from mistakes, and constantly striving to improve the learning environment for students.

Remember, leading in education is not just about managing a curriculum; it's about shaping the future by nurturing the minds and hearts of learners.