RANU KAWATRA
President & CEO
Pearson Education India
Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
At the very top. Good quality, relevant education has the power to truly transform India.
How best to upgrade government schools?
Committed and well-trained teachers equipped with contemporary pedagogies and technologies in government schools would enable them to give private schools a run for their monies.
Thinker/philosopher you admire most.
Sri Aurobindo.
Your favourite Nobel laureate.
Rabindranath Tagore.
Your leadership style.
That is for my colleagues to judge. But I believe in creating a conducive/productive environment and setting people up for success through thorough resourcing and skilling. Ascertain people’s strengths and leverage them to the fullest, is a success mantra that has served me well.
Your favourite book on leadership.
Still searching. However, some of the great Indian mythologies offer valuable leadership lessons.
For or against the RTE Act mandating 25 percent reservation for under-privileged children in private schools?
I support the proposal to the fullest. It’s a move towards building an inclusive society which is — or should be — the dream of all Indians.
Should education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
Absolutely. However the resources freed have to be wisely used.
How satisfied are you with the growth and development of Pearson Education?
We have built a solid foundation and a platform from where we now want to accelerate our participation in various education verticals. Pearson is the global leader in education and we have taken it upon ourselves to “bring Pearson to India and also to take India to Pearson”.
Pessimistic or optimistic about Indian education?
Very optimistic. The macro numbers are numbing and the growing aspirations of our populace makes this a hugely exciting field to be in.