In the dynamic landscape of India’s K-12 education sector, Dr. Sridhar G, the Founder of Deeksha Learning, stands out as a trailblazer. Deeksha, under his leadership, revolutionized competitive exam coaching by integrating board and competitive exam studies, paving the way for subsequent pioneering interventions. Dr. Sridhar has expanded Deeksha’s educational services to encompass competitive exam preparation, K-12 schooling, education technology, and undergraduate curriculum enhancement programs.
What sets Dr. Sridhar and Deeksha apart is their unwavering focus on students’ aspirations. Dr. Sridhar’s background, with a Mechanical Engineering degree from IIT Kharagpur and a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, coupled with his empathy and strong national connection, positions him as an esteemed educationist and edupreneur. His academic credentials, global exposure, incisive intellect, and deep sense of belonging have empowered the ambitions of numerous students, establishing Deeksha as a household name. Dr. Sridhar’s story is undoubtedly one of the most significant narratives of our time. Now, let’s delve into Dr. Sridhar’s insights and perspective.
Please give us an overview of your experience in the education field as a business leader. What have been the most important milestones achieved by you in your business journey?
Deeksha’s journey and my own have become intricately intertwined, with both marked by rapid expansion, diversification, innovation, and transformative collaborations. Over the past 25 years, we have witnessed significant changes in attitudes, delivery methods, learner intelligence, and the evolving needs of the times. To adapt to these changes, we have taken crucial steps such as unburdening learners by synchronizing exam preparations, embracing technology integration, institutionalizing STEM pedagogy through Deeksha STEM Schools, and pioneering a hybrid learning approach. These milestones reflect our commitment to learner-centric education, personalized academic delivery, and equal opportunities for all students. Overall, Deeksha remains dedicated to continuous growth, innovation, and empowering learners for the future.
What are the primary pedagogical challenges you currently faced in your role, and how do you address them?
We acknowledge the challenges in education, addressed by NEP-2020, such as rote learning, lack of individual aptitude recognition, information overload, and student stress.
Deeksha innovatively tackled these issues through a composite exam preparation model, ed-tech integration, personalization, and dCARE for student well-being. Deeksha is expanding its presence in the education journey, particularly in K-12 education through Deeksha STEM, aiming to overcome these challenges.
Tell us about the expertise of your team in the education field. How are you leading your team to drive the growth of the company?
We are fortunate to have experienced the power of pure intent in building our team. Our organization comprises a group of passionate domain experts dedicated to nurturing the success of every child. Within our team, we have experts in academic excellence who ensure effective learning, specialists in children’s wellness to promote stress-free learning experiences, and technology leaders who have developed an ecosystem to enhance classroom learning through personalized and effective technological aids. Our team’s strength is the result of our inclusive and transparent decision-making process, which has fostered a culture of ownership and performance excellence.
Our core group consists of nearly 20 individuals, supported by an Extended Leadership Team (XLT) of 60, leading our 1000-strong Deeksha Team. We take great pride in the cultural alignment of our team members, who are fully committed to our vision. By nurturing such a cohesive and dedicated team, we are confident in our ability to make a positive impact on the lives of students and achieve our shared goals.
As a leader, how do you inspire your workforce to perform better? What is your guiding leadership philosophy?
Cultural alignment is a top priority for the organization. They invest significant time in instilling core values such as Ownership, Care, Integrity, Prudence, and Inclusiveness during the selection process and throughout team members’ journey. Motivation is encouraged through a well-defined Performance Appraisal System with measurable and transparent Key Result Areas (KRAs) for everyone.
The organization also offers continuous capability-building opportunities through the ‘Grow with Deeksha’ initiative, leading to over 80 percent of leadership positions being filled through internal promotions. Their guiding principle is ‘Child First,’ and they are dedicated to ensuring that every member contributes to nurturing the success of every child.
The key to a sustainable educational enterprise lies in innovation & aligning with student ambitions
How do you keep yourself well aligned with the periodic advancements happening in the education industry and the tech world? How do you adapt to those developments?
The organization emphasizes the importance of keeping up with rapid technological advancements, such as digital and AI revolutions. They value sharing expertise and forming diverse alliances to avoid insularity. Their workforce is inquisitive and focused on continuous optimization. Staying up-to-date in education technology, cognitive sciences, and research is crucial for innovation and preparing students for future trends. They are enthusiastic about applying learnings from various industries to drive innovation and improve education.
As a successful business leader, what would be your advice to young entrepreneurs who aspire to become business leaders in the future?
In the realm of education, enterprise must be driven by a genuine desire to create lasting change, not solely by personal ambitions. The key to a sustainable educational enterprise lies in innovation and aligning with student ambitions. Robust fundamentals, clear problem identification, conviction in implementation, and a willingness to innovate are essential. Integration of student interests with the enterprise is crucial for success.
.jpg "Technology in Cancer Care: A story of evolving paradigms")
.jpg "Bringing Shop Floor to Manufacturer's palm: Smart Factory Solutions for tomorrow")
